Incident Claims—Management & Reporting

Laundry operators, managers and employees share responsibility for incident prevention. Despite the best intentions by everyone who works in a laundry operation, incidents do occasionally occur. When an incident does happen, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set procedures that laundries must follow as far as filing claims and managing the process in compliance with OSHA and/or state and local regulations. Highlights of those procedures follow below. First off…

Report All Injuries

Injuries are avoidable, if employees pay attention to their surroundings and follow the correct procedures when performing their jobs. However, should an injury occur, it’s critical that someone notify management so that procedures are followed properly after a workplace injury.

  • ALL work-related injuries must be reported to management immediately, regardless of how minor.
  • All injuries will be reported on an injury report form and submitted to an insurance carrier.
  • All injuries will be thoroughly investigated to determine the cause of the injury.
  • If medical attention is necessary, a supervisor will authorize it.
  • No one should seek medical attention without notifying management.

Preventing a Workplace Injury

Here are some tips for preventing injuries on the job:

  • Take responsibility for your safety and those around you.
  • Don’t take shortcuts!
  • Intervene in any unsafe act.
  • Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when required.
  • Keep the floor clear of water and clutter.
  • Pay attention to training and awareness topics.
  • Keep an eye out for each other and get help when needed, especially when lifting objects.

Remember, nothing justifies sustaining an injury.

Workers’ Compensation Process

Reporting an injury that did not occur or occurred away from work is considered workers’ compensation fraud. Here’s what you need to know:

  • It’s critical that management and the insurance carrier thoroughly investigate the incident.
  • Reporting an injury that did not occur at work is a crime.
  • Insurance companies may use investigators to determine if a claim is fraudulent.
  • Employees could face serious fines, including imprisonment, if it’s determined that they filed a fraudulent claim and received benefits. TS