Safety easily outranks wage-and-hour and other workplace issues among today’s workers, according to a just-released study by National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago.

More than eight of ten workers—85 percent—rank workplace safety first in importance among labor standards, even ahead of family and maternity leave, minimum wage, paid sick days, overtime pay and the right to join a union, according to the NORC findings.   

The study, "Public Attitudes Towards and Experiences with Workplace Safety," draws on dozens of surveys and polls conducted by  NORC, one of the nation’s leading academic survey operations, think tanks and public opinion firms. \

NORC’s analysis sought to gain a picture of Americans’ experiences with workplace safety issues. The study itself was commissioned by the Public Welfare Foundation, based in Washington, D.C., which supports efforts to improve workers’ rights.

Employers, keep your workplaces safe by teaching and implement safety standards and programs. Personnel Concepts offers a variety of posters, kits and other tools on its Web site’s OSHA Safety Posters and Workplace Posters and Programs sections. Take a visit today and develop a safety-minded workforce along with a hazard-free place to work.