As the first half of 2025 comes to a close, OSHA Outreach Courses reached out to workers through email and social media, hoping to get insights into how they are perceiving safety at worksites. 

80% of the respondents for our 2025 State of Workplace Safety Survey were construction workers, while others worked in manufacturing, logistics, and retail. We asked these 500 workers a series of questions related to their perception of workplace safety and the protocols within their organizations to keep employees safe. 

While some data suggests employees feel moderately prepared, several alarming findings indicate significant gaps in safety protocols that could expose workers to unnecessary risks. 

10% Workers Feel Very Unsafe at Work

To start, we asked workers how safe they felt at work. While 22% feel “very safe” at work, nearly 42% reported feeling either neutral, unsafe, or very unsafe. This suggests that nearly half of the workforce does not have strong confidence in their safety on the job. 10% of respondents explicitly expressed feeling unsafe, which reflects a critical reality that organizations need to address immediately.

18% Workers Say Their Workplaces Don’t Organize Safety Drills

Although 35% of workplaces conduct monthly drills, an unsettling 18% never organize any drills at all. This inconsistency raises red flags, especially in industries where emergency preparedness is essential. Despite 60% feeling very confident in handling emergencies, the lack of regular drills for some workers might lead to complacency and put them at risk during emergencies. 

9% Workers Say Their Safety Concerns Are Ignored 

Another troubling insight is that only 26% of employees feel their safety concerns are “always” taken seriously by management. A significant 61% say their concerns are taken seriously only “sometimes,” with 9% reporting that their concerns are outright ignored. This indicates a communication gap between workers and management, undermining trust and potentially allowing hazards to go unaddressed.

33% Workers Say They Don’t Receive Online Safety Training

On a more positive note, 88% reported that safety equipment and PPE are always available, and 100% know the location of emergency exits. Additionally, 61% said their workplace offers online safety training, though the 33% who don’t receive it still represent a missed opportunity to reinforce safety practices.

The Path Forward: Closing the Gaps in Safety

When asked what sorts of improvements they would like to see, the respondents mentioned communication, cooperation, and ongoing training as areas that need attention. Others mentioned initiatives like disaster training to better prepare workers in dealing with emergencies. 

Overall, the survey highlighted that workplaces are implementing good practices like informing workers on emergency exits and ensuring the availability of PPE, but there are still many gaps that need to be filled.