The high rate of construction site injury is an unpleasant fact of owning a construction business. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees in this field are more likely to suffer an accident than those in many other professions. Besides prioritizing workplace safety to minimize risk, the second most important thing you can do is to respond appropriately when the inevitable accident does occur.
1. Follow Your Plan
Having an accident response plan in place helps prioritize actions in situations where someone’s life is depending on you. Here are a few tips for creating a plan:
- Consult OSHA and your Ohio construction insurance for guidance on best practices
- Keep emergency contacts up-to-date and create a phone tree to deliver information
- Put your plan in writing and keep it in an easily accessible location
2. Give First Aid
Your first priority is to secure the scene and ensure the safety of everyone present. Then care for the injured person, giving first aid and CPR if necessary. You may be able to treat minor injuries in-house but always defer to professional medical services when in doubt. Call 911 if the worker is unconscious, bleeding heavily, or has sustained a blow to the head.
3. Create a Paper Trail
Document every injury, no matter how small. Even what seems like a small cut or burn may turn out to be a serious injury when evaluated by a workers’ physician. By creating an incident report form ahead of time, you will take the guesswork out of deciding which details are important to record. Here are some to include:
- Witness statements
- Pictures of equipment involved
- Victim’s symptoms and description of what happened
4. Open Lines of Communication
Once the crisis is over, the next thing to do is to communicate with other parties involved. First, call the injured workers’ families to let them know the location and status of their loved ones. Next, contact your Ohio construction insurance company to file a workers’ compensation claim. When discussing the case, be forthcoming and honest with the information you give. Doing so will make the process go more smoothly and lessen the time it takes employees to receive compensation.
5. Be Prepared for a Lawsuit
Workers’ compensation exists to pay the medical bills of employees injured on the job. However, some might not be content with this compensation and may choose to sue you for damages. Employees who go this route usually claim that unsafe working conditions their employers’ negligence caused their injuries. Be prepared for this possibility by cooperating fully with attorneys and continuing to communicate with employees as they recover. Doing so will help settle the lawsuit sooner than if you resist the process.
About Haughn & Associates
Founded by Michael Haughn in 1986, Haughn & Associates is a full-service, family-owned, independent insurance agency based out of Dublin, Ohio. H&A strives to provide the best possible price and unique insurance solutions across a myriad of industries, including construction, IT, Habitation & Commercial Property, Agriculture, and Engineering. Devoted to providing the best of business insurance, life and disability insurance, personal insurance, employee benefits, and bonds, H&A is proof that success lies in long-standing client relations and satisfaction. To learn more about how H&A can be of service to you, contact us at (877) 802-2278.
