How often do you find that certain employees sustain more than one injury during the course of their employment? The initial response usually is “What again?” or ”Why is this person so accident prone?” While the typical and natural reaction is to blame the employee and to reduce one’s opinion of the employee with each incident, that response – projecting blame upon the injured worker may be premature.
Your first step after providing medical attention to the injured person should be to initiate an investigation. Try to determine whether the employee is having difficulty understanding or performing the job task. Has the employee been properly trained to carry out his or her duties? Is there some condition that is hindering the employee’s ability to perform on the job? Is the employee experiencing problems at home? The employee who brings these difficulties to work is affected by them at least part of the day, which can create a safety hazard for himself or herself and for coworkers.
You may need to consider the possibility that alcohol or substance abuse may be affecting a person’s job performance. In all events, discuss your concerns with managers and supervisors and encourage their input in enhancing workplace safety.
