Question:
An employee recently cut their hand on the edge of a broken filing cabinet at work. We offered medical treatment, but they declined. Should we still have them complete an accident report?
Answered by the HR Experts:
- Yes. Even when an employee declines professional medical care, it’s still best practice to document the incident.
- Have the employee complete a Refusal of Medical Treatment form to record what happened and that they chose not to seek care. This documents that treatment was offered, should symptoms require medical care in the future.
- There isn’t an official refusal form used everywhere, so reach out to our HR Experts for a recommended template.
- Also, many states require you to provide a workers’ compensation notice on the day of the injury (or within one working day of learning about it). For example, California uses the DWC-1, and Colorado uses the WC15. If you’re unsure which notice applies to your state, our HR Experts can help.
- Finally, fix the hazard. A broken filing cabinet edge can injure someone else, so repair or replace it promptly. Consistent documentation (for safety issues, injuries, and more) helps create accountability and solve problems sooner.
- If your organization is subject to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordkeeping requirements and the injury ends up requiring more than first aid, you’ll need to record it within seven days on OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report).
Contact Jinji HR Experts for your specific concerns or other HR information at printcreative@jinjihr.com.
