Lab
Safety Guide - Chapter 10 - Accident Reporting
The
following gives information on accident reporting procedures for laboratory work. Adapted from the NMSU Lab Safety Guide (last modified November 11, 2003 - dls)
ACCIDENT REPORTING
Everyone
must be familiar with the location and use of safety showers, eye wash equipment and
personal protective equipment. Emergency telephone numbers to be called in the event of
fire, accident, flood, or hazardous chemical or radioactive spill must be posted
prominently in each laboratory. In addition, the numbers of the laboratory workers and
their supervisors must be posted. These persons must be notified immediately in the event
of an accident or emergency.
Every
laboratory should have an internal accident-reporting system to help discover and correct
unexpected hazards. This system should include provisions for investigating the causes of
injury and any potentially serious incident that does not result in injury. The goal of
such investigations should be to make recommendations to improve safety, not to assign
blame for an incident. Relevant federal, state, and local regulations may require
particular reporting procedures for accidents or injuries, Prudent Practices for
Handling Hazardous Chemical in Laboratories, section I.A. 16
WORKER'S COMPENSATION (Revised
12-90)
The
New Mexico Worker Compensation Statute requires immediate submission of all accidents and
failure to do so can be cause for assessment of monetary penalties. In addition, late
submission of report delays statutory benefits to the injured worker. Report all accidents
requiring medical care immediately! Do not wait for medical report! If in doubt, call the
Employee Benefits Section (505) 646-1741, for assistance.
INJURY BY ACCIDENT IN THE
COURSE OF EMPLOYMENT
As
used in the Worker's Compensation Act, unless the context otherwise requires, "injury
by accident arising out of and in the course of employment" shall include accidental
injuries to workers, and death resulting from accidental injury, as a result of their
employment and while at work in any place where their employer's business requires their
presence, but shall not include injuries to any worker occurring while on his/her way to
assume the duties of his/her employment or after leaving such duties, the proximate cause
of which is not the employer's negligence.
In
the event the worker is seriously injured or killed and cannot report the accident, the
supervisor with knowledge of the accident is still responsible for completion of the
reports.
Effective
November 1, 1990, the procedures for receiving medical care for work-related injuries were
changed. ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE LAS CRUCES AREA NEEDING NON-EMERGENCY CARE DURING NORMAL
WORKING HOURS WILL UTILIZE EMPLOYEE HEALTH SERVICES
LOCATED IN THE GENESIS CENTER (map). The
physician may refer to other medical providers if appropriate. Medical providers may not
refer employees to other providers without prior approval of employee health services
Emergencies
and work-related injuries occurring after hours or on weekends will be treated by the
nearest emergency room. On the next working day, call Employee Health Services at 646-6600
for instructions.
Note:
Critical emergencies should be sent immediately to the nearest emergency room (call 911
for emergency response), then contact the Employee Health Services
All
employees, including part-time and student employees, are subject to these procedures.
Supervisors are responsible for directing their subordinates to the appropriate medical
provider whenever possible.
Procedures
for reporting work-related injuries have been revised. Every injury should be reported whether
or not medical care is needed. A new form will be used by the employee:
"Employee's Statement of Work-Related Injury." Please give the form to the
injured employee to complete and sign. This is the only form the employee
will complete. The supervisor will then complete the "First Report of Accident"
and the "Supervisor's Accident Investigation Report." The employee will not be
involved in completing these two form. The employee and supervisor forms are forwarded to
Employee Benefits within 24 hours of the injury.
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