Construction Law
4 Ways to Reduce Employee Workers’ Compensations Claims
Working in the construction industry comes with risks. Some of the most frequent injuries are a result of falls, explosions, being run over by vehicles, and repetitive motion injuries. Injuries happen everyday and, as an employer, protecting your workers means protecting your business. The key to avoiding claims is prevention. In this article, we’ll discuss four ways you can reduce employee workers’ compensation claims.
1. Know the Law
Construction industry employers are required by law to provide workers’ compensation benefits to their employees. Florida Statute Chapter 440 covers Workers Compensation Law in detail and exists to ensure rights and protection for both employees and employers alike. Workers compensation covers employee injuries and time away from work. It also keeps your costs down and lowers the risk of a lawsuit.
2. Have an Injury Prevention Plan
As construction lawyers in Orlando, we are intimately familiar with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for a safe and healthy work environment. Become familiar with OSHA workplace standards so you can promote effective safety procedures to all employees. Hazard and safety trainings and visibly displayed posters are some effective practices that help reduce work-related incidents.
3. Conduct Background Checks
Conducting background checks before hiring an individual can give you insight into a person’s past history and potential red flags, like a fraud charge or a criminal record.
4. Have an Investigative Plan
Investigative plans can help prevent claims. Not only are they useful in preventing future accidents, they can help management determine the validity of a claim. They seek to understand and identify the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why”, and “how” of an incident. You should record witnesses, evidence, procedures, emergency responses, and any contributing factor that led to the incident. In addition, you should always inform your employees of the ramifications of reporting fraudulent claims.
What Makes a Claim Valid?
Even with a plan in place, accidents can still happen. There are several ways to determine if a claim is valid:
- The injury was an accident caused by unsafe work conditions or the misconduct of the employer or another worker
- An unintentional accident caused by the worker
- The injury was caused by performing repetitive work
- The incident occurred while the employee was employed at the company
If you are looking for experienced construction attorneys in Orlando, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.