When One Injury Disrupts the Whole Operation
Workplace injuries cost businesses far more than medical bills or workers’ compensation claims, with the National Safety Council estimating $176.5 billion in total injury costs in 2023 and OSHA noting that indirect costs can add $2 to $4 for every dollar spent on direct costs. Lost productivity, idle equipment, temporary staffing, investigations, and higher insurance premiums can quickly add up.
S.M.A.R.T. Management helps businesses get ahead of these costs by treating near misses as early warning signs, tracking hazards, assigning clear ownership, focusing safety efforts where risks are highest, and reviewing them regularly as the business changes..
WEEKLY RECOMMENDATION
This Week's Pick: The I in Team
One of the ideas at the center of Individual Influence: Find the "I" in Team is that influence begins with managing yourself, including the discipline of slowing down enough to be present in the moment. An owner who answers every question in ten seconds is not just making decisions. They are teaching everyone watching that ten seconds is what a decision deserves.
FEATURED VIDEO
The Pressure to Have an Answer
In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why responsible leadership sometimes requires the confidence to say, “I don't know,” “I need more information,” or “I haven't considered that.” He examines the difference between confidence and certainty, why leaders can lose credibility when they defend decisions after the facts have changed, and how curiosity and honest listening can strengthen trust. A useful listen for owners who want to lead with better judgment, especially when the right answer isn't immediately clear.
SMB SIGNALS
70%
of 342 business leaders report that fluctuating fuel prices have hurt their business.
Small-business Size Standards
The SBA proposed a major overhaul of small-business size standards on August 20, consolidating nearly 1,000 industry-specific classifications into 338 and raising size thresholds across industries.Cybersecurity Concerns
The National Cybersecurity Alliance's 2026 Small Business Cybersecurity Awareness & Practices Survey, conducted with CISA among 1,000 SMB leaders across 10 industries, found that 72.3% say their cyber risk has increased or stayed the same over the past year.
EVENTS
2026 NSC Safety Congress & Expo (Indianapolis, IN - September 11-17, 2026)
The 2026 program offers 130+ educational opportunities, including more than 25 Professional Development Seminars, keynote presentations, technical sessions, and learning labs.
CONNECT HR Leadership Summit (New Orleans, LA - October 5-7, 2026)
CONNECT HR Leadership Summit brings together senior HR leaders for three days of peer conversations and discussions on workforce strategy, leadership, talent, and employee experience.
MORE TO READ
2026 Injury Impact Report
The report found that injured employees now miss an average of 80 workdays, highlighting the operational impact of injuries beyond initial claims and medical costs.
Customer Effort Score
Most owners know which customers feel like hard work. Few can say how many phone calls, emails, and visits a standard job actually takes from first contact to paid invoice. The Customer Effort Score puts a number on it in about 30 minutes.
WEEKLY INSIGHT
"The best leaders don't just adapt to change — they anticipate it and prepare their teams."
— SMART Advantage Team
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