Workplace accidents have negative effects on the growth and proper functioning of a business. These effects include a decrease in productivity, covering costs of medical bills, and preparing the necessary paperwork for workplace injury compensation. By following the right strategy and implementing adequate safety protocols, it is easy to deal with these issues. Let’s dig in deep to find out how to deal with workplace injuries the right way.
- Making an Action Plan
For every business, it is imperative to have an emergency assistance plan in case a workplace injury occurs. Having a plan like this means you already know the steps you would need to take to deal with the injury. While it might be impossible to prevent accidents entirely, safety protocols should always be followed with due diligence.
Following safety protocols, calling for medical assistance, reporting any injuries to relevant authorities, and supporting your employees in understanding the process are a few key points that should be included in the plan. Make sure you execute the plan when facing a workplace accident.
- Getting Medical Help
Right after an injury, the first step to take would be to call for emergency medical assistance. Most workplace accidents involve heavy equipment or machinery, resulting in different injuries and conditions. Therefore, a unique approach is required if you want to help out. While you wait for medical assistance to arrive, here are some key pointers.
- Ensure no one else is in danger and only let trained personnel with the right safety gear be on the incident site.
- If the injured employee is not feeling any pain and can move their limbs, assist them in moving to a safe place. However, remember to never move the worker if they are feeling excruciating pain or have visible injuries. Moving them into a situation like this can make their injuries even worse. For example, moving an employee with a broken shoulder bone or knee will only exacerbate the impact of the injury.
- Provide the necessary first-aid through a trained employee.
- Assist the injured by providing the necessary documentation to file for insurance claims or the relevant authorities.
- Filing For Compensation
The law gives employees the liberty to file for worker’s compensation if they have suffered serious injuries, leading to hospitalization. You can discuss with your insurance provider how to file for workers comp while keeping the injured employee onboard. After filing for compensation, the insurance carrier will evaluate the extent of injuries and how much compensation should be awarded.
Letting the injured communicate with insurance providers, their physicians, and the relevant authorities can speed up the process by many folds. Generally, medical bills, compensation for loss of working hours, and assistance for temporary disability are provided by the insurance provider.
- Incident Investigation
Investigating the incident and figuring out the details are crucial for filing a worker’s compensation or pursuing a lawsuit for the suffered injuries. The investigation is necessary as it will let the employer know whether there is a lapse in following safety protocols set by the relevant authorities or an equipment malfunction that led to the injury. Having this information helps business owners take the right steps to prevent similar injuries from occurring in the workplace.
- Following the Time Frame
Depending on the location of your business, most authorities responsible for regulating the health and safety of workers require employers to report the incident. According to the regulations set by OSHA in the United States, a detailed report of the incident, including pictures, and the involved parties must be reported as soon as possible.
- Supporting your Employees
Besides helping them seek medical care, filing for compensation, and attending to their needs, making a personalized plan is necessary to assist your employees in getting back to work after they have recovered. Consult with their healthcare provider and then create a plan to provide them with the best support. When making this plan, ensure you start assigning them simple tasks and lighter duties. As they start getting used to the routine, gradually increase the workload to normal. However, if they are having certain limitations after the injury, assign them a task that is within their ability to complete.
Dealing with workplace injuries is simple when you know the steps to take. Besides knowing how to deal with an injury, ensure workers follow the required SOPs and safety protocols while performing tasks. You can also arrange orientation workshops or practice drills to ensure all safety requirements are met. By implementing these tips at the workplace, it becomes easier to handle workplace accidents and gets things operational within no time.