Workers compensation insurance is required for almost every business to assist when employees get injured on the job. Although you should always take measures to prevent workplace injuries, accidents happen. You need to know what to do in case one of your employees gets hurt.
Steps to Take If Your Employee is Injured on the Job
- Ensure your employee receives medical treatment. It’s important that your employee receive medical treatment no matter how small the injury. Even if the employee insists that they’re fine, ensure they seek immediate medical help.
- Speak with your employees and write down evidence. Write down details of the incident so that you have details for when it comes time to file a claim. This also helps identify dangerous areas in the workplace that might have caused the injury.
- Help the employee file a workers’ compensation claim. The workers’ compensation comes through your business’ insurance carrier. It will be a faster and easier process to work with your employee to ensure they receive the workers’ compensation benefits necessary.
In some cases, a workers’ compensation claim can turn into a lawsuit even if you follow all the necessary steps and precautions. In times like these, it’s best to cooperate and offer the evidence taken right after the injury. A longer legal process can mean higher legal fees, so you want to make the process as quick as possible.
To avoid more workplace injuries, make sure to investigate the initial injury site as soon as it happens. Keep your employees away from dangerous areas and repair any damage that may have caused or could cause an injury. Avoiding a repeat of a workplace injury in the same space is crucial to avoiding unnecessary lawsuits. In cases where the employee works with living creatures such as dogs and a dog bite occurs, ensure that the proper action is taken to warn employees about the danger and remove the threat from the facility if possible.
Be sure to take appropriate preventative measures to avoid as many workplace injuries as possible. In case they do happen, it’s a good idea to have forms ready to sign that describe the claims process to your employees and assures them that you’ll work in tandem to file a claim if necessary. Speak with your Boise insurance agent about what your workers’ compensation insurance covers and be sure to educate employees about the coverage they may receive.