There’s one call every employer hopes they never receive; one of your employees has been injured on the job. If your business involves traditionally dangerous work, you may not be surprised to get this call, but workplace injuries, even severe ones, can happen at literally any company that employs people, in any line of work.
In fact, one of the most common causes of a workplace injury is a simple fall, something that can happen in a tech firm or accounting office as easily as it can in a machining company or mining operation. And if an employee is injured on the job, your business has specific legal responsibilities you’ll need to uphold.
An injury to an employee can have legal and financial ramifications that can severely impact your company’s well being. So, no matter what business you’re in, it pays to plan ahead and know exactly what to do if a workplace injury happens at your business.
As Soon As the Injury Occurs:
It should go without saying that your first concern needs to be for the safety and well being of your employee. You need to make sure they get the medical attention they need to ensure a full and fast recovery. And, if it’s not clear how much medical care the employee needs, it’s safest to err on the side of caution. Secure care for them if they are unable, and prompt them to seek care on their own, even for minor injuries.
In addition to protecting the health of your employee, you’ll be protecting yourself by getting them medical care. Your employee may try to downplay their injury, or it may prove more severe than initially thought. By making sure they seek medical care, you’re minimizing the risk of further injury. If a legal issue arises from the injury later, providing this care will have the best possible outcome for your company’s defense.
Once the Employee’s Medical Needs Are Met:
After you’ve provided for the safety and wellness of your employee, you’ll need to think about the financial outcomes and your responsibilities for filing reports. One thing you will need to do is file a report with your workers’ compensation insurance company detailing the injury. This report can include simple details about your employee’s injury as well as information about how the injury occurred. The report can include observations by witnesses or any other pertinent information about the circumstances that led to the injury.
Any employee with a workplace injury can file a workers’ compensation claim, and as their employer, it is your additional responsibility to provide them with the claim forms.
When the Employee is Ready to Get Back to Work:
Bring your employee back to work as soon as they are able. Workers filing workers’ compensation claims have specific legal protections about their right to return to work. By welcoming your employee back to work after an injury, you’re meeting this obligation and protecting your company from legal action.
If You Have Questions or are Unsure About Anything:
If you’re not sure about your rights and responsibilities in the case of a serious workplace injury, you should also seek legal counsel from a business law professional. Each workplace injury claim is unique, and a trained professional can help you understand your position and minimize risk.
Do You Have a Workplace Injury Problem?
If so, Integrated General Counsel will provide you with steadfast and dedicated legal guidance. We can also help your company put measures in place to help mitigate your risk of a workplace injury and ensure you are protected when an accident does occur. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
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