Being involved in an accident at work can be distressing. Your employer has a duty of care to ensure that you are working in a safe environment, so it’s important to follow the necessary steps following your accident, should it be the result of someone else’s actions or negligence.
What to Do When You Have an Accident at Work?
Report the accident
If you do experience an accident at work, you must promptly report your injury to a senior member of staff at your workplace – usually your line manager. Your employer should have a formal process in place when it comes to dealing with accidents and injuries, such as recording them in a dedicated accident book.
If you are self-employed and the accident happened either whilst working on your own premises or at someone else’s house, you should report it to the Health and Safety Executive. If you are working on a client’s business premises, you should report to a senior staff member on site who you would usually deal with.
Contact a doctor
Try to see a doctor or make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible. The details of your accident will be noted in your medical records and you’ll receive the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for the injury you sustained.
People often avoid seeing a doctor as soon as the incident has occurred. However, if your accident was someone else’s fault, it’s good to have medical evidence to support a claim, should you pursue one.
Sick pay
It’s worth checking over your employment contract following your accident in workplace, as your employer may be obligated to give you contractual sick pay. Alternatively, they may provide a free employee assistance helpline or medical insurance to help cover any treatment and other hidden costs.
If you don’t have a company scheme and you’re too ill to work, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay for up to 28 weeks. You typically receive this for the days you would have normally worked, and the amount of sick pay you receive isn’t usually affected by the cause or severity of your illness.
Get in touch with a Personal Injury Lawyer
If the accident wasn’t your fault, you might consider making an accident at work claim. Ensure to seek legal advice from a specialist solicitor who can help guide you through the claims process, supporting you every step of the way.
You usually have three years following the date of your accident to make a claim. Injuries at work could suffer physical, emotional and financial wellbeing, so it’s important to seek the compensation you deserve to help with the challenging factors that come with experiencing an accident in the workplace.