Lucy - BQ Magazine EditorNo one likes to think they will get injured at work, but sadly, thousands of people are involved in non-fatal workplace accidents each year; over 565,000 according to The Health and Safety Executive (another 135 people lost their lives due to workplace incidents in 2022/23 as per the same report).
Incidents in the workplace can take many forms, and while you might have had all the safety training required to carry out your job role and stay safe, many variables can upset the apple cart and lead to disaster for you and your life.
So, what do you do if you find yourself being injured in the workplace?
Get Medical Attention if Required
Your well-being is the top priority. In an accident, the first step is to seek immediate medical care. Whether you call for a first aider at work or dial 999 in an emergency, getting the necessary medical attention is crucial for your recovery.
Report The Incident and Get Evidence
It’s important to report the incident to your employers or direct managers. This helps them record what has happened and allows them to investigate and implement preventive measures. Your safety is a priority, and your employers should be committed to ensuring a safe working environment for you. This means they need to know if anything is impacting the safety of employees, visitors, or customers in the workplace.
Collecting evidence is a good idea if you can do so and it’s safe to do so. This can be via video or photographic evidence or simply knowing if the incident was recorded on CCTV or witnessed by others so you can get people to back up what happened if you need them to.
Consider A Compensation Claim
Sometimes, with all the best will in the world and all the preventative measures in place, things go wrong. Other times, employers’ lack of care and attention facilitates workplace accidents, leading to harm to employees. If you feel the latter is the reason for the accident occurring due to someone else’s fault, you need to consider making a compensation claim against your employer. Accident at Work Claims can be filed for various incidents, including but not related to slips, trips and falls, handling, acts of violence or vehicle collisions.
Understand Your Sick Pay
If you need to take time off work, you must be clear about your company’s sick leave policy. Even if they are at fault, it might end up costing you money in the short term if you need to take time off. Some companies cover your wages 100%; others follow the statutory 3 days no pay, then SSP for the duration of the time you cannot work. Knowing what you will be getting can help you to rearrange your finances if required so you know what to expect on payday.
Being involved in a workplace accident, even a minor one, can disrupt your life and impact your health and earning ability. It’s important to know what to do in the event of a workplace accident so you can get the help and support you need without delay.