Workplace safety has evolved beyond just compliance. Today’s safety ideals require a broadened focus on enterprise risk, protecting financial performance, and building organizational resilience to ensure proper organizational buy-in that results in safer workers. Consider this: In 2023, workplace injuries cost U.S. businesses over $175 billion* in lost wages, medical care, and administrative expenses. Those injuries accounted for 103 million lost workdays, draining productivity at a time when many industries are already stretched thin. For Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) leaders, these figures highlight the high stakes of safety management. Preventing incidents protects people, but it also reduces one of the most significant and controllable drivers of risk and cost. The challenge: too often, safety programs remain siloed from risk and claims management, limiting their impact. By uniting EHS with risk management on a shared, integrated platform, organizations break down silos that limit visibility and slow progress. Instead of treating safety as a standalone function, leaders can connect incident data to claims, costs, and outcomes — showing both the human and financial value of prevention. The result is greater credibility, stronger collaboration, and measurable business and operational impact. Here are three ways EHS leaders can drive that impact with the right systems in place. 1. Win executive support with data-based safety programs. Safety professionals know the value of their programs. But without clear data that connects safety outcomes to financial impact, it’s difficult to gain executive buy-in. Integrated EHS and risk platforms make that possible by directly linking incidents and near misses to financial outcomes. When safety data can be tied to claim costs, lost time, and productivity impacts, it becomes clear where investment delivers returns. Executives see not just compliance checkmarks, but the financial upside of proactive safety initiatives: Lower insurance premiums Fewer disruptions Improved workforce retention This visibility shifts safety from a cost center to a strategic priority, helping EHS leaders secure budgets for preventive programs, technology upgrades, and cultural initiatives that keep workers safe. 2. Ensure accountability through streamlined, end-to-end workflows. One of the greatest barriers to effective safety management is the fragmentation of data across different systems and teams. An incident might be reported in one document, claims managed in another system, and corrective actions tracked in yet another. This lack of continuity creates delays, inconsistencies, and gaps in accountability. In integrated system resolves this by connecting the entire incident-to-claims workflow: An incident captured by any employee or contractor in the field via mobile app can automatically trigger workflows including claims creation and investigation assignment. Corrective action dashboards allow managers to track progress toward future preventative action, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks. Dashboards and reporting drive visibility into root causes and other incident trends The result is faster response times, consistent follow-up, a culture where accountability is clear across departments, and better visibility into safety risks and hazards by location 3. Shape culture and strategy as a risk-savvy leader. Safety professionals are most effective when they’re more than compliance cops. As trusted advisors influencing organizational culture and strategy, they need access to credible, comprehensive data that reveals trends and supports long-term planning. By analyzing incident patterns, identifying high-risk operations, and sharing actionable insights with finance, operations, and leadership teams, safety leaders can elevate their role. They can move beyond reactive reporting to proactive guidance, shaping conversations about resource allocation, workforce training, and operational design. Over time, this influence builds a culture where safety is embedded into everyday decision-making, not treated as a separate requirement. Equipped with integrated data, safety leaders become catalysts for cultural cohesion and operational resilience. They help their organizations anticipate risks, adapt faster to disruptions, and make decisions that balance both employee wellbeing and financial performance. The ROI of integrated EHS Across industries, investment in EHS has consistently been shown to deliver strong returns, with some studies showing that every $1 invested in safety yields an estimated $2 to $6 of savings through reduced injuries, lower insurance premiums, fewer disruptions, and productivity gains. Organizations that leverage integrated platforms to capture incidents, manage claims, and track corrective actions are better positioned to prove that ROI and build momentum for proactive safety programs. For example, one large employer that adopted a unified EHS and risk management platform saw: A 25% decrease in casualty claim frequency since 2017 (excluding the COVID-19 years) An 18.5% reduction in total cost of risk over five years A 4:68:1 return on investment in its return-to-work program Integrated systems are not simply tools for compliance, but catalysts for measurable safety improvements, quantifiable cost reductions, and long-term organizational resilience. Looking to move safety out of its silo and prove its business value? See how Origami’s integrated EHS and Risk platform helps safety leaders reduce claims, lower costs, and drive cultural change. Read more in Beyond Silos: Strengthening Operational Resilience with Integrated Risk Management or contact us today. * National Safety Council, Work Injury Costs and Time Lost.