A workplace injury can be traumatic for a lot of people and can cause stress, anxiety, and depression. It is important that we provide support to our employees when they are going through this process so that they can return back to their regular duties with minimal stress.
When an employee is injured at work, there are a number of things that you and your company have to do. You should consider the following points in order to ensure that the employee’s injury is monitored accordingly.
Once the injured employee returns to work, it is important for them to return to their previous position as soon as possible. This ensures that they are still paid for the hours they worked while they were out of action before any other changes were made.
Your company should be sure that all necessary safety measures are put in place during work hours.
How do workplace injuries happen?
Injuries happen to everyone at some point in their life, but they can still be prevented and many of them can be avoided by taking precautions.
People in the workplace are vulnerable to all sorts of injuries, especially when they work in a physically demanding position. A worker is more likely to experience a workplace injury while they’re doing physical labor jobs like construction, machine operation, and manufacturing. A lot of these injuries are caused by the work environment itself, like repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome or compulsive disorder.
What to Do When Your Employee Is Injured at Work
Injuries in the workplace are inevitable and when they happen, companies need to know how to handle the situation.
- Do not panic
Employees should be informed that they are not in any wrongdoing and it is not their fault if they were injured while at work. - Make sure you have first aid available at your workplace
Ensure that the injured employee is taken care of first: The company’s insurance will typically cover employees who are on the job. - Insurance requirements
Your company should follow a standard HR policy on injuries, which includes having evidence of medical insurance and workers’ compensation coverage.
Be prepared for follow-up questions: An injured employee may have insurance coverage, but they also may not be able to work as a result of their injuries and so they will need money to get by while recovering from their injuries in the hospital or at home. - Emergency medical care
Emergency medical care is essential for any workplace accidents. In most cases, hospitals provide treatment for free or at a highly discounted rate. This saves your company big bucks in the long run. If you are not able to reach them, then call your company’s emergency phone number and/or email. When you call for help, make sure that you speak clearly and ask for a specific person who can talk about your situation with you. Make sure that you keep track of the time so that when it comes time for treatment that all parties involved are on the same page.
If the injury requires immediate attention, it is best practice to call 911. If you don’t have a non-emergency medical facility on site, it is important that you do your research and find an appropriate health service near your location. - Non-emergency medical care
The on-site health service offered by employers is one of the best options to provide this type of care. It offers both traditional and complementary treatments like manual therapy, physical therapy, psychological counseling, and more.
When it comes to an on site health solutions plan, employers should consider what their specific needs are as well as what benefits they can offer their employees during treatment. For example, if the company provides paid time off that can be used for medical treatment or if they offer other benefits like health care or vision coverage.
