While we all would like to think that we know what to do in an emergency, such as an employee getting hurt at work, it’s easier said than done. When someone is hurt, it’s difficult to stay focused on the task at hand because you become overwhelmed by concern. That’s why it’s easy to make a mistake.
Knowing which mistakes you should avoid when an employee is hurt at work can help you to properly handle incidents in the future. It can also help you develop the correct workplace safety procedures for all employees.
4 things you shouldn’t do if an employee is hurt at work
While every industry has different types of potential dangers, accidents happen in every single one. It’s important to not only be prepared for possible workplace injuries, but also to be aware of what to avoid. By learning about what you shouldn’t do when an employee is hurt at work, you can reduce the risk of worsening the injury and the aftermath.
Here are four things you shouldn’t do when an employee is hurt at work:
- Panic — When someone is hurt, our first instinct is often to panic. But when you panic, it prevents you from immediately responding to the situation, such as applying first aid. By staying calm, you’re able to carry out proper procedure as well as prevent the injured person from panicking as well.
- Minimize the situation — While you don’t want to increase the worry of both the injured person and the surrounding employees, you shouldn’t just brush off the situation by saying things like, “It’s no big deal.” By acknowledging the seriousness of the situation and not ignoring the employee’s pain, you’re showing genuine care for their well-being.
- Not report serious injuries — When it comes to serious workplace injuries, such as fatalities or those that require hospitalization, you must report it to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). You can file the report either online or by calling the 24-hour hotline at 800-321-6742.
- Ignore the cause — It’s important to determine the cause of the injury so that you’re able to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of it occurring again. You should learn as much information as you can from both the injured employee and the surrounding witnesses to develop effective procedures about handling the particular cause. Make effective changes to the workspace if needed.
Work-Fit can help you learn the right way to handle an employee getting hurt at work
We understand that it may be hard to stay calm and rational when one of your employees is injured on the job, which is why we’re here to help. Our injury management services can help you ensure that you have all the resources and information required to properly handle a situation with an injured employee.
Contact our team today to find out more about all the benefits Work-Fit can bring to your workplace.
