4 Steps to Take If an Employee Is Injured at Work
As an employer, it’s important to have a plan for when an employee is hurt on the job. You need to make sure that your employees are well taken care of and that you don’t do anything that would jeopardize their workers’ compensation claim. Here’s what you should know about what to do if one of your employees is injured on the job.
Make Sure the Employee Has Medical Attention
As bbjlawyers.com explains, if an employee is injured at work, it’s important to make sure he or she receives immediate medical attention. In some cases, this could be a simple first-aid session that is provided by the company. If the injury is more serious, you may need to call 911 or drive the employee yourself to a hospital. When employees are injured on the job, they’re likely to be frightened and in pain. Do your best to remain calm and reassure the employee that you’ll take care of everything. Make sure they know they will be compensated for their injuries and that they are protected by workers’ compensation laws.
Notify Your Insurance Agent or Human Resources Department
Typically, the employer will have a worker’s compensation insurance policy that provides benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries. In order to receive the benefits of the insurance policy, the employee must notify the employer or human resources department as soon as possible after an injury occurs. The employer is then responsible for notifying the insurance company.
There are several reasons why it is important to notify your insurance agent or human resources department immediately after an employee has been injured at work. First, if you fail to notify your human resources department or insurance agent of a claim, your coverage may be invalidated. Second, it is best to get claims processed and paid as quickly as possible so that you can focus on running your business. If you delay in notifying your insurer, payment on claims may be delayed too.
Investigate the Cause of the Injury
What happened? How did it happen? The answers to these questions should help you determine if the injury could have been prevented. If it could have, then there are likely ways to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Why is it important to investigate the cause of the injury? If a worker is injured because of a hazard on the job, you can bet someone else is at risk. By not investigating and correcting the problem, you are putting other employees in danger and increasing your company’s risk of a lawsuit.
Set up a Workers’ Compensation File
One of the common questions an employee asked is “How much money can I get if I hurt my back at work?” The amount of benefits you may be entitled to receive depends on the severity of your injury and how long you are off work. After an incident occurs, you’re going to want documentation of everything that happens during this process. This includes any witness statements, medical reports, and more. You need to keep this information on file in case there is ever a dispute over who was at fault or what happened during the incident. If you don’t keep documentation, it will be more difficult for you and your insurance company to defend yourself against any claims that may arise later on down the road.
Any time a worker is injured on the job, it’s a serious situation. Since it’s an unexpected event that can occur without warning, knowing what to do when an employee gets hurt can be daunting. That’s why this guide is vital for business owners. Above are the steps that should be followed in the event of an employee injury at work.
