If one of your employees gets injured on the job, it is important to know what to do. Of course, every business is different, so you will need to tailor your response to fit your specific company. That said, there are some general steps that you should take to ensure that the employee receives proper medical care and that your business stays compliant with state and federal laws. This post will discuss these steps in detail.
The first thing you should do is make sure that the employee receives proper medical care. If the injury is serious, call 911 or have someone take the employee to the nearest emergency room. For less serious injuries, you may be able to have the employee seen by a doctor or nurse at your company’s on-site clinic if you have one. If not, you will need to make arrangements for the employee to see a doctor of their choice.
Once the employee has received medical care, you will need to notify your workers’ insurance carrier. You will need to provide them with information about the accident and the injured employee. Remember that there is a difference between workers comp vs personal injury, so it is essential to make sure that you notify the correct insurance carrier. Ask your injured employee for the contact details and get right on it.
Afterwards, you will need to file a report with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). You will need to provide them with information about the accident and your company’s safety procedures. This is important not only for OSHA compliance but also for your company’s insurance purposes.
It would help if you also investigated the accident to determine what caused it and whether or not it could have been prevented. This will help you to improve your company’s safety procedures and prevent future accidents. A company’s safety procedures should include the following:
- Providing employees with proper training on how to safely perform their job duties
- Inspecting equipment and work areas regularly
- Investigating accidents and near-misses to determine the cause and how to prevent them from happening again
Remember to get your employee’s input on what happened and how it could have been prevented. They may have some valuable insights that you should have been aware of. For example, they may have been using equipment that needed to be properly maintained, or they may need to receive proper training on how to safely perform their job duties. It is also important to provide employees with a way to report safety concerns without fear of retribution. This can be done by creating an anonymous reporting system, such as a hotline or online form. Encourage employees to use this system if they see something that could potentially lead to an accident.
Finally, you will need to provide the injured employee with information about their rights and benefits under your company’s policy. This includes things like wage replacement, medical benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. Be sure to give them all the information in writing so they can refer back to it later if they have any questions.
If an employee is injured on the job, it is important to take quick and decisive action. Be prepared and know what steps to take in order to ensure that the employee receives proper medical care and that your business stays compliant with state and federal laws.