What To Do If an Employee Is Injured on the Job

If you’re a business owner, there is a high likelihood that, at some point, an employee of yours will become injured. That’s why knowing what to do when this happens is critical. Below is some information from our legal team at Andrew Injury Law about what you should do if one of your employees is injured on the job. 

If You Have an Employee Injured on the Job, Don’t Panic

The first thing you should do if your employee has been hurt at work is remain calm. You can follow these steps to protect everyone’s well-being: 

• Get your employee medical attention. Depending on their injury, call 911 or an ambulance or drive them to the hospital yourself if it is safe to move them. 
• Ensure you follow OSHA recommendations when it comes to reporting the workplace injury. Typically, employee deaths need to be reported within eight hours and employee injuries within 24 hours if the injury is severe, like an amputation, loss of an eye, or severe burns resulting in hospitalizations. 
• Turn to your emergency plan. To avoid panic, an emergency plan can help you know what to do and what comes next. It’s a blueprint for following the proper procedures. 
• After you have uncovered an injured employee, get the rest of your employees in a safe space while you seek medical attention for your injured worker. This will reduce the likelihood of further injuries occurring. 
• Review if you need to file a worker’s compensation injury claim and investigate why the worker was injured. 
• Gather evidence, such as photos, audio, and videos of the accident, to document why the injury occurred and prevent it from happening again. 
• Ensure you remain honest and open to communication, transparent with the injured employee and the rest of your workers, and careful when handling things. At this point, it might be a good idea to seek legal help. 

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What to Do When an Employee Is Injured Off the Job

If your employee was injured off the job, workers’ compensation benefits won’t apply. To get benefits, they would need to have been injured at work. Should your employee have been injured outside of work, you can recommend that they use their health insurance to help cover the costs of their treatment. 

When Work Injury Compensation Is Not an Option 

If you don’t have workers’ compensation insurance and you have employees, you might face legal penalties and liability if one of your workers has been injured. Those who should be able to claim workers’ comp might sue for damages, including pain and suffering, lost income, and various medical expenses. You might also face fines and penalties imposed by the state of Idaho for failing to have this insurance. 

What Injuries Should Be Reported at Work?

Your employees must report any injuries they experienced at work during working hours caused by regular working duties. This means that—for business purposes — everything from sprains and broken bones experienced during slip-and-fall accidents to whiplash, cuts, and bruises sustained during a car accident should be reported. 

So, it’s best to speak with your employees and tell them that when in doubt, it’s best to always report any type of injury sustained on the job, no matter how minor or major. 

How Andrew Injury Law Helps When an Employee Is Injured on the Job 

If one of your employees has recently suffered an injury on the job and needs to pursue workers’ compensation benefits or believes their rights have been infringed upon, recommend they consult with us at Andrew Injury Law.

We ensure that employers comply with industry rules and regulations, while also assisting employees in claiming their rightful workers’ compensation benefits. Our goal is to facilitate a smooth recovery process for the injured, maintaining fairness and adherence to legal requirements for all parties involved.

Our worker’s compensation lawyers know the law and can help determine if your employer has followed the industry rules and regulations. We can also help you file a claim to receive benefits while focusing on your recovery. You can speak with us here or visit us at our offices in Idaho. 

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