hile the workplace environment should be safe overall, it is possible for accidents to occur. As a business owner in Covington, it is important that you know that workers have a right to have access to insurance that covers any medical treatments that they may need. Like any serious injury, 911 should always be called as soon as possible. You may want to look into getting a personal injury attorney if someone happens to get injured at your business.
Having medical insurance to cover any injuries on the job can be highly important to remember that you don’t have to cover any medical costs associated with private contractors. Keep in mind that you are not responsible for any injuries that do not happen in your workplace.
What Is Considered A Workplace Injury?
Accidents that happen the most in the workplace include injuries involving people slipping on ice, improper lifting, and automobile accidents. There are of course other ways that people can be injured at your business. As long as it happens while an employee is doing their job it is considered a workplace injury. Injuries are more likely to happen in businesses that employ physical laborers such as construction firms.
Preparing For Possible Injuries On The Job
To prepare in advance for the occurrence of an injury in your workplace, it is important that you have first-aid kits on hand. They should be located in a place where employees can access them in case of an emergency. If there aren’t any safety kits in your workplace, employees may not know what to do and their injuries may become more severe over time. You can prepare them for any accidents that may occur by conducting safety training during their orientation. It isn’t uncommon for businesses to update their safety and emergency response plans often to ensure that supervisors and employees know exactly what they need to do when they are faced with a safety concern.
Having a safety and emergency response plan in place will not only save your business some money but will help reduce the potential severity of an injury. Your response plans can involve you incorporating safety officers within your business to handle jobs that are deemed as dangerous. It can also mean maintaining emergency contacts for all of your employees. It’s always a great idea to minimize any potential risks and to prepare for serious emergencies so that you are prepared.
Executing An Appropriate Response Time
As stated previously, make sure to call 911 if there is a serious safety emergency. In most situations, you will want to take the following steps to professionally handle the situation:
- If the situation is dangerous, relocate your workers to somewhere safe
- Evaluate the causes and severity of the situation
- Provide all injured parties with first aid if possible
- Collect evidence to put your witness testimony together
It is important that you take these steps because it means that you are taking action as a business owner and making sure that you handle the situation appropriately. Not only that, but you are also sticking up for yourself and your business by supporting those who support your business. You are also being very responsible by documenting the situation in case any workers’ compensation claims are filed in the future.
Always leave any serious injuries for medical professionals to handle because some injuries go beyond first aid. If the first aid kit is used, however, make sure that gloves are being used in the circumstance where there is blood involved. Never panic in a situation where someone is injured in your workplace. This can often reduce the severity of the situation and protect yourself from any unnecessary liability by handling it in a calm way.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation
As you may know, employees have the right to file an insurance claim if they happen to get an injury while they are working. Make sure you report their injury and provide them with a claim form. You will also need to fill out the Employer’s Report of Accident form. This is where the evidence you collected will come in hand. A claims administrator will handle the rest of the workers’ compensation details after you have successfully completed the form. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to maintain communication between the injured employee, the doctor, and the insurance agent. This will help the process go more smoothly as you will know exactly what is going on throughout the claim.
Handling A Lawsuit Involving An Injury
In the worst-case scenario of someone suing your company due to an injury, you should make sure that you seek a personal injury attorney in Covington. This will provide you with the best support to handle a situation where you have to make use of the documentation you collected when the injury occurred. It’s important that you have all of the needed documentation because that information has to be shared with your attorney and claim adjusters.
It is in your best interest to settle an employee’s claim as soon as possible to avoid any additional costs associated with the lawsuit. This is why it is essential to have a workers’ compensation policy that covers any legal fees associated with your liabilities. Litigation is not required for you to settle a workers’ compensation claim so make sure that you follow safety measures to avoid having to file a claim at all.
Taking Preventative Measures Against Workplace Injuries
While injuries can seem very untimely and inconvenient to handle, they can help your company develop and prepare for future challenges. Even if you are experiencing a situation for the first time, you should keep in mind that you can learn from the situation and prevent it from happening again in the future. Even if it does happen again, you will be better prepared through the proper use of safety training and education to prepare your workplace to respond to emergencies effectively.
