Workplace accidents can happen in any type of industry, and the severity of on-the-job injuries can vary greatly depending upon the circumstances of the accident. When an accident does happen at your place of employment, it is essential to report any injuries as quickly as possible to your employer and, in many cases, to report the accident to a state or federal workplace safety agency. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigates workplace safety violations across the country and can hold employers accountable for serious violations that result in employee harm. There are many different reasons that it is important to report accidents in the workplace, from preserving an employee’s right to seek financial compensation for his or her losses to preventing similar accidents in the future.
1. Secure Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
One of the most important reasons to report a workplace accident is so that you can be eligible to obtain workers’ compensation benefits if you were injured. Each state has its own workers’ compensation system, but there is always a required timetable for reporting an accident on the job and filing a workers’ compensation claim. In some places, it is necessary to report an accident and resulting injuries to an employer immediately or as soon as possible. If an injured worker fails to report an injury in a timely manner, that worker might lose his or her right to seek financial compensation through the state workers’ compensation system.
Even if you do not know immediately if you suffered a serious injury and need to wait for results from your healthcare provider, it is critical to report the accident.
2. Improve Workplace Safety
Whether you were injured in a workplace accident, another employee was injured, or a workplace accident fortunately did not cause any bodily harm this time, it is still essential to report the accident in order to make the workplace safer and prevent similar accidents in the future.
You should report an accident to your employer or manager first. In many cases, however, it is important to report the accident to a state or federal agency that oversees workplace safety issues and violations. Depending upon the state in which the workplace accident occurred, you may be able to report the accident to a state OSHA program. However, fewer than half of all U.S. states currently have OSHA-approved safety and health programs, which means you may need to report the accident to a separate state agency or to the federal OSHA.
3. Create a Record for Filing a Lawsuit
In most states, workers’ compensation is an exclusive remedy for injuries on the job. However, there are a number of different scenarios in which you may be eligible to file a lawsuit if a workplace accident resulted in injuries. In such circumstances, it will be important to have reported the accident so that you have a record—and evidence—for filing your lawsuit.
It may be possible to file a third-party claim against a person who is responsible for a worksite injury, such as a vehicle driver who crashes into a roadside construction site. In addition, some states have specific laws that allow injured workers to sue employers for negligence in very limited circumstances.
Final Thoughts
Accurately documenting the accident is only the first of many steps in dealing with a workplace injury. The process can be complicated and leave you with more questions than answers. If you were injured in or witnessed a workplace accident, you should seek advice from a workplace injury lawyer about your next steps.