At your workplace injuries can happen, but they don’t always come in an emergency situation. You might cut yourself and while it would hurt and may even lead to a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim, it wouldn’t necessarily constitute an emergency. Not every injury at work is an emergency and often they can be addressed on site and without any outside intervention.
There are times though, that a workplace incident does constitute an emergency and may require the assistance of first responders to address injuries that occur and any damage to property that might occur as well. These situations require more than just a simple band-aid and a few days away from the office, they may require ambulance rides and long hospital stays among many other things.
The complex nature of an emergency that occurs at the workplace makes for a slightly more challenging set of circumstances to navigate when dealing with making sure everyone gets what they need in the moment and following the incident. Here are some steps you should take if you’re ever faced with an emergency at your workplace.
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Call 911, do not hesitate. You may be unsure of whether or not to involve first responders, but if there is even a small thought in your mind that the situation requires outside help, make the call. When first responders arrive on the scene they will take over the process of making sure everyone who was involved in the emergency is well taken care of and can get the help they need.
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Get everyone out of harm's way as best you can. Depending on the type of emergency that happens there may be on-going threats to the safety of those involved. Accidents often involve multiple people and items that could lead to additional safety threats before help can arrive. If you are involved in the incident and are able, remove yourself from the situation first and then address anyone else who may be in need.
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Take note of the circumstances so you can share what happened with anyone who may be investigating the emergency once the dangers have subsided. While you may not be in a position to take pictures, you should do your best to take mental notes about the situation. You may be in a situation where you will need to report to your supervisor what happened and it will become part of the record if you need to be away from work due to injury.
When an emergency happens it can be a stressful time for everyone involved. If you can manage to keep a cool head and work through any difficulties until the emergency responders can be on the scene you will go a long way in mitigating the aftermath of the situation. If you are injured you may need to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim, but that will come after the emergency situation has subsided and all dangers have been eliminated.
These types of emergency situations may require that you consult with a board certified workers’ compensation attorney who can review all the details of the situation and work with you on making sure your claim is filed properly and your long-term interests are protected.
