Survey Team

Objective

 Sample
The objective of the Digital Distraction & Workplace Safety Survey was to examine the impact of digital distraction at work, with an emphasis on workplace safety. 
This survey was fielded April 7-9 of 2020.  It involved 1,019 US employees, aged 18-74, working in a broad spectrum of industries, and had a margin of error of + or - 3%.  The sample was balanced by race and geographic distribution, and respondents were classified by level of authority as executive, manager/surpervisor, and all other. 

Summary

Employees are spending an enormous amount of time during each workday accessing digital content that is unrelated to their jobs.
​
This serves as a real distraction at work, and it is putting employees at risk for accidents.  

​Respondents reported that accidents had occurred in their workplace because someone was distracted by their phone.  These accidents damaged property owned by both the employer and third parties, and they caused injury and death.

It's especially dangerous in industrial settings where heavy machinery, equipment, and vehicles are used. 
Half of employers have in place policies restricting the use of smartphones, and the vast majority of respondents say their employer has clearly explained why the policies are in place.  Despite this, employees continue to use their phones for non-work content at an alarming rate, which suggests that both compliance and enforcement are major challenges.  

People want help.  1/5 want help, 1/4 of industrial workers. 
​
COVID. Problem. More distraction.
     

Hours of Digital Distraction
​Each Workday

Respondents estimate the average employee at their workplace spends 2.5 hours each workday accessing digital content that is unrelated to their job.

​This number contrasts with a previous survey we had conducted.  In that survey we asked respondents to estimate the time they themselves spend using digital content unrelated to their job during the workday, and the average was 1.4 hours. 
     
We believe that the We assumed respondents would underestimate their own use, and either more objectively assess others's use, or, project their own real use onto others.  Either way, we expected the estimate to be higher.  At 2.5 hours it indeed was. 

Therefore, we believe believe the truth lies somewhere between the two estimates --- that the average employee is spending between 1.4 and the 2.5 hours at work using digital content that is unrelated to their job. ​

Younger employees estimate more hours of digital distraction.

If we break down estimates by age group, we see younger people provide an estimate that is higher than the average, and older people provide an estimate that is lower. ​
The difference in the estimates across age groups may be the result of projection, or that younger people tend to work with other younger people, 
Age
Estimated Daily Hours
of Digital Distraction Among Employees
​At Your Workplace
18-34
3.1
35-54
2.4
55 & Older
1.8

Digital Distraction Causes Accidents.

14% of all respondents said accidents have occurred in their workplace as a result of people being distracted by their smartphones. 

If we examine just the sub-set of of those respondents who work in industrial settings we see that accidents occurred at a higher rate --- 26% of those respondents working in an industrial setting said an accident had occurred at their workplace as a result of someone being distracted by their phone.
Those who drive a vehicle or work with heavy equipment.
In the section below titled "examples of accidents" quotes from respondents describing the accidents that had occurred at their workplace as a result of people being distracted by their phones, and the list was stunning. 
Sample
% reporting
accidents at their workplace
​caused by
​digital distraction
total Sample
14
Industrial Setting
26
Office Setting
11

Incidence of Accidents Caused By Digital Distraction.
Value

Accidents caused by Digital Distraction Damage Property.

In 59% of the workplace accidents caused by smartphone distraction respondents said property was damaged. In x percent of cases the damaged property was owned by the employer.  n y percent of cases the damaged property was owned by a third party  

Accidents caused by digital distraction cause injury and death.

  • Of respondents who said accidents had occurred in their workplace as a result of someone being distracted by their smartphone, 50% said someone was either injured or killed in those accidents. 

Reported examples of accidents.

Office Setting
  • "Person was on their phone...elevator door was closing...their jacket got stuck and it kept going down which made...(their) collar choke them and leave a red mark."​
  • ​"A co-worker was walking while texting or reading on their phone and was hit by a motorized cart in the hall."
  • "Fell down stairs."
Healthcare Setting
  • "A nurse was checking her phone while an EMT was hustling down a hallway...she got hit by them."
  • "A patient fell because someone was listening to music and didn’t hear the alarm."
​Forklift
  • "A coworker drove the forklift towards a closed door, damaging the structure."
  • ​"A man's leg was run over by a forklift."
  • ​Hi lo driver was paying attention to his phone. Ran into employee. She was...texting...the fork lift bumped her pretty hard she was hospitalized for a week."
Industrial Setting
  • "Someone was distracted by being on the phone when their arm was crushed by a press."
  • "...a crane operator was playing a game on his phone when the load he was moving crashed into other materials."​
  • "Loss of fingers. Hand was on equipment and operator was distracted by phone."​​
Driving
  • "Someone driving a company truck and they went to grab their phone and took their eyes off the road. They hit a utility pole."
  • "We had one employee in a company car texting and driving. He wasn't paying attention and rolled the car off a cliff. He came out of it completely safe." 
  • "One of our salesmen was texting while he was driving and totalled the car."​

Employer Smartphone Policies.

  • ​47% of respondents said their employer already has established policies in place that restrict the use of personal smartphones during work hours. 
  •  ​88% of those whose employer already has a smartphone policy say their employer has adequately explained to them the reason for the policy.
​

Distraction While
Working From Home During COVID

  • 52% of respondents say they are working from home more than usual due to COVID. 
  • 54% of that group report they were digitally communicating with friends and family during work hours more than they usually do via social media, text, email and phone calls.

Assistance.

19% want assistance. 26% in industrial settings. 15% in offices.
In a previous survey by Screen Education 65% think should have policy. 

Respondents In Industrial Settings

We examined the data from just those respondents who work in what we defined as an industrial setting, which we defined as one in which they work with heavy equipment, machinery, and vehicles.  The statistics for these industrial employees are significantly different from the overall sample.  These differences reflect the fact that industrial settings generate greater risk.  
  • The average person at their workplace spends 2.6 hours each day accessing digital content that is unrelated to their job
​
  • ​​26% of respondents who work in industrial settings say accidents in their workplace have been caused by smartphone distraction
​
  • 58% of those respondents who work in industrial settings say their employer has policies restricting the use of non-work digital content during work hours (probably because of safety concerns)
  • 55% said property owned by their employer was damaged
  • 35% said property owned by a third party was damaged
  • 55% said someone was injured or killed
  • ​93% say their employer has adequately explained the reason for the policy
  • 27 pct wish employer would help reduce screen time

Respondents in Office Settings

  • The average person at their workplace spends 2.4 hours each day accessing digital content that is unrelated to their job
​
  • ​​10% of respondents who work in industrial settings say accidents in their workplace have been caused by smartphone distraction
​
  • 40% of those respondents who work in industrial settings say their employer has policies restricting the use of non-work digital content during work hours (probably because of safety concerns)
  • 74% said property was damaged
  • 44% said property owned by their employer was damaged
  • 37% said property owned by a third party was damaged
  • 59% said someone was injured or killed
  • ​84% say their employer has adequately explained the reason for the policy
  • 15 pct wish employer would help reduce screen time

Survey  Team
Screen Education tackles issues at the intersection of information technology and human wellness through research, seminars, and consulting. Visit www.ScreenEducation.org.
EMI Research Solutions is a leading online sample provider to the market research industry.  They leverage more than 150 partners in over 95 countries to provide the B2B or consumer sample that best fits their client's project.  To learn more about EMI, visit www.EMI-RS.com.
Stark Statistical Consulting provides statistical support for researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Visit www.StarkStatistics.com.

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