Employers: How Should They Handle Workplace Injuries?

What you’ll discover:

What are the most prevalent occupational injuries?
What steps may be taken to decrease occupational injuries?
What should companies do if one of their employees gets hurt on the job?
How do I record a workplace injury for an employee?

Every day, serious occupational injuries occur throughout the United States. Nobody likes to see their workers be hurt while performing their duties. Accidents happen regardless of how hard you try to prevent them, but if you are prepared, you will know what to do.

Understanding workplace injuries, preventing them, and creating a plan of action in the case of an incident are all “must-dos” for competent employers.

What are the most prevalent occupational injuries?

The most frequent workplace injuries are also some of the easiest to avoid. Proper planning may help employees prevent accidents that might have long-term consequences.

1. Trips, falls, and slips

Falls account for nearly one-third of all job injuries. They are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims in the United States. A trip or slip may seem to be small, but it may result in catastrophic head or neck injuries, fractured bones, or a variety of other health concerns.

2. Using machinery

A machinery accident is not uncommon in a factory, construction site, or agricultural environment, but it may occur wherever people use heavy gear. Being entangled in moving machinery might cause long-term disability.

3. Vehicle-related mishaps

Every day, car accidents occur. Some are the consequence of workers traveling for work-related reasons. Other types of injuries occur when employees are injured by moving vehicles while at work, such as at a warehouse or shipping/receiving area.

4. Explosions and fires

Fires and explosions do not occur often, but when employees deal with flammable materials, the consequences may be serious, impacting numerous people at once. Burns and respiratory ailments are very prevalent after a fire or explosion.

5. Injuries caused by overexertion or repeated stress

Employers might incur significant costs as a result of back pain problems. These may also result in a significant number of missed work days. These injuries are costly and last a long time. They are often the result of repeated operations such as lifting or carrying heavy equipment or stuff without good form.

What steps may be taken to decrease occupational injuries?

Simple efforts may be taken to make your team’s workplace safer. Here are a few ideas you may put into action right now.

Ensure that work environments are clear of risks such as trash and liquids.
Urge employees to use appropriate safety equipment to help reduce slip and fall accidents (employers can also provide this gear in some situations)
While working near equipment, make sure personnel are properly trained.
Train staff to look for warning indications and to use right procedures while operating machinery and equipment (including lockout tag-out procedures)
Establish evacuation preparations if your company works with dangerous products that might cause explosions or chemical exposure.
Teach employees to utilize correct lifting, pushing, and pulling methods. Remind employees that they may take breaks or seek assistance with a job as needed.
Observe OSHA guidelines for workplace safety.
Encourage workers to report safety problems and give them the authority to handle them.

What should companies do if one of their employees gets hurt on the job?

When an employee gets hurt on the work, the employer must consider the employee’s health and safety. Assure that they get prompt medical treatment if necessary.

Businesses must notify the workers’ compensation carrier of the injury as quickly as feasible. Reporting standards must be followed in order for an employee’s injury to be properly handled by workers’ compensation insurance. Most rules have a relatively short reporting period, frequently just a few days.

Several jurisdictions additionally require you to report the injury to state or federal bodies such as OSHA. For example, if an accident results in death, OSHA must be reported within eight hours. OSHA must also be reported if an accident results in hospitalization, amputation, or loss of sight.

How do I record a workplace injury for an employee?

Every firm should have a system in place to record workplace injuries. Several states and federal authorities may need particular forms to be filled out in order to report these injuries, but you should also keep an internal record. This report should be preserved in the employee’s personnel file for future reference.

A Work Injury Report assists an employer in conducting an interview with an injured employee concerning the accident. This sort of documentation is not only necessary by law, but it may also assist you in preventing similar accidents in the future.