While 79% of workers say they feel safe at work, more than half admit to inadequate safety systems and unreported risks

Avetta^®, the leading provider of supply chain risk management (SCRM) software, today released the key findings of a new survey that reveals an alarming disconnect between workers’ perception of safety and the realities of workplace conditions in high-risk industries.

The October 2025 survey of 516 U.S.-based professionals across construction, facilities management, manufacturing, mining, utilities and other high-risk sectors illuminates how even though 79% of workers say they feel safe, 53% admit their worksites have at best only “some” safety systems in place, with 17% of those unaware of any safety system at all.

“The research shows that while workers may feel safe day-to-day, a majority of high-risk jobsites are operating on shaky ground when it comes to genuine protection,” said Scott DeBow, Director, Health, Safety and Environmental at Avetta. “This safety perception gap, or false sense of safety, is particularly dangerous because it represents a systemic failure of governance, where far too many organizations are relying on luck instead of verifiable controls to actually keep workers safe.”

Equally unsettling, 68% of workers regularly notice safety risks on the job, but a staggering 72% choose not to report them. The top reasons for remaining silent are a belief that reporting is a waste of time and that nothing would change (36%) or for fear of repercussions (29%). Another 8% said they are unsure how to even report a concern.

“This silence can be as dangerous as the hazards themselves,” DeBow continued. “When workers don’t feel they can or should speak up, organizations lose their most valuable safety sensor—human insight. Organizations should actively dismantle the fear of reprisal and establish transparent, easy-to-use reporting channels to build a psychologically safe culture where speaking up is clearly valued, not penalized.”

Despite these challenges, the study also uncovered a silver lining, which may in part explain why workers generally feel safe despite significant operational safety shortcomings: 62% say health and safety are becoming a “bigger” (41%) or “much bigger” (21%) priority for leadership.

Workers are also optimistic about how advanced technologies can improve safety performance, ranking the following solutions in the top five, respectively:

1. Digital tools to track and verify worker credentials and skillsets onsite.
2. Unified platforms to proactively identify and mitigate risks.
3. Systems to manage induction, training and worker competency.
4. Artificial intelligence to better detect risk and recommend mitigations.
5. Frameworks for managing dual contractor and employee workforces.

“The good news is that the foundation for bridging the safety perception gap already exists,” DeBow concluded. “With leaders prioritizing worker health and safety and the availability of innovative technologies to reduce risks, organizations are in a better position than ever before to create conditions where workers are not just confident, but they’re truly ready to work.”

To learn about how Avetta helps organizations strengthen safety performance and reduce risk, visit www.avetta.com.

About Avetta

The Avetta SaaS platform helps clients manage supply chain risk and their suppliers become more qualified for jobs. For hiring clients, we offer the world’s largest supply chain risk management network to manage supplier safety, sustainability, worker competency and performance. We perform contractor prequalification and worker competency management across major industries all over the globe, including construction, energy, facilities, high tech, manufacturing, mining and telecom.

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