Between slippery floors and missteps, there are many ways someone could get hurt in a public place, but it’s your job as a business owner to mitigate these risks for your employees. If an employee is injured while working at your restaurant, it is important to take the appropriate steps to ensure their safety and well-being. Take a look at this guide to learn what to do if an employee is injured at your restaurant.
Immediately call 911 if the injury is serious.
The health and safety of your workers should always be of utmost importance, so it’s important to call medical professionals if they’re seriously injured. When you call 911, state your location and the nature of the injury. If your employee is not responding to you, is not breathing, or has a severe head injury, you must tell the dispatcher that they need help immediately. You should also do this if your employee has a broken bone, is bleeding heavily, or is in a lot of pain. While you wait for an ambulance, ask your employee if they need anything while they wait and try to comfort them. If you’re unsure whether an injury is serious, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You can also call your company’s health and safety officer or the local emergency medical services for advice.
Collect information about the injury.
When an employee is injured, you’ll likely be asked for more details by a 911 dispatcher, police officers, and insurance providers. Collecting information about the injury can ensure that you provide the right treatment and help the employee recover as quickly as possible. If you know what caused an employee’s injury, you can also take steps to prevent future injuries.
If an employee files a workers’ compensation claim, you’ll need information about the injury to prove the claim is valid. By collecting information about an employee’s injury, you can protect your business from any potential liabilities. Many safety regulations also require employers to keep records of employee injuries. Collecting information about an employee’s injury can ensure that you comply with all applicable regulations.
Cooperate with any investigations that may take place.
Employers must cooperate with any investigations that may occur after an employee is injured. OSHA requires this, and it’s important to follow the law to avoid penalties. Also, cooperating with investigations is the right thing to do. Ensuring that the injured employee receives the necessary help and support is always your number one priority and can help to protect your company from any legal action the injured employee may take. Cooperating with investigations can also help to reduce your insurance premiums because insurance companies typically consider an employer’s history of safety when setting premiums. If you can demonstrate that you are proactive about safety and cooperate with investigations, you may not experience a premium increase after the incident.
Review your safety protocols.
Accidents happen for a reason, and often, there’s something you could have done to prevent them. Reviewing your safety protocols after an employee accident can identify areas where you need to make changes and prevent future accidents. After making changes to your safety protocols, you must ensure your employees are aware of them. Reviewing your safety protocols after an employee accident can ensure that all your employees are up-to-date on the latest safety protocols and know what to do in the event of another accident. Above all, you want to keep your employees safe. By reviewing your safety protocols after an employee accident, you can identify any areas where your employees might be at risk and take steps to prevent future accidents.
Making sure your restaurant follows the correct protocols for injured employees is crucial for their well-being. And by reviewing your safety protocols, you can avoid future injury and keep your employees safe.
