With workplaces opening up again, accidents are likely to happen. In fact, no organization is exempted from situations like this. As a supervisor, you must prepare ahead before an employee comes to report a case to you. So, what preparation do you need? Mark Haskins asserted that preparation for workplace accidents follows a definite process. Understanding these steps guides your action and helps you attend to the situation proactively.
At Centennial Medical Center, we can provide treatment for workplace accidents and similar injuries whenever you need care. Just visit us directly or call today to learn about your treatment options.
In order to help prevent workplace injuries, we’ve provided a helpful set of tips below that are highly effective in reducing the likelihood of accidents on the job:
Procedures And Response Techniques To Minimize Accidents And Risks
If an accident ever occurs at your workplace, here are some procedures and techniques that can help you minimize the risks.
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Don’t panic.
First of all, don’t panic. People tend not to think straight and make the right decisions when they panic. So, be in charge of the situation and try to calm everyone down.
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Administer first aid treatment.
In case there was a fire outbreak or other accident where a worker was physically hurt, administer first aid to injured persons. After, you can contact the emergency care center depending on the gravity of the accident. If you possess what it takes to help the victim, proceed before an emergency arrives.
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Get help from coworkers.
Someone might pass out at the workplace. It is important to administer CPR to such persons. Some employees might have learned life-saving skills from the Red Cross or any other organization. Ask other employees if they are qualified to provide immediate care.
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Decongested the accident scene.
Don’t allow people to overcrowd the scene to prevent potential secondary accidents. What this implies is only a few qualified personnel should be around the scene. For example, gas leakages in the building may affect people’s health adversely.
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Investigate the cause of the accident.
Understand the situation that led to the accident by asking people that witnessed the incident. If no one was there when it happened, scrutinize the environment. This will be helpful to take the right measures to prevent it from happening another day. And if physical evidence exists, keep it safe.
After restoring the situation, you can proceed to take the following steps:
- Analyze and evaluate the incidents. By doing this, you will be gaining insights into the severity of accidents or injuries. Could it have been worse? Do you need to investigate further? All these are what you will identify during your evaluation of the situation.
- Ensure you carry everyone along, including the top management and stakeholders. Notify every concerned individual and personnel. However it may be, you must be fast about it before it goes viral.
- Accordingly, inform the families of the affected individual. Also, insurance companies and regulatory agencies that need to be aware should get the notification promptly.
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File a report and follow it up.
Ensure you file a comprehensive report, which will be forwarded to all supervisors within a day that the incident happened. Prepare a follow-up report to the initial report stating the suggested actions that should be executed within 48 hours.
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Learn from experience.
Lastly, there is a need to compile the procedures taken based on your experience to curtail accidents. It will serve as additional information to tackle a similar situation in the future. Provide training to supervisors and employees based on your knowledge of how to handle workplace accidents.
Workplace accidents don’t happen all the time. But when it happens, you must handle it effectively, such that it doesn’t get out of hand. That is why every supervisor needs to be conversant with the necessary steps to provide immediate care to the casualties. For example, injured employees with minor injuries might need only first aid. However, injured workers who need immediate medical attention should visit an urgent care center as soon as possible.