When you have a job, your place of work can sometimes feel like your second home. You might spend most of your week there, working hard to finish your tasks and help the business. 

You spend a lot of time at work, so it's important that you feel safe there. Accidents happen, but sometimes they are small and all you get is a bump or bruise. 

But sometimes they are a lot worse and can cause permanent injuries or even death. No matter how bad the accident is, your employer should usually do certain things after it happens.

Help with first aid and medical care

If you get hurt on the job, your boss is usually required to give you first aid and medical care. If your injury is more serious, they should usually call an ambulance or take you to the hospital.

Secure the accident scene and look into what caused it.

After you get any needed medical care, your boss should take steps to make sure the accident scene is safe. This means that they need to fix any problems that might have caused the accident or could cause another one. 

For instance, if you fell because there was water on the floor, your boss would have to figure out how to clean it up so it doesn't happen again. This also means putting up signs and barriers to keep people from getting hurt.

Your boss should also make sure that the accident scene doesn't get messed up so that it can be looked into properly.

Do the paperwork that needs to be done

After an accident at work, OSHA says that your employer must fill out an "Incident Report." This report gives details about the accident, like when and where it happened, what kind of accident it was, and who was involved.

Your boss must also give you a copy of this report so you can keep track of what happened. They will also send a copy to their insurance company so that your medical bills can be paid.

Tell the right people about the accident

In addition to filling out the necessary paperwork, your boss must also tell the right people about the accident. For instance, if someone dies in an accident at work, your boss should call the police. If someone died in the accident, your boss must also tell OSHA within eight hours.

Take steps to stop accidents from happening again.

Accidents at work not only cost businesses money but also hurt the people who are hurt and their families physically and emotionally. Because of this, it's very important for employers to take steps to stop accidents from happening in the future.

Your boss should have a safety program in place that includes regular safety checks, finding and fixing hazards, and training employees.

These are just some of the things your boss should do right away after an accident at work. If you know this, you can protect your rights and make sure you get the medical care and money you deserve.

Talk to a St. Louis workers' compensation lawyer about your case.

If you were hurt at work and don't know what to do next, the experienced St. Louis workers' compensation lawyers at Ortwerth Law are there to help you. 

You can contact them for a free consultation and take advantage of their years of experience.