Workplace accidents are a fact of life in the modern workplace. While we can take steps to make the environment safer, and thereby minimise the likelihood of a problem developing, there will always exist a chance that something will go wrong – and so knowing what to do in the event of an accident is critical.
Let’s run through the steps to take if you suffer a workplace injury.
1. Seek medical attention
Our first step should be to get treatment for any injuries. All workplaces are required to have a designated first-aider and the appropriate equipment to hand. In the case of more serious injuries, an ambulance might be summoned. When you’re trying to determine whether an injury is serious, it’s usually better to err on the side of caution, especially where head injuries are concerned.
2. Reporting the accident
Your workplace should have an accident log book, where details of the event can be recorded. Make the log while the details are fresh in your mind. If there is no log book available, make a written record of the incident and pass a copy to your HR department.
The logbook is there so that lessons can be learned from your experience, and so that the same thing won’t happen to anyone else. Fill it in!
3. Noting the specifics
The more detail you can put into your log, the better. Ask yourself a few questions about what happened. What was the direct cause of the accident, and what were the indirect causes? You might have slipped on a wet floor – but what caused the floor to be wet, and were there any other contributing factors, like fatigue?
4. Getting professional help
In some cases, you’ll want to seek compensation from your employer. This is a common legal process, and a competent specialist solicitor will be able to guide you through it. Compensation can help support your recovery, so it’s vital to seek it sooner rather than later.
In some cases, an accident might have a serious effect on your quality of life. This is where the right expertise can be truly vital. Brain injury claims should be handled by a solicitor with experience in them.
Your compensation should cover you not only for the pain and suffering you’ve endured, but for any costs you’re incurring as a result of your injury.
5. Recovering
Forming a plan for your recovery is essential, especially if the recovery looks set to be protracted. If you’re unable to work, then you might speak with your employer about how arrangements can be made to accommodate you. Good employers will show flexibility to keep a valued employee in the fold.
