WASHINGTON – November 10, 2026 -- The National Safety Council (NSC) has expanded its free Employer Investment Calculators from eight to 13 safety technologies, letting companies model costs, savings and five-year return on investment with their own operational data.
The suite was developed through the NSC Work to Zero program in partnership with McElhattan Foundation. New additions include EHS software, heat stress monitoring and ergonomics video analytics. About 8,500 users a year already use the tools to evaluate safety investments.
Fatalities have not fallen as fast as recordable injuries
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordable injury rate has declined significantly over the past 25 years. Workplace fatalities have not dropped at the same pace, and more than 4,500 workers died on the job in 2023.
NSC puts the average medically consulted injury at an estimated $43,000 and the average workplace fatality at $1.46 million. These figures anchor the cost of inaction that the calculators measure against technology spending.
Calculators compare current risk costs with projected savings
Employers can compare technology costs with potential savings, test different scenarios and estimate a five-year return. The tools weigh the cost of maintaining current risk levels against savings from fewer serious injuries and fatalities.
"Too often, employers know a safety technology could save lives but struggle to demonstrate its business value," said Dr. Matt Law, director of Work to Zero at NSC.
Companion report sets out a five-step evaluation framework
NSC also published Making the Business Case for Safety Innovation. The report outlines five steps for evaluating safety technology investments: assessing organizational readiness, identifying appropriate solutions, calculating ROI and securing leadership buy-in.
NSC is also offering a webinar, Building the Business Case for Safety Technology, as part of the resources.