Owning your own business comes with many responsibilities. One of the most important ones is taking care of your employees’ health and safety. In particular, it’s crucial to know what to do if one of your employees becomes injured at work. The steps you take can have a direct outcome on their injury and recovery time. Additionally, there are state laws surrounding safety and workers’ compensation to protect workers–so it’s crucial to respond in a way that protects your business from a lawsuit.
By following a safety action plan, you can be sure that you are being proactive in responding to an employee’s injury and making their return to work easier. Having a response plan already established in place for these situations will lead to a greater result.
Assess the Need for Medical Attention
First, you should address whether or not your employee needs medical intervention. If it is an emergency, you should call 911. If it is not an emergency, see if there is anyone on site who can help assist, or know who to reach out to for help. There will be a pre-established medical office that’s within your workers’ compensation insurance provider network. As an employer, you must ensure your employees receive prompt medical attention. Workers who receive offsite care should alert the hospital that they are there for a workplace injury.
Documents the Facts of the Workplace Injury
Second, after medical arrangements have been made, document the facts about the incident. The Human Resources department should communicate with the workers’ compensation office, and since this information will be given to the claims department, it’s important to be timely and as accurate as possible. Basic information should include the person who was injured, who witnessed the incident, what happened or caused the injury, and what medical response was taken.
Alert All Relevant Parties About the Injury
Next, you should notify all relevant parties about the accident. If your company is under OSHA’s jurisdiction, and your employee is hospitalized due to an injury suffered at work, you must report the incident to OSHA within 24 hours. This is not required for emergency room visits without hospitalization.
In many states, all businesses with one or more employees are required to offer workers’ compensation benefits. You should give your injured employee the appropriate form to fill out so they can recoup compensation while they are unable to work.
Investigate the Accident
Investigation of the incident will be the next step. While it is impossible to prevent all workplace accidents, it’s important to take note of what happened to prevent future injuries. Review whether certain safety equipment needs to be implemented or changed or if further training needs to take place before employees perform tasks.
Communicate With the Injured Employee
Make sure to keep in contact with the employee who was injured, and stay focused on their recovery and finding solutions. You want to make sure they feel welcome upon returning to work. Following up with them about their status is a good idea. During this process, you might also hear from a personal injury lawyer if the employee decides to file an injury claim against you. Be sure to cooperate with all involved and offer them the necessary information when asked. However, if you offer workers’ compensation benefits to your employees, you are generally protected from any liability in a workplace accident.
It’s illegal to fire someone or threaten their employment status in any way if they become injured. So, make sure to work with your employee to make their return to work as seamless as possible, and follow all applicable laws. According to Cannon Law, if an employee sustains a disability due to a workplace injury, they may be covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Formulate a Plan to Prevent Future Injuries
Lastly, after conducting an investigation, use the findings to come up with a preventative action plan. What steps can be taken to prevent this accident in the future? According to the national safety council, there are several common causes of workplace injuries: exposure to harmful substances or environments, repetitive motions (heavy lifting), slips and trips, falling on the same level or to a lower level, and contact with objects and equipment, being a few.
By having a safety protocol in place, and knowing what to do in the event of an injury, you can protect your workers–and your business–from further harm.
