Member Article

What do you do when you have a safety incident on a job? Are you prepared? This article will focus on some things to consider if you have a safety incident.

Assistance

The No. 1 priority should be to safely assist anyone that has been injured if you can. Time can be of the essence when safety events occur. You may need to call 911 depending on the circumstances. Do not wait for someone else to call 911. You may need to administer first aid. As long as you can do so safely, you should also attempt to prevent any further injuries to anyone else and remove the unsafe situation. Depending on the circumstance, you may want to notify an emergency contact of the injured person to make them aware of the safety incident. OSHA laws are tricky and may require reporting of the safety incident. You should immediately begin to consider whether you must report a safety incident to OSHA or some other entity. OSHA requires employers to report fatalities within eight hours of the incident. OSHA also requires employers to report any loss of an eye, hospitalization, or amputation within 24 hours of the incident. Other reportable incidents include work-related injuries or illnesses that result in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work, or transfer to another job. Depending on the size of your company, it might be required to maintain and post records of injuries. Internal risk managers and counsel may be able to help you navigate the OSHA rules, regulations, and landmines of reporting safety incidents.

Republished with permission. The article "Weathering the Storm: How to Navigate Safety Incidents" was published by AGC Alabama on January 3, 2024.