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What Do I Do When A Worker Has Been Injured?

Dec 26, 2020

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No matter how careful anyone is, they are never safe from accidents at work or on the commute to work. The worst can happen very quickly. Injury, occupational disease, an accident between the place of work and home- anything can happen.


So, as an employer, you need to be ready to face any situation and provide all kinds of supports to your employee. Here's our take on what you should do when a worker has been injured.



Accidents at Work or Commuting Accidents?


Suppose the accident occurs in the course of the employee's professional activity. In that case, it can be considered as an accident at work. Despite everything, s/he must prove that this accident was indeed the result of their activity. The work accident must meet three conditions:




  • It must be the consequence of a sudden event (a fall, for example)

  • It must reveal a bodily or mental injury

  • It must have occurred during or on the occasion of work


We distinguish another type of accident, called the commuting accident. This will be covered if it takes place during the trip between the place of work and the residence or it can be even between your place of work and your place of catering.



What Do I Do When a Worker Has Been Injured: Employer's Obligations


First and foremost, you must ensure that the employee can be taken care of. The victim of a work accident must be treated as quickly as possible, depending on his condition's seriousness.


For example: call to the fire brigade, to the SAMU, dispatch of the employee to a doctor if he can travel, etc.


Be careful, however. You must absolutely not let the employee leave alone if you are not sure that his condition allows it. Make sure that he is not running any risk.


Also, think about:




  • Put an end to all danger to other employees

  • Notify the family.


The Employee Must:



  • Inform you of his accident. Unless you witnessed the accident, the employee must inform you directly or notify his department head. Or notify even the personnel department on the same day when the accident occurs. Follow these recommendations within 24 hours.

  • As a last resort, the employee can report the accident by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt. This may be the case, for example, when the accident is minor. Also, when the employee does not consult a doctor until the evening after work and is put on leave.


Of course, if he cannot report the accident himself, a colleague or relative can inform you.



Give the Employee the Work Accident Reporting Sheet


As soon as you become aware of the accident, give him the accident report sheet. You have an obligation to complete and deliver an industrial accident sheet to the employee. In practice, this sheet is completed in parallel with the declaration made to the health insurance.


This sheet allows him not to have to advance medical and pharmaceutical expenses.



Report the Accident to Health Insurance


You must report the accident at work to the insurance. You have to do this even if the accident is minor and the employee continues to work.


In the event of complications related to the accident, he will then be able to benefit from the coverage. Even a long time after the accident, he will be benefitted from his care for work accidents.


If you are absent, your representative can make this declaration for you. But in the event of a dispute, it will be you, personally. You will have to prove that this declaration has been made.


Therefore, it is particularly useful to raise the awareness of your close associates or even to train them. So they do not wait for your return and proceed without delay to the declaration of any work accident.


When should you make this declaration?


You have 48 hours from the date of the accident to report it. Of course, this period will start to run in practice from the moment you become aware of it. This deadline does not take into account Sundays and public holidays.



Assess the Severity of the Accident


The accident is serious or could have had serious consequences:


Your employee has only a slight injury, but the defective machine could have caused much more damage.


You must inform the committee if there is one in your company. If necessary, a meeting can be organized to understand the circumstances of the accident. Decide to put in place adequate preventive measures so that it does not recur.


The accident is benign:


The declaration is compulsory, but you can ask the regional health insurance fund for authorization to declare.



Conclusion


As your employee's superior, it's your duty to assist both the victim and the company. Your employee will need you during and after the accident.


Meanwhile, your company will need your assist while compensating the victim. If you are confused, you can get help from Alberta injury lawyers.