Workers compensation claim laws are often misunderstood because they can vary significantly between states. If your employee reports a work-related injury, regardless of your location, the first two days afterwards are the most important.
It is important to act quickly for legal reasons, but also because studies show the faster you initiate the workers compensation claim process, the lower the ultimate cost. Additionally, waiting more than 48 hours after an incident occurs gives the injured party and witnesses time to forget crucial details about what happened. Employees’ recollections may also become skewed from opinions of outside parties, such as an attorney.
Protect your business and save money by taking the following steps in the 48 hours after an employee reports an injury:
Refer employee for medical attention
- If the injury is an emergency, seek immediate care for the employee. All state workers compensation claim laws allow the employee to see any doctor in an urgent situation. If the circumstance is not an emergency, refer the employee to a medical provider within your company’s network.
- Never prevent an employee from getting medical attention, even if you feel the injury is not serious.
Perform an assessment or accident investigation
- Visit the place where the injury occurred and make notes of the surrounding environment. Speak with employees who witnessed the event or who work in close proximity to where the incident occurred. Take photos if applicable.
- Be thorough and gather consistent information for all incidents. It is important to begin this investigation within the first 48 hours so that details of the accident or injury are fresh in the minds of employees.
Immediately ensure the injury or accident will not happen again
- After investigating the site, take the necessary steps to make certain the incident will not occur again. For example, block off the area in question if there looks to be a spill or other unsafe situation.
Report the injury
- According to the department of labor, several reports must be generated when an injury occurs in the workplace. Complete a opens in a new windowFirst Report of Injury or Illnessopens PDF file form as required by your state workers’ compensation claim law and forward to your insurance company or directly to Bankers Insurance. The incident should also be reported to the HR department, the employee’s direct supervisor, and the medical provider who saw or treated the employee.
- Report the incident objectively. Do not skew information gathered from the scene or from witnesses in any way, even if your preliminary instincts tell you the claim is not legitimate.
Inform employee about company policies on returning to work
- Not only is it crucial to review work restrictions and leave procedures, but it is also imperative that you inform the employee about the possibility of transitional-duty jobs that would suit their needs during the injury recovery period.
Submit the workers compensation claim
- This is also an important step to complete quickly because your insurance provider could give you valuable information about medical care, make timely payments and begin his own investigation into the incident as necessary.
And Finally
Become familiar with the workers compensation laws in your state(s) of operation. Your state’s workers’ compensation board will help you stay in compliance with the legal timelines.
