As an employee, when you go to work each day, you should expect to be kept safe in your workplace by your employer. If you do become ill or injured at work, you’ll need to know what to do after an accident at work to ensure you follow the correct procedure and get the support you’re entitled to. Worrying about the security of your job role, your finances, and your employee rights can make this an even more distressing time, so to make things a little easier we’ll take a look at what to do after an accident at work and find out what are your rights if you get injured at work.
What should I do after an accident at work?
Every workplace should have an ‘Accident at Work’ procedure for you follow should you sustain an injury or illness. In the absence of a suitable accident at work policy, you should ensure you take the following steps:
- Report the accident as soon as possible to your employer, or arrange for another trusted person to complete the report if you’re unable to.
- Record the details of the accident in an accident book. This may be a physical book or an online reporting system. If you don’t have access to an accident record system, write down the details of the accident yourself, and send a copy to your line manager.
- Visit your doctor who will record the medical details of your accident. This documentation may be a helpful source of information if you decide to make a compensation claim or need to claim for benefits in future.
- If you feel your workplace remains unsafe, then you may wish to speak to a Trade Union representative or contact the Health and Safety Executive for advice
- If you return to work when you have recovered, or your doctor declares you medically fit, a return to work interview will allow you to address any related issues. Your employer should arrange an informal meeting on your return to welcome you back and discuss any adjustments that may be necessary to support your return to work.
What are your rights if you get injured at work?
Your employer has a duty to protect you. This includes identifying risks and preventing any potential health and safety issues that may affect you, or being responsive to and reporting certain accidents and incidents.
If you become injured at work you may also have the right to:
- Make a personal injury claim to compensate for any financial losses if your work-related injury has caused you to miss work.
- Make a claim if the accident could have been prevented with the correct health and safety measures in place.
- Make a claim for compensation for physical and psychological pain and suffering as a result of your accident at work.
- Sick pay and time off. If your employer doesn’t have a system for sick pay, you may qualify for statutory sick pay (SSP) if you’re off sick for more than four days in a row.
Can I be sacked for having an accident at work?
If you have been an employee at your current workplace for over two years, and you are thinking of making a claim due to an injury at work – they should not treat you detrimentally. If you are treated unfairly or lose your job as a result of making a claim, you may wish to seek further advice from a Solicitor who can fully advise you of all your rights including those for an unfair dismissal claim.