I agree that driving to the ER with a cut hand in need of stitches qualifies as distracted driving.   I'm assuming you don't have in-house security staff who could do the driving.  We are fortunate to have a local occupational health clinic that has a shuttle van service that will come pick up injured employees for both minor emergencies and routine appointments.   I suspect these are not common.   Other ways to avoid the personal liability exposure of supervisors driving their personal vehicles is to make company-owned vehicles available for this purpose, or to call a cab.  In areas where cab service is not readily available, it may pay to check around for local entrepreneurs who offer transportation services and pre-arrange services/billing.  

We are in the process of revising our accident/incident response policy.  Currently it states that if a person is injured and cannot transport him or herself, then the supervisor should contact emergency personnel to have them transported to a medical facility. 

 

However, what we have found is that most minor injuries (e.g., cut finger requiring stitches, etc.) that have occurred would be something that would inhibit someone from driving but most people do not want to call 911 for such a minor injury.  Some supervisors do not want to take a chance with another employee driving the injured person for treatment, in case something happens.  Other people have the immediate reaction to help and think that they can be the quickest route to treatment. 

 

We do have a first aid/CPR team, but they are not EMTs or anything like that.

 

I have been asked to find out what other companies do in similar situations.  If anyone has any suggestions, please email me.

 

Michele

 

Michele L. Wallace, LCACP, NRCC-CHO

Director, Product Integrity

6399 Weston Parkway  Cary, NC 27513
P: 919-678-2417 E: MWallace**At_Symbol_Here**cottoninc.com