Excerpt: An employee reports an injury to the supervisor, but what steps should you take to professionally manage the injury? Should you send the employee to the nearest medical clinic, to in-house first aid, or fill out an injury claim? What happens after a doctor’s visit? What happens to the employee? And what paperwork is necessary to ensure proper claim management. There are specific procedures you need to follow to make sure both the employee and the company are properly protected and that legal and insurance requirements are fulfilled. It’s the supervisor’s responsibility.

First of all, the injured employee is the most important part of your responsibility. To make sure the injury or illness is properly attended, especially in serious or life threatening emergencies. In the event of a serious injury, unconsciousness, or other major emergency. Paramedics or an ambulance service should be called for prompt medical attention. There may be a need for transporting the injured person to a hospital or emergency clinic for treatment. In this case attending paramedics, or transportation personnel, should be a medical authorization for treatment by the supervisor or as much information as possible so there will be no administrative complications as to who will pay for medical treatment.

The next step is that someone, preferably the supervisor, should go to the treatment facility to ensure the injured employee is properly treated and to answer any questions that may arise. If possible this supervisor should stay at the treatment facility and talk to the injured employee if allowed. One important fact you want to convey to the employee was that since this was a work related injury the company will pay all medical bills and that other benefits will be provided. Certainly, you want to convey to the employee that the company cares about the employee, and wants to extend whatever assistance can be provided during the treatment period. If the employee will be hospitalized for more than one day the supervisor or other company representatives should visit that person in the hospital. The supervisors should provide all the necessary information to explain what benefits the person will receive. If the employee will be off work, or at home, for any period of time telephone contact should be maintained with the injured employee. Not to harass or to make sure the person is at home, but to convey the sense of belonging to the company, and to express your sincere interest in the welfare of the injured worker. The company will pay transportation costs to and from home to the medical clinic. The employee should be advised of this information. Again, if the employee has any questions about benefits the employee should be told what specific benefits are provided by the company. Don’t forget the telephone contact, or perhaps a person visit to the injured employee. This is very important to the injured employee to understand the company cares about him or her.

Naturally, after any workplace injury or illness a thorough accident investigation and insurance report of the injury or illness must be reported, preferably within 24 hours of the incident. Your job as a supervisor is not complete until the paperwork is compelted. But you also have a responsibility for that injured employee. Each company has their own specific reporting requirements to meet state, federal, and insurance company guidelines so follow your company’s procedures.

If you experience a non-emergency injury or illness, again, the employee comes first. Whatever first aid or minor medical attention is required it’s your job to see that this medical attention is provided. In first aid treatment, not requiring a visit to the doctor, the incident requires investigation to determine the cause of the injury, and then some type of documentation is necessary to keep track of all first aid treatment.