Steps to Take When an Employee Gets Injured on the Job
As a business owner, you have a lot on your plate. A great portion of your role is to protect your growing business from financial harm. However, even when business owners take appropriate workplace safety precautions and measures to avoid injuries, including posting signage and facilitating proper training, accidents do happen. Understanding how to respond to these accidents can make all the difference. Here are a few protocols to handle a work-related injury or illness.
Care for your employees first.
Your employees’ safety comes first and getting an injured employee treatment is crucial. If you at all suspect the injury or illness is severe, dial 911 immediately. It is better to seek emergency medical treatment than not, even if you aren’t sure about the extent of the damage. In non-emergency situations, transport the injured employee to a medical care facility.
Record the scene.
The site of any serious accidents should be secured as quickly as possible for investigative purposes. Limit access to the scene of the incident. Additionally, gather information about the accident, gathering eyewitness information, accounts of what happened, and take pictures of the scene.
Complete the necessary paperwork.
Once you’ve ensured your employees’ safety and secured the scene of the accident, you must complete the proper paperwork. An incident report should be completed, and any claims need to be reported to your workers’ compensation insurance carrier within 24 hours of the incident. Your workers’ compensation insurance may offer resources on how to handle such situations.
Establish a return-to-work program.
Many injuries, including minor sprains and strains, can result in weeks or even months off the job. To help the injured employee return to work, set up a program to get them ready. Such a program can help keep workers off of long-term disability and potentially lower employers’ costs.
Don’t wait until an accident to find out you’re missing out on valuable insurance coverage. Get started on securing your reliable commercial insurance by contacting the team at Chambers & Company Insurance Brokers.