Most people think that workplace injuries only happen in work environments with heavy machineries such as construction sites and factories. The reality is that getting injured while on the job is a possibility for any worker, no matter where you work.
Whether your employee gets injured due to slip and fall accidents, toxic exposure, or chemical burns, workplace injuries can be costly to any employer. Besides, work-related accidents and injuries may affect productivity or even ruin the relationships between you and your employees.
Luckily, what you do after an employee gets injured can help you prevent the adverse consequences of a workplace injury.
1.   Help the injured worker seek medical attention.
As soon as an accident happens, the first thing you should do is move any injured employees out of danger’s way. More importantly, make sure they receive proper medical attention to ease the pain and rule out anything serious.
Even when there are no visible injuries, make sure they see a doctor as some injuries may not show until after a few hours or even days. Doing this will ensure that injured workers do not file workers’ comp claims to collect benefits for injuries that are not work-related.
2.   Understand the workers’ compensation laws in your state
Most employers in the US are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, especially if they have several workers. The purpose of this coverage is to help injured workers collect compensation for medical bills and lost wages when they suffer workplace injuries or illnesses, regardless of who was at fault.
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It is important to note that workers’ compensation insurance in most states covers all injuries and occupational illnesses that arise out of and in the course of employment. However, due to the current pandemic, COVID-19 workers compensation in Nevada has now made it possible for employees who contract the virus to collect compensation from their employers.
3.   Investigate the accident
Whether you were on site when the accident happened or an employee notified you of the workplace injury, it is important to investigate and gather facts about the incident.
Usually, investigating an accident means getting a written account from the injured worker and any witnesses who were present when the accident happened. In other instances, you may have to take photos of the accident scene and evaluate them to establish the cause.
Whatever you do, investigating a workplace accident, even when there is no resulting injury, is a good way to identify insufficient safety procedures and processes that you should improve to prevent similar accidents in the future.
4.   Don’t forget about other employees.
There is nothing more disheartening for employees than getting news that one of their coworkers has been injured or even killed at the workplace. That is why you need to address a workplace accident or incident as soon as possible.
In case the accident resulted from some underlying safety issues, ask for suggestions and let them know you are willing to make every effort to provide a safer workplace. Additionally, make sure the workers understand your company’s commitment to their well-being.
Addressing workers’ concerns and anxiety after a workplace accident or incident will help them feel safer at work, thus becoming even more productive.
Conclusion
To sum up, being an employer comes with a wide range of responsibilities. However, your employees’ health and safety must be among your top priorities.
Even though accidents are inevitable, what you do after a workplace accident will often determine the outcome. Having an effective emergency response plan in place will save you crucial time at important moments and ensure favorable results out of a bad situation.
