There is a wide range of laws on the books that are designed to help keep employees safe on the job and help keep employers compliant. Because there is a challenging balance involved, HR professionals often play a pivotal role in terms of both safety and compliance. If you have been injured on the job, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out for the skilled legal guidance of an experienced Tennessee workers’ compensation attorney.
The Role of HR
HR can play both a direct and an indirect role in both safety and compliance at your workplace, and their direct role includes ensuring that the appropriate HR forms are implemented correctly. Safety in the workplace is integral to the responsibilities of human resources, and compliance with governmental forms is a big part of this.
OSHA Regulations
HR is responsible for administrative duties related to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA regulations are exacting in terms of meeting safety display requirements, logging incidents, and filing associated forms. OSHA has requirements for signage, logs, and end-of-year forms, and HR is responsible for ensuring these regulations regarding workplace safety are carefully followed.
Injury and Illness Recordkeeping: Forms 300, 300 A, and 301
HR has the responsibility of ensuring that OSHA’s injury and illness recordkeeping forms are correct, timely, and compliant. This recording system is designed to keep OSHA and employers abreast of risk factors on the job and the level of work-related accidents and injuries that happen. Every recordable case must be included on these forms, and this refers to all the following:
- Any work-related injury or illness that requires restricted work activity, job transfer, days off the job, or medical treatment that goes beyond first aid
- Any work-related injury or illness that involves loss of consciousness
- Any work-related injury or illness that leads to death
HR is responsible for managing the following forms:
- OSHA’s Form 300, which is a log of work-related injuries and illnesses
- OSHA’s Form 300A, which is a summary of work-related injuries and illnesses
- OSHA’s Form 301, which is an injury and illness incident report
If You’ve Been Injured on the Job
If you’ve been injured on the job or have contracted a work-related illness, you are covered by workers’ compensation, and liability – or fault – is removed from the equation. While you are ensured coverage as an injured employee, you give up the right to sue for the more comprehensive compensation you could seek in a personal injury claim. While your employer is on the hook for covering your necessary medical expenses and a specific percentage of your lost income, they don’t have to face costly, time-consuming, and disruptive personal injury claims in the wake of work-related accidents and injuries.