Home Depot launches guide for associates on immediate steps after workplace injuries

1. Stop work and secure the scene

Immediately stop work if you're injured or if the scene is unsafe; this protects you and prevents further harm to co-workers or customers. For incidents involving powered industrial trucks or delivery vehicles, isolating the equipment and turning it off is essential to avoid secondary injuries. The guide directs associates to make the area safe first, then move to a designated first-aid station or safe waiting area so that supervisors and medical responders can access the scene.

2. Get medical attention right away

Seek first aid or emergency medical care as needed, even for what looks like a minor cut or strain, because initial evaluation affects treatment and later workers’ compensation claims. The guide emphasizes that falls and impacts involving delivery vehicles or powered industrial trucks commonly cause injuries that worsen without prompt assessment. If symptoms appear later (dizziness, numbness, swelling), the guide instructs associates to return for medical follow-up and to notify the store.

3. Notify your supervisor or manager immediately

Tell your supervisor or the on-duty manager as soon as you can. Quick notification starts the store’s incident protocol and triggers the chain of reporting that Home Depot uses for frontline incidents. The guide notes that supervisors must be informed whether the injury occurred on the sales floor, in the warehouse, during loading/unloading, or while driving a company vehicle so the company can dispatch appropriate support and record the event.

4. Report the incident through the company channel

File the company incident report as described in the guide as soon as practicable. The report creates an official record that links medical treatment, lost time and any follow-up safety review, a particularly important step for incidents involving powered industrial trucks or delivery vehicles where multiple systems (vehicle logs, maintenance records) may be relevant. The guide shows where to find and how to submit the internal report so that claims and investigations are not delayed.

5. Preserve evidence and note the precise circumstances

Keep intact any equipment, pallet, vehicle or tool involved in the incident and note its condition, because these details matter in investigations. For example, a powered industrial truck that contributed to a fall should be tagged and taken out of service pending inspection, and delivery vehicle incidents should retain photos of loading areas and cargo. The guide advises associates to make clear, contemporaneous notes about footwear, surface conditions, lighting, weather for outdoor deliveries, and any irregularities in equipment operation.

6. Get witness names and statements while memories are fresh

Collect names and contact details of co-workers or customers who saw the event and ask them to provide brief written or electronic statements if they can. Witness accounts are often crucial for clarifying how a cut, strain, or fall happened, and they carry extra weight in incidents involving powered industrial trucks or delivery drivers where route and vehicle factors can complicate reconstruction. The guide recommends asking witnesses to describe what they saw in their own words and to include time, location, and any equipment or vehicle identifiers.

8. Follow medical instructions and document all care

Adhere to the care plan provided by the treating clinician and keep a written record of visits, prescriptions, work restrictions, and recommended therapy. The guide underscores that strains and soft-tissue injuries can require physical therapy or modified duty and that adherence to prescribed treatment affects recovery and claim outcomes. If the treating provider issues work restrictions, notify your manager and HR immediately so the company can work on modified-duty options.

9. Understand return-to-work and accommodation steps

If you need temporary modified duty, the guide explains how to request it and what documentation the company requires. Home Depot’s frontline operations frequently include physically demanding roles, so the guide highlights common accommodation examples, temporary reassignment from heavy lifting to cashiering or staging, and stresses the importance of medical clearance for full duty. Keeping open communication with supervisors and HR reduces the risk of missed pay or administrative gaps as you recover.

10. Special protocol for powered industrial truck and vehicle incidents

The guide lays out extra steps for incidents involving powered industrial trucks or delivery vehicles: secure the vehicle, log mileage or hours, and flag maintenance records for inspection. These incidents can trigger separate safety reviews, possible external reporting, and logistics follow-up if routes or deliveries were affected. The guide also stresses that associates involved in vehicle incidents should not sign away their right to medical care or avoid on-the-spot documentation; accurate vehicle identification and load details are vital to both safety analysis and claims processing.

11. Keep communication records and escalate if needed

Save copies of emails, text messages, incident numbers and names of anyone you speak with about the injury. If you encounter delays in medical authorization, return-to-work clearance, or workers’ compensation paperwork, the guide advises escalating through the store manager and HR channels until there is a documented response. Maintaining a paper or digital trail protects your ability to resolve disputes and ensures the company can follow up on safety fixes.

12. Use the guide’s safety and prevention reminders to avoid repeat incidents

Beyond immediate steps, the guide highlights prevention: proper lifting techniques, housekeeping to prevent slips and trips, safe operation rules for powered industrial trucks, and secure loading practices for delivery runs. For frontline associates, applying these reminders in daily routines reduces the chance that a cut, strain or fall becomes a career-altering event. Supervisors are instructed to use the guide in toolbox talks and shift briefings to keep safety front and center.