If a worker suffers an injury on the job, they must seek medical attention as soon as possible. After all, the injured worker’s safety is critical.
However, workers must also keep in mind that, in the event of an injury, they must ensure they report the incident to their supervisor.
Why is it so critical to report a work injury?
Suffering an injury at work can make workers eligible to receive workers’ compensation. However, it is necessary for workers to report the injury to their supervisor first.
Reporting the injury sets the process in motion to actually obtain the benefits, including compensation for medical bills or disability benefits.
What is required of workers?
Generally, there are two things that injured workers should know about reporting their injury:
- They should inform their supervisor of the accident and injury immediately. There is an exception if workers require immediate medical care, but they should still make sure their employer receives a report of the injury as soon as possible.
- Under Georgia law, injured workers only have 30 days to make a formal injury report to their supervisor or employer.
The report of the accident and the formal injury report are two different things. However, workers must avoid delays or missed deadlines for either of these reports. Missing a deadline for reporting an injury is one of the most common reasons that employers or their insurance companies deny workers’ compensation claims.
The injury report must include all pertinent information
While reporting the injury on time is essential, workers must also ensure that the formal report includes relevant details of the accident. For example, their written report should include records of:
- The date and time the injury occurred;
- How the injury happened, in the course of work;
- The injury or illness resulting from the accident; and
- The part of the body impacted by the injury.
Employers need this information to file the First Report of Injury with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SWBC) and report the incident to their insurance company. That is why workers must take care to file an accurate and prompt report of the injury, so they can reduce the risk of a denial.
