What to do when a workplace injury occurs

Accidents and injuries can happen — even when we are doing everything we can to work safely. When they do, prompt and accurate reporting is important. Reporting an injury helps ensure employees receive appropriate attention, allows Human Resources to properly document the incident, and gives the college an opportunity to identify hazards and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Augustana College's Injury/Incident Report should be used to report work-related injuries or illnesses involving college employees. The form also identifies near misses, making it useful for documenting situations that could help us recognize and address potential safety concerns before someone is injured.

What should I do if an injury or incident occurs?

1. Take care of the immediate situation. If medical attention (including emergency assistance) or first aid is needed, reach out to Public Safety first. 
2. Notify your supervisor and Human Resources promptly. Employees should report workplace injuries or incidents as soon as possible. Even an injury that initially seems minor should be reported rather than waiting to see if it becomes more serious.
3. Complete the Augustana College Injury/Incident Report Form. Provide as much information as possible about what happened. The form asks for important details including the date and time of the injury, where the incident occurred, what the employee was doing, the nature of the injury, the body part affected, witnesses, contributing factors, and any medical care provided. Please complete every applicable section of the form or mark "NA" when a section does not apply. Complete information is important because the college is required to track certain workplace injury and illness information and report applicable information to OSHA.
4. Include the employee statement. Page two provides space for the employee to describe what happened, identify the injured area(s) on a body diagram, and sign and date the report. 
5. Submit the completed form to Human Resources. Once completed, the Injury/Incident Report should be provided to the Office of Human Resources as soon as possible so that HR can review the incident and determine whether additional information or follow-up is needed.

Why reporting matters

Timely reporting isn't just paperwork, it is an important part of keeping our campus community safe. Incident reports help Augustana identify unsafe conditions, equipment concerns, recurring hazards, and opportunities for additional training or corrective action. In fact, the college's form specifically asks, "How can we prevent this from happening again to this person or others at the college?" 

Remember: Don't assume an injury is "too minor" to report. When in doubt, report it. Early reporting helps Human Resources respond appropriately and gives us better information to make Augustana a safer workplace for everyone.