You should be safe when you are at work, and hopefully, you won’t experience an accident where you get hurt. However, these things can happen, and it is important to understand how to correctly report an accident at work as well as what your options are moving forward.
If the accident isn’t your fault, but due to the negligence of your employer or an unsafe working environment, you could be entitled to some compensation. Below are some tips on how you should deal with a workplace injury both in and outside the office.
Treat the Injury
The first thing you should do if you have been injured at work is to treat your injuries. There should be a first-aid kit in the staff room or main office at your place of work to tend to minor injuries.
There should be medical supplies to help with cuts, burns, an eye wash kit, and supports for sprains. If your injury is more severe and requires medical attention, you should call the paramedics immediately or take yourself to the ER if you can.
Report the Incident with Your Manager
As soon as your injury has been attended to, you need to report the incident to your manager.
Workplaces are obliged to have an accident report book on-site to keep a record of injuries and accidents, and this can be used as evidence if there is a claim made at a later date. You will need to state the time of the incident, what happened, who was involved, and what kind of injuries were sustained, and what action was taken to help the injured party.
Resting at Home
Not only can an injury at work cause physical discomfort, but it can also be a shock or even traumatic if it is severe enough.
This is why you must be taking care of yourself at home and allowing yourself time to heal. You might need to take some time off work while you recover, but even if it is a mild injury that doesn’t require this, you should still make sure you’re resting until you are fully healed.
Taking Legal Action
If your injury occurred as a result of negligence from your employer or a breach of health and safety regulation, you would be in a good position to make a personal injury claim.
If you have lost wages due to needing time off to recover, or you have incurred medical expenses to treat your injury and emotional stress, you deserve to be compensated for this. You will need to hire an attorney who specializes in personal injuries, such as Reid Acree workers comp attorney, as they will have the expertise to help you with your claim.
Get Some Support
Finally, if you are planning to claim against your employer, or are simply feeling shaken up after your injury, it is important to get the right support during this time.
Spend time with your loved ones to help you get through this stressful period and to help you take your mind off of things. You could even look at seeing a therapist if you are feeling distressed about the situation and need help to process your emotions and what has happened to you.
If you are injured at work, consider the tips above and use them to help you handle the situation professionally and set you on the road to recovery.
