Although nearly 80% of U.S. workers in high-risk sectors say that they feel safe at their job on a day-to-day basis, more than half admit that their worksites lack adequate safety systems, while 17% aren't aware of any safety systems at all.

According to a survey of 516 construction, manufacturing, mining and utility workers from supply chain risk management platform Avetta, 68% of respondents said that they regularly notice safety hazards on the job, despite feeling generally safe themselves. That's created what Avetta describes as a "safety perception gap," where employers are relying on luck to avoid on-the-job injuries instead of verifiable safety controls.

"Feeling safe is not the same as being safe," Avetta explained in a December 9 release. "When tasks feel predictable and accidents seem rare, people assume their environment is safe. But as our research shows, this perception can mask fragile systems and blind spots."

Employees also expressed an unwillingness to speak up in unsafe work environments, with 72% choosing not to report safety hazards when they see them. That's driven by two factors — the 36% who believe that reporting is pointless because they think nothing will change, and the 29% who fear repercussions from their employers.

Despite that, Avetta said that there's still reason for optimism, with 62% of U.S. workers reporting that health and safety have become bigger priorities for leadership. Employees were eager to address safety gaps with technology too, ranking digital tracking and verification of worker credentials as their top solution, followed by unified platforms for proactive risk management, systems for training and competency evaluation, and AI-powered hazard detection.