Warehousing and distribution injuries in Kansas: Costs and trends from the state workers' compensation database 2014-2023

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Authors
Manning, Christin
Jorgensen, Michael J.
Advisors
Issue Date
2025-11-01
Type
Article
Keywords
Kansas , OSHA , Postal service , Retail , Safety , Warehousing; Workers' compensation
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Manning, C., & Jorgensen, M. (2025). Warehousing and distribution injuries in Kansas: costs and trends from the state workers' compensation database 2014-2023. Safety Science, 191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2025.106932
Abstract

The warehousing industry has been growing quickly since the rise of e-commerce and the Covid-19 pandemic. This industry has a higher rate of injuries than general industry, so much so that OSHA declared that its latest National Emphasis Program (NEP) in 2023 was to target select sectors of the warehousing industry. At the same time four states initiated their own warehousing safety regulations. To elucidate costs, trends, and general information on the state of warehousing safety in Kansas, the state workers' compensation database was examined from 2014 to 2023, which includes all claims with 7 or more lost workdays. Total direct costs over the period were $119,860,069. Medical costs comprised 60.8 % of all costs, legal 5.6 % and indemnity 44.1 %. The hand/wrist (15.3 %) and shoulder (15.2 %) were the most commonly cited body parts, with shoulder being the most expensive by almost 40 % per claim. The largest cause was overexertion, precipitating 46.1 % of claims, and 41.1 % of claims involved a WMSD, almost 90 % of which were sprains and strains, and higher than in general industry. The study highlights the need for improved ergonomics, and for hazard mitigation for local messengers/deliverers whose median claim cost exceed that of all warehousing divisions. The study presented up-to-date information on only the specific industries highlighted in the NEP. Overall, the information presented can guide priorities and target interventions in this sector, making most effective use of safety resources and improving the workplace for employers and employees.

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Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
Safety Science
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Series
PubMed ID
ISSN
18791042
09257535
EISSN