What To Do When An Employee Gets Injured At Work

Every employer is responsible for the health and safety of their employees. This responsibility can include taking necessary steps to ensure a safe working environment for the workers. Typically, health and safety laws are in place to avoid accidents and injuries, whether in the office or outside. 

But despite implementing health and safety measures, accidents at work may still happen, and the resulting workplace injuries may also put you out of business. In such a case, it’s important that employers know what to do when an employee sustained an injury. Below are the things you should do from the get-go:

1. Help Your Employee Seek Medical Attention

Despite diligent efforts to protect your employees in the workplace, an accident may still happen. When this happens, the first thing you should do is to help your injured employee get medical care right away. Call the emergency medical services to make sure their injuries are treated promptly.

Once you place your employee under the care of the attending physician, don’t forget to follow up on their medical condition and keep track of their recovery. That way, you’re able to show your support and you have their best interests at heart throughout the process. 

2. Call A Lawyer

When an employee sustains an injury while working, the employer may be held responsible for what happened, depending on the circumstances. For example, if one of your workers gets injured in a slip and fall accident as a result of your negligence as an employer, then they may be entitled to file a personal injury claim against you to recover compensation for their losses. 

Because of this, it’s best to call a lawyer to seek valuable legal advice. They can assess what happened and explain the legal options available to you. Since most injured employees get the services of an experienced slip and fall injury lawyer, you should also get ready with your legal defense to protect your interests as an employer. 

3. Collect Information And Pieces Of Evidence

As an employer, it’s essential to gather relevant information and keep evidence following the workplace accident. Make sure to document everything, including writing down important details and witness testimony, if necessary.

For instance, you should secure documentation of the accident such as photos of the area where the mishap happened, equipment involved, and the injury sustained. Generally, it’s crucial to document the injuries, especially if you need to file a workers’ compensation claim on the employee’s behalf. 

4. Follow The Occupational Safety And Health Administration (OSHA) Recommendations

When work-related injuries occur in your workplace, you, as an employer, are required to follow the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommendations to avoid legal penalties. This is especially true if you’re initiating a workers’ compensation claim. Typically, these recommendations can include the process of notifying and reporting to OSHA of any hospitalizations involving workplace injuries within the required timeline. 

Hence, if you’re filing a claim, be sure to report what happened to the OSHA to streamline the process and receive the benefits your injured employee deserves as quickly as possible.

5. File A Claim

When an employee gets injured in the workplace, one of the important things to do as an employer is to file a claim to obtain compensation for your injuries. Generally, the injuries sustained at work are covered by the workers’ compensation insurance program. This is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to people injured in the workplace. 

Thus, to make sure you file a workers’ compensation claim successfully, work closely with the injured employee and provide the necessary documentation to support the claim. That way, you can help them recover monetary compensation for all the losses they’ve suffered.  

6. Maintain Open Communication Among The Parties Involved

To speed up the claims process for your injured worker, maintaining open communication among all the parties involved is important. For instance, you should make sure you’re transparent and honest with your employee, doctor, and insurance company to increase your chances of getting a favorable outcome. 

By doing this, your injured employee will be able to receive the funds they need to maximize their recovery and get back to work in no time.

Conclusion

Indeed, it’s crucial for employers to know and understand how to handle employee-related accidents in the workplace. Otherwise, they may face legal trouble for breaking a certain employment law concerning workplace injuries. 

Therefore, if one of your employees sustains an injury at work, keep these things in mind, so you’ll know what steps to take from beginning to end. In doing this, you’ll be able to help your injured worker recover from what happened while protecting your company against any potential legal issues.