How to Handle Accidents in the Workplace Effectively

A study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia showed that work-related injuries have decreased from 2016 to 2021. However, workplace injuries remain a significant issue, with hundreds of accidents still being reported in the construction, engineering, and service industries annually.

The study demonstrates the fact that injuries can happen anywhere, even in the safest environments. Your ability to respond during these critical moments can affect the injured employee’s recovery time. It will also affect the company's overall productivity and bottom line.

Implementing a comprehensive workplace safety plan can reduce the risks of accidents. This strategy should include steps to deal with mishaps as soon as they happen.

If you are developing a new safety plan or improving your current strategy, keep these tips in mind to ensure you can handle accidents in the workplace effectively:

1. Have the right coverage in place.

Group life insurance plans in Saudi Arabia with accident coverage can reduce your worries and help you deal with work-related mishaps.

These plans provide financial support in the event of misfortune and other benefits as employees recover from injuries.

Many policies include coverage for medical bills, disability, and compensation for lost wages. These ease the company’s and employee’s financial burden during treatment and recovery.

An insurance plan helps reduce your employees’ worries, allowing you to maintain a productive workplace. It also ensures your business complies with local labor laws.

Group life insurance plans are usually more affordable than individual policies; you will find them more cost-efficient and easier on your budget. If you are in Saudi Arabia, you can look up the premiums and plans offered by MEDGULF, a trusted insurance provider, on the MEDGULF insurance app.

2. Implement a protocol for handling workplace accidents.

In addition to an insurance plan, implement a strict process for handling workplace accidents when they happen.

Your response plan should include:

• Steps for providing first aid and when to call emergency services when needed.
• Reporting procedures regarding how and when employees should report an accident.
• Medical support and compensation the employees will receive based on their coverage and company policies.
• An investigation process to properly assess the cause of the accident and prevent future incidents.
• A communication plan to ensure the HR team, safety officers, and other key personnel are informed promptly.

Ensure the plan includes a clear delegation of responsibilities during an accident and complies with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.

3. Complete and file all essential reports.

Your plan's reporting procedure should include knowing the specific paperwork you must complete and where to file or submit it.

The incident report should fully document the incident. It should have complete details of what happened and the possible causes. It must also contain witness testimonies, relevant photos, and other pertinent information.

If the employee had to be taken to a hospital or clinic, make sure you get a medical report.

You must also report the accident to your insurance provider to check if it is covered and to start processing the claim.

In Saudi Arabia, you must report the accident to the labor office. The officials will decide if your employee was involved in a work injury or not.

4. Use the incident to assess and mitigate risks in the workplace.

Once the employee has received treatment and the incident has been documented and reported, take the necessary steps to prevent it from happening again.

First, review the incident report to know what brought about the accident. Discuss with your safety officers and relevant personnel other possible hazards that may cause it in the future.

If possible, conduct a workplace safety audit to know the potential hazards in the workplace and create or improve your plan to keep it safe. If you have safety officers, they can carry out this process. Otherwise, consider hiring a third-party service provider to handle it.

Once you have completed the assessment or audit, implement additional safety measures to prevent your employees from getting injured. These include:

• Cleaning and keeping the workplace free of clutter, loose rugs, and loose wiring.
• Addressing minor issues, such as tightening loose ceiling and wall fixtures and repairing small cracks on the floor.
• Displaying additional warning signs to alert workers of potential dangers and hazards.

5. Conduct regular safety and health training sessions.

Employees who know the potential hazards and how to handle emergencies in the workplace are more likely to react quickly and correctly when accidents happen. Because of this, have a safety and health training program in place.

Training sessions should cover important topics like proper equipment use and first aid procedures. They should also teach employees how to identify risks and report unsafe conditions before they lead to accidents.

Provide regular training to ensure your employees remember and follow all safety guidelines and avoid becoming complacent.

6. Encourage open communication regarding workplace safety.

Training sessions are excellent opportunities to communicate new and remind employees important safety and healthy rules in the workplace. However, you do not need to wait for the next gathering to inform or update your team of these guidelines.

Share updates by email or printed materials to inform employees about identified hazards and how to prevent or minimize them. Include the steps you have already implemented to address them, if any.

Also, encourage your employees to report actual and potentially hazardous conditions. Make sure they know there won’t be any reprisal when they share information.

Accidents in the workplace can’t always be avoided, but you can manage them when they happen with these strategies.