What to do When an Employee Injury is an Emergency, or Not

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 | 0

By Robert Elliott

As is well known,  the keys to managing your workers' compensation costs are documentation and following procedures.

Here are eight important steps for managing an on-the-job emergency injury:

1. The supervisor makes  the decision about obtaining medical care, such as on-the-spot first aid, when a subordinate is injured on the job.
2. Follow your location's  procedures for notifying emergency services such as an ambulance.
3. Remain with the employee  until medical professionals arrive and you are satisfied the employee is receiving adequate care.
4. Obtain the name of the contact person at the medical facility to contact about the employee's condition over the next few hours/days. In some companies, the president or owner will go to the hospital to see if the employee is OK.
5. Obtain the name and address of the medical facility treating the employee.
6. The supervisor must  have ready and give the employee a copy of your company's Injury Instructions, Workers' Compensation Brochure, and Work Ability Form.
7. Supervisor also sends  the Work Ability Form directly to the medical provider with instructions to complete and return to the supervisor within 24 hours of treatment.
   
8. Supervisor faxes  report package (Work Ability Form and Employee Report; Supervisor Report and Witness Report) to injury coordinator.

1. Direct the employee to preferred medical providers where statutorily permitted.
2. Work Ability Form (WAF) must accompany the employee.
3. The treating physician must sign and return WAF to the supervisor within 24 hours of treatment.
4. The employee also brings the Transitional Assignment Form (TAF) to the physician.
5. Physician must complete and sign TAF.
6. Employee must return TAF to supervisor within 24 hours of treatment.
7. The supervisor then faxes TAF to injury coordinator and works with injury coordinator to assign an appropriate transitional duty position to injured worker.