Employees in all industries, whether new or established or based in an office or a warehouse, face growing physical demands which can lead to accidents and work-related injuries.
Human Resource departments are responsible for several different functions within every business. At the top of their list is creating a safe environment for employees and addressing occupational risks as they arise. HR teams are the first to file accidents that occur on the job, but what exactly does this entail? Unfortunately, many employees, and even employers, are unaware of the necessary steps in this process.
“It is important for human resource administrators to be proactive and keep their employees informed about occupational risks,” says Reed Hanoun, founder and CEO of MyAbilities. “Educating staff about safety procedures and communicating the significance of accident reporting in advance can help to streamline accident claims and mitigate the impacts of workplace injuries altogether.”
If you’re looking to optimize organization standards and prevent future workplace injuries, the team at MyAbilities has steps all HR Departments should take to ensure employees are prepared:
Educate your workers on safe workplace habits
'Safety First' is heard in every workplace, but ultimately it is up to the HR department of any organization to implement cultural standards that uphold such a statement. Regular safety training, as well as comprehensive training during the hiring process, is one way to make certain employees are educated on how to prevent injury as best as possible in the workplace.
Provide access to information and workplace resources
While regular education on injury prevention in the workplace is extremely necessary, HR departments must supplement training procedures with accessible instruction manuals and workplace resource documents. The average person will only remember about 25% of what they listen to, so creating a written or digital handbook that outlines rules regarding organizational risk is one way to keep employees aware and accountable.
Get in the habit of accident reporting
Report every incident, even if the injury is something small, like a jammed finger or small cut from a knife. Injuries that seem minimal at first glance may escalate and require future medical attention, so it is essential for incidents to be actively reported and for documentation to be firmly in place. You and your employees can never be safe enough when it comes to workplace injury, even if it is just an accident.
Make sure incidents are properly documented
While reporting is important, many workers, and even employers, are misinformed about the necessary steps to take when an injury occurs. Third party companies such as Crawford and Company, the world's largest independent claims management company, provide comprehensive outlines for employees, employers and the Workers Compensation Board. Investing time and confirming that every incident detail is documented accurately can potentially save employers thousands of dollars.
Offer modified duties to workers at the onset of a claim
One common mistake that employers make is not offering modified duties to injured employees after a workplace injury. Providing modified duties helps both the employer and the employee; oftentimes the employee doesn't want to be away from work for too long, and the employer doesn't want the added expense of missed work days and experience claims costs. HR Departments should be in constant communication with other departments of their organization to seek out alternate work that could be appropriate for a recovering employee.
