Steps an employer can take if an employee becomes injured

While all California businesses are required to take certain safety precautions in order to protect their employees, there are some professions where employees will always be at risk for injury. If an employee does become injured while on the job, there are certain steps that should be taken.

The absolute first thing that an employer should do should an employee become injured is helping that employee seek medical attention. If the injury is serious or life threatening, the employer should contact emergency services. If the situation is a non-emergency, the employer should ensure that the employee gets to a medical care facility. Once the employee has begun to receive medical treatment, the employer should then secure the scene of the accident to avoid any other potential work injuries. Paperwork regarding the incident should be completed within 24 hours.

Because a work-related injury could keep the employee from being able to return to work for some time, employers should implement a return-to-work transitional program. The program usually is flexible by allowing employees who are medically cleared to return to work but may still be unable to perform their previous tasks. Finally, employers should be aware of any factors that could lead to injuries. If those factors can be mitigated, the number of work-related injuries could be reduced.

All work-related accidents have the ability to leave an employee with severe or even life-altering injuries. These injuries, which could include neck, back and spinal cord injuries, can be extremely costly and can keep an employee from being able to return to work for a long period of time. If an employer's insurance company fails to provide or denies an injured employee their workers' compensation benefits, an attorney may assist by filing a claim against the employer or the employer's insurance company.