When one of your employees is seriously injured in the workplace, it can be hard not feel overwhelmed by worry; for the employee in question, for the impact on the rest of your staff, and for what it might mean for your company going forward.
If you do ever find yourself in this situation however, any stress or worry can be easily overcome by following these five simple steps:
- Ensure any serious injury is treated immediately
In the case of most serious injuries, the need for immediate medical treatment will be obvious. However, many serious personal injury claims are made on behalf of employees for an injury that has been sustained over time. As well as risk assessments and good health and safety practices, make sure you stay vigilant to the signs of serious injury and encourage employees to do the same in order to avoid worsening any potential problems. If an employee refuses medical treatment for something like a head injury, make sure they are monitored for signs of further serious implications such as concussion and contact emergency services if necessary.
- Record and report the accident
Every single accident or injury that happens in your workplace needs to be recorded in your company’s accident book but most serious injuries also need to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive by law. If your employee has suffered a serious injury such as a fracture, damage to sight, burns, loss of consciousness, or an injury that requires them to be out of work for seven or more days, you will need to make a RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) report online immediately.
- Contact a specialist
If your employee is injured while they are at your workplace, there is a good chance they will be entitled to make a personal injury claim against your company. If you have never dealt with a personal injury claim before or you want to find out more about your rights and responsibilities as an employer, it is a good idea to seek advice from a serious injury claims specialist such as First4SeriousInjury.
- Handle any claims calmly and fairly
Many employees are often afraid to make serious injury claims for fear of what it might mean for their job in the future. If your employee has a legitimate case against your company, it is important that you handle it fairly. Make sure they have all the insurance information they need and that they are both welcomed back and reassured that their job is safe when they are ready to return. After all, you should have the correct insurance to cover you in this situation and a personal injury claim is designed to help people who have been put out of work, not as a personal vengeance!
- Take steps to avoid future accidents
If your employee has been injured as a result of faulty equipment, dangerous surroundings or anything else going amiss in your workplace, it is vital that you act quickly to make any necessary changes that will help to avoid similar accidents re-occurring. Taking such steps will not only make the injured employee feel safer when returning to work, it will also give peace of mind to the rest of your team and help you to avoid any further claims in the future.