Do you know that a 29-day delay in reporting can cause a 59% increase in claim cost?
Timely reporting on workplace safety might not be a commonly discussed topic, but it is as crucial as making a prompt medical decision for an injured person. However, expeditious reporting is different from urgent care. It is undeniably an essential factor in warding off any associated legal risk and avoiding penalties and fines for late claims reporting. This is the gist of the crucial, timely reporting needed for workplace safety. Let’s dive into the article to analyze this topic in-depth.
Let’s First Understand What Workplace Safety Is.
Workplace safety helps prevent hazards within work setting premises. It also aids in building employee morale and reducing absenteeism.
It also teaches the feeling of job protection and care from employers, encouraging employees to perform better at work.
Necessary Steps To Take:
Identifying pit-holes for risk assessment can be beneficial in making proper strategies and mitigating risks. Addressing ergonomic issues to reduce and urge the need to adopt these practices is another way of alleviating health-related safety dangers.
According to a worker’s compensation attorney in Seattle, developing safety policies and giving adequate training to follow those procedures should be the core of every workstation. In addition, reinforcing safety protocols and conducting drills and exercises are crucial for safer workplaces.
Also, you cannot just set the protocols and procedures and forget about them. Therefore, it is necessary to revise and amend them according to changing trends and company needs. Moreover, you should strictly enforce these protocols to keep safety at the forefront of everything.
Timely Reporting Is Crucial For Workplace Safety:
Prompt Medical Care:
Addressing the patient’s concern and giving him proper care at the right time can halt the injury progression. Prompt care is necessary to rightly address the employee’s well-being and send him to the ER or urgent care when needed. It will also help to cut medical costs.
Prevention of Future Hazards:
Prevention is necessary for employee safety and also to reduce health-related costs such as medical billing and insurance claims.
Reducing Legal Risk:
Not addressing the employee’s concerns on time may exacerbate the feeling of neglect in the injured employee, and therefore, in severe cases, he may feel rattled and contact an attorney so that the employer may face the music in terms of financial hurt. This will not only evoke negative sentiments in fellow employees but will also increase the likelihood of litigation.
Identifying Potential Fraud:
An estimated 1-2% of workers’ comp payments are based on fraudulent claims. Businesses unknowingly lay the groundwork for these schemes by delaying insurance claims reporting, during which fraudsters can fudge details without verifiable evidence. An established workflow for accident reporting helps companies effectively assess workplace injuries and collect the kind of valuable insight needed to prevent fraud.
Delayed reporting of hazards or injuries at the workplace has potential drawbacks. It addresses the issues pertinent to the employee’s health concerns and is also essential for emotional support. A lack of empathy may produce feelings of wrath, which can result in contact with the attorney. In addition, it will also help reduce legal risks and repel any fraudulent activity that occurs due to delayed reporting.
