Reporting Workers’ Compensation Claims

It is essential to act quickly and take action immediately for legal reasons, but also because studies show that the faster you initiate the workers’ compensation process after an injury, the lower the ultimate cost of your claims. Additionally, waiting more than 48 hours after an incident makes the injured party and witnesses forget crucial details about what happened. It also means employees’ recollections may become skewed by opinions of outside parties, like an attorney, or from talking to one another.

You can help protect your company and save money by taking the following steps in the 48 hours after an employee reports an injury:

Refer employee for medical attention

• If the injury is an emergency, seek immediate care for the employee. All state workers’ compensation laws allow the employee to see any doctor in an urgent situation. If the circumstance is not an emergency, refer the employee to a medical provider within your company’s network.

• Never prevent an employee from getting medical attention, even if you feel the injury is not severe.

Perform an assessment or accident investigation

Visit the place where the injury occurred and make notes of the surrounding environment. Speak with employees who witnessed the event or work close to where the incident occurred.

Be thorough, and also be sure to gather consistent information for all incidents. It is crucial to begin this investigation within the first 48 hours so that details of the accident or injury are fresh in employees’ minds.

Immediately ensure the injury or accident will not happen again

After investigating the site, take the necessary steps to ensure the incident will not occur again. For example, block off the area in question if there looks to be a spill or other unsafe situation.

Report the injury

According to the Department of Labor, several reports must be generated when workplace injuries occur. Complete a First Report of Injury or Occupational Disease form as your state workers’ compensation law requires. The incident should also be reported to
the HR department, the employee’s direct supervisor, and the medical provider who saw or treated the employee.

Report the incident objectively—do not skew information gathered from the scene or witnesses, even if your initial instincts tell you the claim is not legitimate.

Inform employee(s) about company policies on returning to work

Not only is it crucial to review work restrictions and leave procedures, but you must also inform the employee about the possibility of transitional-duty jobs that would suit their needs during the injury recovery period.

Submit the workers’ compensation claim

This is also an important step to complete quickly because your insurance provider could give you valuable information about medical care, make timely payments, and begin their investigation into the incident as necessary.

Workers’ compensation laws are often misunderstood because they vary significantly between states. If your employee reports an injury and you are unsure what steps to take, you are not alone. However, regardless of your company’s geographical location, the first two days after an employee gets injured are always the most important.

It is essential to act quickly and take action immediately for legal reasons, but also because studies show that the faster you initiate the workers’ compensation process after an injury, the lower the ultimate cost of your claims. Additionally, waiting more than 48 hours after an incident makes the injured party and witnesses forget crucial details about what happened. It also means employees’ recollections may become skewed by opinions of outside parties, like an attorney, or from talking to one another.

You can help protect your company and save money by taking the following steps in the 48 hours after an employee reports an injury:

Refer employee for medical attention

• If the injury is an emergency, seek immediate care for the employee. All state workers’ compensation laws allow the employee to see any doctor in an urgent situation. If the circumstance is not an emergency, refer the employee to a medical provider within your company’s network.

• Never prevent an employee from getting medical attention, even if you feel the injury is not severe.

Perform an assessment or accident investigation

Visit the place where the injury occurred and make notes of the surrounding environment. Speak with employees who witnessed the event or work close to where the incident occurred.

Be thorough, and also be sure to gather consistent information for all incidents. It is crucial to begin this investigation within the first 48 hours so that details of the accident or injury are fresh in employees’ minds.

Immediately ensure the injury or accident will not happen again

After investigating the site, take the necessary steps to ensure the incident will not occur again. For example, block off the area in question if there looks to be a spill or other unsafe situation.

Report the injury

According to the Department of Labor, several reports must be generated when workplace injuries occur. Complete a First Report of Injury or Occupational Disease form as your state workers’ compensation law requires. The incident should also be reported to
the HR department, the employee’s direct supervisor, and the medical provider who saw or treated the employee.

Report the incident objectively—do not skew information gathered from the scene or witnesses, even if your initial instincts tell you the claim is not legitimate.

Inform employee(s) about company policies on returning to work

Not only is it crucial to review work restrictions and leave procedures, but you must also inform the employee about the possibility of transitional-duty jobs that would suit their needs during the injury recovery period.

Submit the workers’ compensation claim

This is also an important step to complete quickly because your insurance provider could give you valuable information about medical care, make timely payments, and begin their investigation into the incident as necessary.