Workplace accidents are an unfortunate reality of an imperfect world. Unfortunate and often unpredictable as they can be, they are also preventable – and it is a business’ moral imperative to prevent them, just as much as it is a legal responsibility. Still, accidents do happen, and when they do, it is crucial to know how to respond.
When an injury takes place in a work environment, panic, stress and adrenaline can cloud judgment both for the victim and for witnesses. Taking the right actions in the minutes and hours following an incident are key to protecting physical recovery, and also for strengthening one’s position legally for future compensation potential. Here, then, are five key steps to follow after a workplace accident.
Prioritise Immediate Medical Attention
In the immediate aftermath of an accident, your first and only priority should be your health – not filling out forms or worrying about shifts. This means seeing a site first aider, visiting A&E or receiving emergency medical attention immediately to treat your injury, be it a burn, cut, or impact injury. Any medical professional you do see, first-aider, paramedic or GP, will create an official record of your injuries at the time of the event, which serves as irrefutable evidence linking the damage directly to the workplace incident.
Ensure the Incident is Officially Logged
Medical attention received, your next port of call should be to ensure that the accident was officially and accurately logged. Both company policy and wider RIDDOR guidelines will require the recording of the event in a site accident book. Make sure your supervisor writes down exactly what happened, or do it yourself if you are able. A formal record prevents your employer from later claiming the accident happened elsewhere or did not happen at all.
Secure Evidence at the Scene
There should also be additional evidence to retrieve, whether in the form of CCTV footage or eyewitness testimony. It is not your employer’s responsibility to collect this evidence, but it could be crucial for you in the long-term – particularly if the accident was a result of workplace negligence. This is because the evidence could be used to strengthen a legal claim for compensation.
If you have the opportunity, you should endeavour to take clear photographs of the cause, such as defective scaffolding, loose cabling, or lack of signage. For eyewitness testimony, you should also collect names and phone numbers from colleagues who witnessed the event.
Check Your Sick Pay Entitlements
Some accidents can result in injuries that necessitate time spent away from work to recover – something which, understandably, can come with significant financial anxiety. Your employment contract may enable you to receive a contractual sick pay wage, as opposed to solely Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). It may not, but you may also be able to claim costs associated with your recovery – depending on the level of business liability.