Improved workplace safety and workers' compensation reforms have saved Oregon employers an estimated $8.8 billion in workers' compensation costs since 1990. But there's something in our future that could threaten those savings. Ironically, it's something that businesses want and Governor Kulongoski is trying hard to promote: economic growth.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services, Occupational Safety and Health Division (also known as Oregon OSHA) has developed a comprehensive recovery strategy called 'Safe Jobs, Smart Business' to make sure that Oregon's workplaces remain safe as they begin to grow.

The Safe Jobs, Smart Business initiative is focusing on three industries vital to Oregon's recovery: Agriculture, Construction and Health Care. There is also an emphasis on Training & Education for workers, with a focus on keeping New Workers safe on the job. Employers across Oregon have benefited from assistance provided by Oregon OSHA. Here are some real-world success stories about safety and health.

History has shown that workplace injury and illness claims often increase as the economy grows. That's partly because businesses hire new or less-experienced workers and employees work longer hours. More than one-third of serious, disabling injuries in Oregon occur during a worker's first year on the job - 10 percent occur during the first month.

A serious workplace injury in Oregon costs an average of $43,000 including direct and indirect expenses - not to mention the toll an injury takes on the worker and his or her entire workplace. To put that in perspective, a business operating at a four-percent profit margin would have to gross more than $1 million in new revenue to offset the cost of one serious injury. Workers' compensation insurance will spread some of the cost around, but in the end the business will pay more for insurance - on top of indirect costs related to the injury.

What you can do right now to improve workplace safety and health:

• Review your injury and illness records to look for trends.
• Review your training program and see if it addresses the areas where you're experiencing your injuries and illnesses.
• Attend an Oregon OSHA training class, either in one of our regional training locations or via the World Wide Web.
• Request an on-site consultation from Oregon OSHA. Find out more about consultation services.
• Request videos and training materials from the Oregon OSHA Resource Center.

Oregon's economic recession affected everyone. Planning to expand safely as Oregon moves out of the recession makes sense. Oregon OSHA wants to help make safety an integral part of every business' success strategy by offering information, training, resources, and consultation services.

As Oregon's economy grows, safe jobs are smart business.