What Happens When Your Employee Is Injured on the Job?

The average cost for workers’ compensation claims is $41,003. However, depending on where on the body the injury happens, this cost could skyrocket. Accidents happen, but when employees get injured on the job, you must stay prepared. To avoid paying out-of-pocket costs for these claims, you must have the right insurance.

Read on to learn more about what happens when your employee is injured on the job.

Respond Right After the Injury

When an employee is injured on the job, the first step to take is responding to the injury. To do this, you must get other workers away from the accident area to ensure another accident does not occur. Once you have moved everyone else to a safe place, you need to assess the situation at hand.

A job site injury may be minor or major. Either injury type needs to get reported.

An employee with major injuries should get stabilized until emergency help arrives. Those with minor cuts, burns, or scrapes may only need first aid but should get checked by professionals just in case professional help can minimize the risk that anyone gets injured further.

It is recommended to convince an employee who got injured to see a doctor. They may not be aware of how bad their injury is at the time it happened.

For workers’ compensation, you should gather information while the incident is on your mind. Once your employees have received the help they need, use this time to write down details about the accident. It is also beneficial to ask witnesses what they saw.

Take photographs of the equipment and the scene as evidence. Document even the smallest employee injury because they may seek medical treatment down the line.

Provide the Right Paperwork

As the employer, you should work with the injured employee to file a workers’ comp claim with the company’s insurance. The best way to go about these incidents is to maintain open communication with all involved parties. This includes the injured, the claims adjustor, the doctor, and the insurance agent.

By providing the right paperwork and creating written documents about the worker’s compensation process, the one who got injured on the job can get the funds needed to get treatment.

If an employee is injured on the job, you must provide them with a claim form. As an employer, you must complete a report of accident form. A claims administrator will handle the form further once you have filled it out to describe your view on the incident.

The documents you create about the claims process and the policies for returning to work should be given to every employee. This builds a sense of trust and can lower the cost of claims.

Understand a Lawsuit

If you are dealing with a workers’ comp lawsuit, it is still in everyone’s best interest to keep the lines of communication open. When a claim lasts longer, it costs more money. This is a good time for employers to share the information and evidence they gathered after the incident occurred.

When a claim gets settled early on, a lot of money is saved because it does not turn into a drawn-out lawsuit. Legal fees and other costs should get covered by the employer’s liability insurance.

In general, workers’ comp claims can get settles without litigation. When safety precautions get followed, incidents are less likely to occur.

Follow Safety Recommendations From OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), outlines the standards that an employer must follow to provide workplace safety for their employees. By following the regulations, you should not run into a lot of workplace safety issues.

According to OSHA law, you must report the accident immediately by telephone to the closest Department of Occupational Safety and Health district office. This goes for any serious injury, death, or illness of an employee. The injuries and illnesses that are small and not serious still need to be documented in the OSHA log.

Plan Ahead

Following OSHA’s safety guidelines is essential, but employers and employees should know what to do in case a safety measure fails. When you prepare for a workplace accident, it can reduce the severity of the injury. It can also lessen the cost for the business overall.

As an employer, you should have set plans in place for a variety of emergencies. For example, you need a response plan for various types of accidents and have a safety officer assigned for any dangerous job. You should also train every employee on safety and emergency response plans, not just once, but regularly.

It is also important to stock up on first-aid supplies and keep them in a place that can be easily accessed. All employees should have an emergency contact in their file just in case.

When you prepare for the worst, you experience less devastating results.

Get Insured

When you do not have workers’ comp insurance in place, you are sure to pay a lot of money out of pocket when someone gets injured on the job. As an employer, it is your responsibility to get the right insurance in case of an emergency. This will not only be beneficial for the one who was injured, but it will also be an advantage when it comes to company finances.

When you find the right insurance company, they can provide you with insurance for several risk factors. Workers’ compensation insurance gives wages and medical advantages to the injured. When the injured employee accepts these terms, they relinquish the ability to sue for negligence.

Get Insurance Before Someone Gets Injured on the Job

No matter what line of work you are in, it is recommended to get workers’ compensation insurance just in case. You never know when someone may get injured on the job. Stay prepared for an incident like this by following OSHA guidelines, creating safety and emergency plans for your employees, and buying workers’ compensation.

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