Serious work-related accidents occur every day across the United States. No employer wants to see employees get injured at work. Unfortunately, accidents will happen no matter how hard you try to avoid them, but if you are prepared, you will know what to do.

Understanding work-related injuries, taking preventive measures to avoid work-related injuries, and formulating an action plan to deal with work-related injuries are all “must do” good employers.

What are the most common work injuries?

The most common work injuries are some of the most preventable. Careful planning can help workers avoid injuries that may affect their lives.

1. Slips, trips and falls

Falls account for about one-third of all injuries in the workplace. They are the number one cause of workers’ compensation cases across the United States. Although trips or slips may seem small, they can cause serious head or neck injuries, fractures, or many other health problems.

2. Use machinery

Mechanical accidents are not uncommon in a factory, building, or farm environment, but they can happen wherever workers use heavy machinery. Allowing your body to be caught by moving equipment can cause long-term weakness.

3. Vehicle-related accidents

Car accidents happen every day. Some are the result of employees spending time on the road for work reasons. Other injuries occur when workers are hit by moving vehicles in a working environment (such as in a warehouse or shipping/receiving area).

4. Fire and explosion

Fires and explosions do not happen very often, but when employees work with combustible materials, these workplace accidents can be serious-affecting multiple workers at the same time. Burns and respiratory damage are common in fire and explosion-related accidents.

5. Overwork or repetitive stress injuries

Back pain injuries can be costly for employers. They can also cause a lot of lost working days. These injuries are expensive and will last a long time. They are usually caused by repetitive tasks, such as lifting or moving heavy equipment or materials without proper form.

How to reduce work injuries?

You can take simple steps to make your team’s workplace safer. Here are some suggestions you can implement today.

• Ensure that there are no hazards such as debris and liquids in the work area
• Encourage workers to use appropriate equipment to help prevent slip and fall injuries (employers can also provide this equipment in some cases)
• Ensure that employees receive proper training when working near the machine
• Teach employees to observe warning signs and follow correct procedures (including lockout and tagout procedures) when using equipment and other machinery
• If your business uses hazardous materials that may cause explosions or chemical exposure, please develop an evacuation plan
• Instruct workers to use the correct lifting, pushing and pulling techniques
• Notify employees that they can take a break when needed or seek help with tasks
• Follow OSHA standards for workplace safety
• Encourage employees to report safety issues and authorize them to resolve safety issues

If an employee is injured at work, what should the employer do?

When an employee is injured at work, the employer should keep in mind the health and safety of the employee. Make sure they seek immediate medical attention when needed.

The employer needs to report the injury to the workers’ compensation carrier as soon as possible. Reporting requirements must be met so that employees’ injuries can be properly handled by workers’ compensation insurance. The reporting window for most policies is very short—usually only a few days.

Some states also require you to report injuries to state agencies or federal agencies such as OSHA. For example, if an injury results in death, OSHA must be notified within eight hours. If the injury resulted in hospitalization, amputation, or loss of eyes, OSHA must also be notified.

How do I record an employee’s work injury?

Every employer should have a way to record work injuries. Some state and federal agencies may require specific forms to report these injuries, but you should also have internal records. This report can be saved in the employee’s personnel file for future reference when needed.

A kind Work injury report Help employers interview injured employees about accidents. This type of record keeping may be required by law, but it can also help you prevent this type of injury from happening again.

If you have questions about the reporting requirements of your region or specific industry or situation, please contact Rocket Lawyer On Call® To get affordable legal answers and advice.

This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Rocket Lawyer is not a law firm, nor is it a substitute for a lawyer or a law firm. The law is complex and changes frequently.For legal advice, please Ask a lawyer.