Accidents happen at the workplace with little warning or time to prepare at the moment. Because of this, you should have a system already in place for handling these incidents that all employees know about, so they can leap into action quickly without wasting precious time.
It is important to understand how to react to an accident at the time it occurs, and what to do in the direct and long-term aftermath as well. Fast action can save lives and limit damage, which serves everyone.
Keeping your workplace well stocked
First and foremost, you should have emergency medical supplies on site. It is a smart idea to have several employees trained in first-aid as well, as they can then do things like administering life-saving CPR or know how to keep a concussed person in the best position while waiting for medics to arrive. You want to have easy access to all necessary medical numbers as well, along with a landline or secure way of contacting them.
Dealing with insurance claims
Forbes discusses some of the need-to-know basics about workplace incidents, including how workers’ compensation insurance works. This is one of the first things you need to understand is the direct aftermath of an incident. Many workers end up injured moderately or severely in accidents and must go through a lengthy recovery process if they survive. They need to know how to report the accident and file their claim for benefits.
It is also important to understand employee rights. For example, employers cannot legally terminate your employment for a workplace injury, which many employees do not realize. It can help to have legal aid in your corner when pursuing compensation options to further support your recovery.