Business-Related Injuries and How To Deal With Them
By: Ursula Nizalowski
Employees are always at risk for getting injured on the job. This risk can be reduced with measures such as safety checks on equipment and guidelines on how employees should handle dangerous situations. Sometimes, injuries are caused by human flaws or unpredictable moments. So there is no one factor to blame for business-related injuries in general. Employees should be aware though, of the kinds of injuries they can sustain and what they can do about it if they are injured on the job.
Types of Injuries
Falling – Considered to be quite common, this injury can happen to just about anyone. After all, sometimes the thing that causes an employee to fall is out of their line of sight. Some examples include loose wires and an uneven walking surfaces.
Overexertion – Depending on the job, an employee might be required to do a physical activity that is repetitive and/or demanding. This includes activities like “lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying, or throwing objects” according to Insureon. While these activities aren’t dangerous in of themselves, they can cause injuries due to physical limitations.
Hit by Object/Equipment – Working with dangerous equipment obviously increases the risk of employee injury. But work-related objects are arguably less predictable, since they can fall unexpectedly or get in the way of an employee. These kinds of items can cause significant injuries, and even death in some cases.
Vehicle Incident – If an employee is licensed to drive a vehicle at their business, whether it be a truck or forklift, they naturally have to abide by the same rules that affect drivers on the highway. Still, employees that drive work vehicles are just as susceptible to vehicle-related accidents. This can involve not just the driver, but even the passenger or a pedestrian.
What to do when you’re Injured on the Job
1) Get Medical Attention – While not all work-related injuries are the same, the severe ones should always be treated right away. So if an employee has an injury that incapacitates them physically, a supervisor should be called first. But “If the supervisor is not available,” the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) suggests the employee should “get medical assistance or call 911”.
2) Report Injury – Once the injury is dealt with medically, it’s important to make a report about the incident that led to the injury. This will help the employee get compensation. It will also alert the business owner so they can prevent similar injuries down the line. Plus, employers are legally required to let OSHA know within 8 to 24 hours of a workplace injury or death.
3) File Complaint – If the business owner doesn’t take the proper safety measures, or let the proper authorities know of the work-related injury that took place, they are held responsible for indirectly causing the injury. An employee that suffered a work-related injury is within their right to file a complaint. This can be towards the employer and OSHA for a proper inspection of the workplace. But if there is some sort of “revenge” from the employer over such a complaint, whistleblower complaints can be made to OSHA within 30 days.
For further questions on the legal rights of an injured employee, feel free to contact accident attorney Rick Wagner.