Survey shows why U.S. employees hesitate to report safety concerns

If a member of your crew observed a potential hazard in the workplace, would he or she tell you about it?

A recent survey suggests that staff members might not be as willing to speak up as you’d like them to be. Titled “What small business employees really think about workplace safety,” the survey of 1,021 U.S. workers conducted by Pie Insurance revealed that 17% of staffers said they wouldn’t tell anyone about a hazard.

According to the survey, 35% of those who wouldn’t report a safety problem said they feared retaliation or negative consequences, 33% didn’t want to seem difficult, 31% didn’t think anything would be done, 29% resolved the problem on their own, 25% weren’t sure it was a valid concern, and 19% didn’t want anyone to get in trouble.

What it means to you: Encourage crew members to let you know about potential safety problems by specifically asking them at your next safety meeting whether anyone is aware of safety issues that need to be addressed. Then make sure action is taken to eliminate any hazards identified by your people.

(From the January 12, 2026, issue of Safety Alert for Supervisors. To start your no-obligation trial subscription to the publication right now, please click here.)