Small business owners should invest in injury prevention; for each dollar invested in injury prevention, employers can expect a return of $4 to $6, according to small business owner and Small Business Administration blogger Caron Beesley.

“An injury claim against a business can have devastating impact on a company’s bottom line – especially if the injury was due to poor or unsafe working conditions,” Beesley writes, and she offers a four step action plan of what to do if an employee is injured at work:

1.   Seek medical attention – Get the appropriate medical care.

2.   Write up an accident report – It’s important that you take care of this important step as soon as possible. Talk with employees who witnessed the injury and take photos of the accident scene. You'll want this information for your own records, but also to help you comply with OSHA reporting and recordkeeping polices. OSHA has limited requirements for low-hazard industries and very small businesses with 10 or fewer employees.

3.  Provide workers' compensation reports, if applicable – Workers' compensation systems are managed differently by different states. For state-by-state details, see the Department of Labor's Office of Worker Compensation Programs.

4.   Assess liability – Depending on the situation and the severity of injuries, you may need to offset medical expenses and provide short- or long-term disability leave for an injured employee. If an injury occurs as a result of an OSHA violation, you may be required to provide additional benefits and compensation. OSHA takes employer size and other factors into consideration when assessing violations and penalties. Contact an attorney if you’re concerned about liability.