Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Injury Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Injury Technician is a frontline occupational health professional who performs triage, first aid, injury documentation, specimen collection, and follow-up coordination for workplace injuries and exposures. Reporting to the Occupational Health Nurse or Workers' Compensation Manager, the Injury Technician ensures timely, accurate medical records, facilitates regulatory reporting (e.g., OSHA), assists with early interventions, and supports return-to-work processes. This role requires clinical competency, attention to detail, strong communication with employees and clinical teams, and proficiency with EMR and claims workflows.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Medical Assistant or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic
Clinical/Healthcare Office Assistant or Phlebotomist

Advancement To:

Injury Case Manager / Workers' Compensation Specialist
Occupational Health Nurse (RN)
Safety & Loss Prevention Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

Health Services Coordinator
Clinic Supervisor
Claims Support Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide immediate triage and first aid to employees after workplace injuries or exposures, including wound cleaning, dressing changes, splinting, controlled bleeding management, and stabilization pending higher-level care.
Conduct objective clinical assessments of injured workers, record vital signs, document symptoms, and escalate care to occupational health nurses or emergency services when indicated.
Complete timely, accurate injury reports (first reports of injury), incident documentation, and workers' compensation intake forms following employer policy and regulatory requirements.
Obtain, label, process and ship specimens for drug/alcohol testing, infectious disease testing, or other diagnostic needs according to chain-of-custody and regulatory protocols.
Administer and document basic point-of-care testing (e.g., glucometer readings, rapid antigen tests, urinalysis) as authorized by protocol and employer policies.
Operate within employer-approved standing orders or protocols to provide wound care, sutures/steri-strip assistance, tetanus assessments, and topical medication applications when delegated.
Coordinate timely referrals to off-site medical providers, urgent care, or emergency departments and facilitate transportation or workplace accompaniment when required.
Manage employee follow-up (phone and in-person), schedule rechecks and return-to-work appointments, and document return-to-work restrictions and accommodations.
Maintain and update electronic medical records (EMR) and occupational health databases (e.g., Epic Occupational Health modules, Medgate, or proprietary systems) ensuring confidentiality and accuracy.
Assist with workers' compensation claims intake, liaise with claims adjusters, and provide clinical documentation to support case adjudication and early intervention.
Perform specimen collection for alcohol and drug testing using proper chain-of-custody procedures and maintain associated documentation for compliance audits.
Conduct initial incident scene reviews, gather witness statements, take photographs, and document environmental factors to support incident investigations and root-cause analysis.
Support post-incident surveillance and trending by entering injury data into OSHA logs (OSHA 300/301) and internal injury surveillance systems and helping prepare reports for leadership.
Provide education to employees on basic injury prevention, first-aid procedures, safe work practices, and return-to-work expectations, reinforcing ergonomic and PPE best practices.
Assist occupational health nurses with administrative tasks such as prior authorizations, prescription coordination, and management of medical supplies and first-aid kits.
Maintain inventory of medical supplies, ensure equipment calibration (e.g., blood pressure cuffs, glucometers), and order clinical supplies to support uninterrupted clinic operations.
Participate in safety meetings, case reviews and multidisciplinary return-to-work conferences, bringing clinical observations and practical recommendations for accommodations.
Support immunization clinics, TB testing, and routine occupational screening programs (pre-placement exams, annual surveillance) including record tracking and reporting.
Ensure strict compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, DOT and state/local workers' compensation regulations in all documentation and communications.
Provide timely communication to supervisors, HR and safety teams regarding injury trends, high-risk activities, and opportunities for preventative interventions.
Help develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), clinical protocols and training materials for injury response and clinic workflow, ensuring continuous improvement.
Participate in quality assurance activities, audits and corrective actions to improve accuracy and completeness of clinical documentation and testing processes.
Support telehealth triage or remote nurse consultations by preparing case summaries, vital signs and documentation to streamline virtual clinical interactions.
Deliver culturally competent, patient-centered care while maintaining professionalism in high-stress or emotionally charged situations.

Secondary Functions

Assist with data collection and generation of weekly/monthly injury metrics dashboards to inform safety leadership and drive targeted interventions.
Provide administrative backup for appointment scheduling, intake calls, and EMR front-end tasks during peak times or staff shortages.
Contribute to training programs for new hires and cross-training initiatives for clinic and field safety personnel on first-aid and reporting procedures.
Support vaccination campaigns, health screenings and wellness events onsite, including logistics and post-event documentation.
Participate in pilot programs to test new occupational health tools, telemedicine workflows or digital injury reporting systems.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Emergency triage and basic first aid proficiency (wound care, splinting, bleeding control)
Collection and chain-of-custody handling for drug and alcohol testing
Vital signs measurement and basic point-of-care testing (glucometer, rapid tests)
EMR / occupational health systems experience (e.g., Epic, Cerner, Medgate, or similar)
OSHA recordkeeping and experience with OSHA 300/301 logs
Workers' compensation intake and claims documentation familiarity
Specimen handling, labeling and shipping logistics for clinical testing
Basic phlebotomy or proven experience coordinating blood draws (preferred in many postings)
Familiarity with DOT, HIPAA and state-specific occupational health regulations
Ability to compile clinical case summaries and prepare documentation for case managers and claims adjusters
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) for reporting and metrics tracking
Incident investigation support skills: witness interviewing, scene documentation, photography
Infection control practices and PPE use in clinical and on-site environments

Soft Skills

Strong interpersonal and compassionate bedside manner with injured employees
Clear, professional verbal and written communication with clinical, HR and safety teams
Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in clinical documentation
Ability to remain calm under pressure and prioritize multiple urgent tasks
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage scheduling and follow-up workflows
Problem-solving mindset and ability to recommend practical, workplace-focused accommodations
Team player who collaborates across clinical, safety and claims functions
Customer-service orientation with a focus on return-to-work outcomes
Discretion and ability to handle sensitive health information confidentially
Continuous improvement mindset and openness to procedural change and training

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required

Preferred Education:

Medical Assistant certification (CMA), Phlebotomy certification, EMT certification, or Associate degree in health sciences preferred

Relevant Fields of Study:

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Nursing or Pre-Nursing (LPN/RN pathways)
Occupational Health or Public Health
Kinesiology, Athletic Training or Allied Health

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of clinical, EMS, medical assistant, or occupational health support experience

Preferred:

2+ years of experience in occupational health, workers' compensation, urgent care or emergency medicine
Prior experience with EMR systems and OSHA recordkeeping
Experience working at multi-site employer clinics, industrial settings, or safety programs