As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to do what you can to keep staff safe at work. It may be that you buy office chairs for back support, or do regular checks for trip-hazards. As well as keeping you on the right side of the law, this can ensure your workplace is a good place to be.
But, despite your best efforts, there may come a time when an employee receives an injury. A malfunction of a chair, for instance, could lead to serious injury you couldn’t see coming. Even something as simple as a loose floorboard could be to blame. Whatever the cause, the worst has happened; an employee has received an injury at work, and contacted a personal injury lawyer. You, in turn, face some difficult decisions about how to proceed.
The issue here, of course, is that most of the guides speak about how to avoid injury. They don’t, however, tell you how to proceed if you do find yourself facing the worst. So, we’re going to look at that here. These three steps should show you how to act starting from the moment you become aware of what’s happened.
Respond in the right way
You’ve received a phone call or noticed a commotion in the office. It doesn’t take long to realize that an injury is at the center. How you act from this moment could make a significant difference to the damage this incident does. Not to mention that it could have enormous repercussions for that colleague’s health. The right way to respond would be to act fast and do what you can to get medical help. Though this may seem obvious, many employers send workers back to their desks with injuries. And, that comes back to bite them. Instead, forget about your company for the moment, and do everything you can to help the injured party.
Keep note of everything
Most companies have a first-aid book for notes on injuries. Yet, few of them use it. Remember, though, that failure to take note of everything leaves you at risk. If it’s your word against an employee, you don’t stand much chance, especially when injury’s involved. Instead, be sure to write about the incident with date and times included. Make sure, too, to keep hold of any first aid forms or communications you have with that colleague.
Take fast action to rectify issues
By saying this, we don’t mean that you cover up what’s happened. That’s a significant legal no-go and a sure way to land in trouble. During the note taking process, take pictures of the offending issue. But, once evidence is collected, you should work fast to rectify it. You’re only human, after all, and you had no real way to know that carpet had come loose. But, leaving it that way when you’re aware is a whole different issue. If the court can see this is a genuine mistake which you’ve rectified, they’ll be more inclined to let you off lightly.