Being injured on the job can be a scary thing. It is often unexpected and can become very serious very quickly. Once you’ve been able to take some deep breaths and regain some control you may realize that you have experienced the injury at work and therefore can file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim. However, before you get to the point where you notify your supervisor and begin that process you may need to address your injury quickly.
If your employer is following the recommendations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) they will have an emergency supply kit on hand which can help you or a co-worker quickly tend to your injury. Depending on the injury type, immediate care may be able to prevent you from experiencing a more prolonged and drawn out injury then you otherwise might have experienced.
The good news is that many employers do follow OSHA recommendations and do have an emergency supply kit, but the bad news is that many employees do not know where this kit is and are therefore not able to access it quickly in an emergency. It is a good thing for you to know where the kit is and what supplies are available in it so you can not only help yourself if you’re injured, you may also be able to help a co-worker. If you know where the emergency supply kit is, that’s great, if you do not know where it is, there are some steps you should take so you can be prepared in the case of an emergency.
Step #1: Ask a co-worker. If you are not sure where to look for the emergency supply kit, don’t be afraid to ask a co-worker who may be more in the know then you are. This is the easiest and quickest way to find out where the kit is located.
Step #2: If your co-worker does not know where this kit is located you may need to speak with a supervisor who should absolutely know where it is located. A simple email or phone conversation should point you in the right direction so you are prepared in the case of an emergency. If your supervisor does not know where the kit is or if your company even has a kit available, you should move on to the next step.
Step #3: If your supervisor and co-workers do not know where the emergency supply kit is and if there is a situation where they may not even be sure if one exists you should immediately speak with the human resources department so you can request that an emergency supply kit be provided by your employer. You can state that it is an OSHA recommendation and that it would make you feel more comfortable in the event that there was an emergency.
While it is not your express responsibility to find and know where the emergency supply kit is located within your workplace, it may help you if you do get injured on the job. Any injury may result in a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim, but having an emergency supply kit handy may make your injury less severe and let you get back to work more quickly.
No matter how severe your injury is or whether or not an emergency supply kit was present at the time of your injury you may still have the need to file a claim. If you need help navigating that process you may wish to speak with one of our board certified workers’ compensation attorneys. Contact our office and one of the attorneys will speak with you about working to protect your long-term interests.
