Traveling for work is often viewed as a glamorous perk associated with high-ranking positions. It can certainly be fun, but anybody in a traveling position knows that it comes with its fair share of stress, too. One particularly worrisome issue is the possibility of being injured on the job while on a travel assignment. If this happens, who do you call, and who is responsible? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 1,176,000 cases of nonfatal workplace injuries in 2020 that required treatment at a medical facility. Thousands of these likely occurred during travel assignments. Find out what to do if an employee is injured in this situation.
Collect All Relevant Data
Although an injury that occurs during an interstate assignment may be more difficult to handle for a workers’ comp insurer, it is logistically the same as any other injury for a business. As such, the first response should always be ensuring that an employee has access to medical care. After this, a business should begin collecting all relevant data related to the incident. This may include statements from any witnesses, statements from the injured staff member, and documentation from the medical provider that they saw.
Identify the Cause of Injury
With documentation in hand, a business should be able to identify the cause of the injury and respond accordingly. If an injury was caused by malfunctioning machinery, for example, the machine should be decommissioned until repairs can be done. If the injury was the result of human error, though, it may prompt retraining for staff members to remind them of essential safety principles and basic injury prevention.
File With the Right Authorities
Once you’ve assessed the data associated with the incident and addressed the root cause, you must file all required documents with the correct authorities. The first of these will most likely be your company’s workers’ compensation insurer. Typically workers’ compensation claims must be filed within a year of the incident, but this varies from state to state. Businesses should check with their insurer to verify requirements and ensure that they are in compliance. In addition to notifying the insurer, companies are required to notify OSHA within 24 hours f an injury occurs that necessitates an amputation, hospitalization, or eye loss.
Follow Up With Company’s Insurer
Finally, it’s essential that you follow up with your company’s insurer to verify that you’ve submitted all required documents and information necessary to pursue a claim. This part of the process may be uniquely complex due to the fact that the associate in question was traveling when they sustained an injury. It’s important to comply with all guidelines established by your claims processor and provide any details that they may request.
About InsureMyWorkComp
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