If you've suffered an accident at work, you may be feeling disoriented and uncertain. Knowing what to do before the accident occurs – and knowing how to prevent it from happening in the first place – is an ideal. But, assuming that something bad has happened to you, the next best thing is to know what action to take to put you on the road to recovery.
Immediate steps
Let's suppose that the accident has just occurred this minute. Your immediate priorities should be to make the area safe, seek medical aid, and then create a record of the incident, in that order.
If the area is not safe, then any attempt to get medical attention might be undermined by further injury being sustained, either by you or other people. A failure to report the problem might be considered a failure to make the area safe in the long term; for your employer to correct the problem, and prevent further accidents from occurring, they'll need to understand what happened, and why.
Notifying your employer and (if required) the appropriate authorities
If you don't notify your employer, in fact, then you could be on the wrong side of the law. At the very least, you might undermine your case when you later bring legal action against your employer.
In some cases, you'll also need to notify the Health and Safety Executive. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) oblige employers to keep records of work-related injuries and fatalities. But this system, crucially, is there for employers. So, you'll use it only if you're self-employed. For example, a contractor on a construction site might submit a report following a brick being dropped on their foot.
Understanding your rights
If you're injured and unable to work, then your employer might cover your costs – to an extent. At the very least, you'll be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay. If your employer was to blame, in whole or in part, then you'll also be able to pursue a claim against them. You're entitled to protections while you make the claim, too; if your employer discriminates against you, or fires you, then you'll be able to hold them accountable through the courts. Make sure that you have an experienced law firm acting on your behalf, before you get started.
Returning to work and preventing future incidents
You may need to return to work in phases, assuming only the responsibilities that your condition allows. You'll need to be frank with your employer about your physical and mental limitations, and to ask for reasonable adjustments to be made to accommodate you. You might also want to raise concerns related to the accident itself, and the likelihood of another problem occurring.
