Highlight: Workers’ Compensation and Safety at Work By Amanda Montague, Director of Benefits Workers’ compensation is an important benefit that helps you if you get injured at work, but of course it’s better to avoid an injury in the first place. Obviously no one wants to be injured, but what you may not be aware of is that workers’ comp claims can also affect Vinfen’s bottom line, which affects how much Vinfen is able to put towards things like our retirement plan contributions and employee raises. As a non-profit, we invest the funds we have left over at the end of our fiscal year back into our workforce, and workers’ comp claims can have a significant impact on how much we have to work with.
Safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. Here are a few tips for keeping yourself and others safe in the workplace: Make sure lighting is adequate – if a lightbulb is out, replace it right away Wear stable shoes – avoid flip-flops or other shoes that can easily slide off your feet Hold handrails when going up and down stairs, and keep an eye on your feet as you go If you need to lift a heavy object or help to transfer a person served, use supports such as a Hoyer lift or get assistance from a co-worker Watch out for loose boards, area rugs, or other tripping hazards. Reach out to the Facilities department at facilities@vinfen.org if repairs are needed Watch for ice in parking lots or on steps or walkways in these first days of spring when it can still get below freezing at night If you are injured at work, don’t worry – accidents happen! Here is what should happen next so that we can best support you while you recover:
Let your supervisor know right away that you have been injured, and make sure you tell them exactly what happened that caused the injury. Your supervisor will call a claim in to Travelers, our workers’ comp insurance company, right away. As long as you provide them with documentation, Travelers will cover your medical expenses for the injury and provide you with replacement income if you need to miss time from work to recover. If your injury requires medical attention or may prevent you from working, please see a medical provider promptly. Injuries can worsen without medical treatment and benefits can be complicated if you haven’t seen a medical provider. Stay in touch with Travelers – it is important that you take their calls and make sure you are providing them with any info they request. Not doing so may lead to your workers’ compensation claim being denied, so this is crucial. If you have any questions about a workers’ comp injury/claim, you can always email workerscomp@vinfen.org or call Adam Rock, Vinfen’s Workers’ Compensation Manager, at 617-981- 9173.
Together we can work to keep each other as safe as possible, and you can rest assured that if you are injured in the workplace, there are resources to help!
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