Returning to Work After an Industrial Accident

Employees who work in industrial environments are usually highly trained to operate equipment or properly handle substances. Unfortunately, industrial accidents do happen and often without warning. Machinery can malfunction and liquids can spill. Sometimes these incidents involve injury and even death. A company can take a few steps to help employees safely return to work after such an event.

Open Communication

Rumors will start to spread quickly regarding what happened. It is important for business leadership to communicate with employees about what occurred as well as the steps that are being taken to rectify the issue. In some instances, federal agencies may be asked to conduct an investigation, which can take months. No matter the circumstances, keeping workers in the loop regarding the steps the company is taking will give them peace of mind regarding their future safety on the job.

Review Company Standards

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, prevention programs not only mitigate the risk of a workplace illness or injury, but they can also reduce the financial consequences for a business. Manufacturing, office-related and industrial accident statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics note that millions of people every year suffer a work-related injury and thousands die.

Following an incident, an industrial business may want to review its prevention programs and offer courses in conjunction with OSHA, such as:

• Hazard identification
• Job-specific training
• Lock out/tag out protocols
• Management leadership

Establish a Return-to-Work Process

Employees who were injured as a result of an incident may have special needs when it is time to start working again. A business should have a process in place to reintegrate the individuals, which includes determining any restrictions they may have and finding ways to accommodate them. Depending on the company and its location, there may be federal, state or local laws that will govern this process. Business leadership should always act in accordance with the law and may consider contacting an attorney to ensure they are following regulations.

Clean Up

The result of an industrial accident typically involves some level of cleanup. Biohazard remediation is necessary to ensure future workplace safety if there are any bodily fluids involved. It may be tempting to allow janitorial staff to handle the situation, but biological fluids or other chemicals should be handled by trained technicians in order to prevent the spread of illnesses and remain compliant with regulations for biohazard exposure.

The team of professionals at Aftermath employs strict practices to provide respectful and efficient industrial cleaning services. The specialists use powerful cleaning agents to disinfect an area, which means 100 percent of the bacterial and viral risk has been removed. Proper cleanup in accordance with OSHA and other agency regulations is an essential part of assuring employees that the work environment is safe to occupy, as the threat of contamination has been eliminated.