No employer wants to think about workplace injuries and insurance, but it’s vital to prepare for it. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, sets the rules and standards that you, as an employer, must obey to provide a safe work environment.
However, no matter how well you prepare, injuries happen. As important as it is to be ready, it’s just as essential to know what to do if one of your employees is hurt. Here are four things you need to do when an employee is injured in the workplace:
Be Prepared
It pays to be prepared for an accident, regardless of the likelihood of one occurring. With the right procedures in place, you can even help reduce the severity of an injury.
It’s essential to create response plans for different types of accidents and train your employees on these safety and emergency response procedures. OSHA also requires that there be a stocked first-aid station that’s easily accessible.
Finally, remember that it’s better to provide a safe working environment. Make sure that your employees obey the safety regulations and have the protective gear they need.
Act Immediately
If there’s an accident, you need to act immediately and follow these steps:
- Don’t panic.
- Get your employees to a safe place immediately and keep the accident area clear.
- You need to assess the severity of the injury and find out what caused it.
- For minor injuries, provide first aid. If it’s more severe, stabilize the employee while you wait for emergency services.
- Make sure you keep thorough records of the accident. Take notes and get witness statements. Take pictures of the accident scene, equipment, and area as evidence.
Paperwork and Communication
You’re a business owner, and your first instinct might be to protect your company by being as close-lipped as possible. That’s the worst possible thing you can do.
Ensure that you work with your injured employee to file a worker’s comp claim with your insurance provider. Always maintain open communication with all the various parties, including your employee, medical staff, the claims adjustor, and the insurance agent.
When an Injury Becomes a Lawsuit
No matter how prepared you are, there may still be times when a workplace injury results in a lawsuit.
The longer the claim lasts, the more expensive it can be, so it’s essential to involve your lawyer. Ensure you share all relevant communication and documentation with your legal team and be open about the facts of the case.
According to flcrimedefense.com, it’s essential to know and understand your rights as an employer. Your liability insurance can help pay the bills and legal fees, but it’s possible that you might not even need to go to court.
Take Away
While you can take steps as an employer to provide your workers with a safe environment, there’s always the possibility of an accident or workplace injury. Ensure that you have processes in place to handle these accidents quickly.
It’s essential to keep a copy of all the documents, communication, and evidence, and involve your lawyer, just to be safe. However, by taking the appropriate steps, any employer should be able to lower the risk of workplace injuries and personal injury lawsuits.
