The Illusion of Safety

In high-risk industries, safety isn’t just a compliance checkbox — it’s a lifeline. Yet, Avetta’s latest U.S. research reveals a troubling paradox: 79% of workers say they feel safe at work, but more than half admit their worksites only have partial safety systems in place, and 17% don’t know if any exist at all. This disconnect, known as the safety perception gap, is more than a cultural quirk — it’s a systemic vulnerability that can lead to catastrophic consequences.

The Safety Perception Gap Explained

In October 2025, we partnered with Pureprofile to survey 516 U.S.-based professionals across construction, manufacturing, mining, utilities, and other high-risk sectors. The study uncovered stark realities:

• 79% feel safe day-to-day, yet 53% say their worksites have only “some” safety systems in place
• 17% are unaware of any safety systems at all
• 68% regularly notice safety hazards, but 72% choose not to report them

Why the Silence?

• 36% believe reporting is pointless because they think nothing will change
• 29% fear repercussions
• 8% don’t know how to report

This isn’t just a gap in communication; it’s a governance failure. When organizations rely on luck instead of verifiable controls, they expose themselves to legal, financial, and reputational risks.

Why This Matters

Feeling safe is not the same as being safe. Workers’ confidence often stems from routine and familiarity — what psychologists call “normality bias.” When tasks feel predictable and accidents seem rare, people assume their environment is safe. But as our research shows, this perception can mask fragile systems and blind spots.

Unchecked, these gaps create:

• Latent risk: Hazards acknowledged but not acted upon
• Reporting paralysis: Fear and futility discourage workers from speaking up
• Compliance complacency: Leadership leans on regulations without embedding safety into culture

The result? A perfect storm for “black swan” events — low-probability, high-impact failures that can devastate lives and businesses.

Signs of Progress — and Opportunity

Despite these challenges, there’s reason for optimism:

• 62% of U.S. workers say health and safety are becoming a bigger priority for leadership
• Workers are eager for technology-driven solutions, ranking these as top priorities:
  1. Digital tools to track and verify worker credentials
  2. Unified platforms for proactive risk management
  3. Systems for induction, training, and competency
  4. AI-powered hazard detection
  5. Frameworks for managing mixed contractor and employee workforces

This appetite for innovation signals a turning point. Organizations that act now can transform safety from a compliance obligation into a competitive advantage.

Lessons from Global Insights

Our APAC research echoes these findings, revealing similar gaps in Australia:

• Nine in ten workers feel safe, yet 56% say their company only has “some” risk systems in place, and 8% say none exist
• 65% lack confidence in verifying contractor safety standards before work begins
• 38% have withheld safety concerns, often due to fear or perceived futility

The takeaway? This isn’t a regional issue — it’s a global one. And it demands bold, systemic change.

How Avetta Closes the Gap

Closing the safety perception gap requires more than awareness — it demands action. Avetta’s platform is designed to tackle the root causes of this disconnect by embedding safety into every layer of the supply chain. Here’s how:

• Contractor Prequalification and Verification
  High-risk industries rely heavily on contractors, yet many organizations lack confidence in verifying their safety standards. Avetta solves this by providing real-time visibility into contractor compliance, ensuring every supplier meets rigorous safety criteria before work begins. This eliminates blind spots and reduces the risk of incidents caused by subcontractor vulnerabilities.
• Digital Credential Tracking
  Manual credential checks are slow and error-prone. Avetta digitizes this process, enabling instant verification of worker certifications and skillsets. Whether it’s confirming OSHA training or specialized equipment handling, our workplace safety software ensures only qualified personnel enter the jobsite.
• Unified Risk Management
  Fragmented systems create gaps. Avetta consolidates risk data into a single platform, giving organizations a holistic view of safety performance across their entire supply chain. This unified approach allows leaders to identify patterns, predict risks, and implement corrective actions before hazards escalate.
• Training and Competency Management
  Safety isn’t static — it evolves with technology, regulations, and workforce dynamics. Avetta streamlines training and induction processes, delivering competency programs directly to workers’ devices. This ensures compliance is not just a policy but a lived practice embedded in daily workflows.
• AI-Powered Insights
  Reactive safety measures are no longer enough. Avetta leverages artificial intelligence to detect emerging risks and recommend proactive mitigations. From analyzing incident trends to predicting contractor performance, our AI tools transform safety from a reactive function into a strategic advantage.
• Reporting and Escalation Tools
  One of the most alarming findings in our research is the silence surrounding safety concerns. Avetta addresses this by simplifying reporting channels and providing real-time tracking of escalations. Workers can submit concerns easily, and leadership can respond promptly, closing the loop and reinforcing trust in the system.

By combining these capabilities, Avetta empowers organizations to dismantle cultural barriers, strengthen governance, and create a safety ecosystem where perception aligns with reality.

From Illusion to Action

The safety perception gap is not just a statistic — it’s a warning. Feeling safe does not guarantee being safe, and organizations that ignore this truth risk more than compliance penalties; they risk lives. The good news is that the tools to close this gap already exist. By embracing technology, fostering transparency, and embedding safety into culture, companies can transform risk into resilience.

Avetta stands at the forefront of this transformation. Our contractor risk management solutions don’t just help organizations meet regulatory requirements — they enable them to build a proactive, data-driven safety strategy that protects workers, strengthens supply chains, and drives business performance.

It’s time to move beyond “safe enough” and create workplaces where safety is not an illusion but a measurable, verifiable reality. Discover how Avetta can help you bridge the gap and lead the way to a safer future.

‍