Post Injury Response Procedures Training Employees

When developing your post-injury response procedures, all participants — the supervisor, employee and potential witnesses must be fully trained. Then, in the event of a work-related injury, everyone knows how to respond intelligently because they are alert to the kinds of information they must document about the incident.

It is, however, your supervisors who play the most pivotal role in post-injury response management. Supervisors are the ones who take charge immediately after the event. They direct the actions of the injured employee and witnesses. Since supervisor judgment is critical to the outcome of the injury, training must focus on making wise decisions.

Since you are relying on your supervisor’s ability to make good judgment calls on the scene of an injury, training must focus on strict post-injury protocol. There is no substitute for rigorous supervisory training. It will save your company dollars and heartache down the road because it’s not a question of if a work related incident will occur, but when. Therefore, when a workplace injury does happen, supervisor preparedness is key.

After training, test supervisor mastery by creating scenarios where the supervisors are asked make the best decision based on the information they have and what the protocol permits

Determine the extent of the employee’s need for medical attention.
If Emergency Services are Required
1. Follow departmental procedures for contacting Emergency Services.
2. Remain with the employee until medical professionals have arrived on the scene.
3. Obtain contact information of the medical facility.
4. Send a work ability or injury treatment form along with the emergency services personnel.
5. If you can accompany the injured employee to the medical facility, then do so. Follow up with the injury treatment form to have it completed by the treating physician.
6. If you can obtain an employee statement, do so, if the employee is able to speak or write.
7. Have witnesses complete the written witness statement forms.
8. Document everything you can about the incident, including date, time, location, nature of work employee was performing, whether safety gear was being used appropriately, production schedules, exigent circumstances, such as whether the employee was double shifting, or working over time, whether machinery (if used) was in good repair, whether employee tools were in good condition.
9. Take photos of the worksite where the injury occurred.
10. Compile statements, photos, into an injury-tracking file to which you will be adding your communication pieces and diaries as the employee recuperates.

If Emergency Services are not Required
1. Ensure the injured employee receives appropriate first aid if required.
2. Direct the employee to preferred medical providers if this is permitted in your state. (workersxzcompxzkit)
3. Send an injury treatment form along with the employee to be completed by the treating physician and faxed back to you within 24 hours so you can adapt a modified duty job to accommodate the employee’s limitations.
4. Make sure you tell the employee that the form has to be completed and faxed back.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.

Podcast/Webcast: How To Prevent Fraudulent Workers’ Compensation Claims http://www.workerscompkit.com/gallagher/podcast/Fraudulent_Workers_Compensation_Claims/index.php

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers’ comp issues.

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