5 Things You Should Do After Getting Injured at Work

Sustaining an injury at work can be a shocking and disorienting experience. In the moments that follow, it can be difficult to think clearly about what you need to do. However, taking the right steps promptly can protect your health and ensure the incident is handled correctly. This guide provides five essential things you should do immediately after being injured to safeguard your wellbeing and your rights.

Prioritise and Seek Medical Attention

A person lies on the floor near scattered papers in a corridor, appearing to have fallen. A yellow caution sign warning of a wet floor is visible nearby.

Your immediate priority is your health. Even if an injury appears minor, you should get it checked by a medical professional. Some conditions, like concussion or internal bruising, may not present symptoms straight away. Seeking medical help ensures you receive the correct treatment and creates an official record of your injuries from the outset, which is crucial for documenting the impact of the incident. Depending on the severity, you should see your designated workplace first-aider, visit A&E, or book an appointment with your GP.

Report the Incident to Your Employer

You must formally report what happened to your employer as soon as you are able. Most workplaces are required to keep an accident book for this exact purpose. Making an official report creates a dated record of the incident, which prevents any future disputes about when, where, or how the injury occurred. Make sure that the details you provide are accurate and comprehensive, and if possible, get a copy of the report for your own records.

Gather Important Evidence and Information

If you are able to, you should gather some information from the scene of the accident. Use your phone to take clear photographs of the area, the cause of the injury (such as a slippery surface or faulty equipment), and your injuries themselves. Note down the contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident. Collecting this evidence preserves a factual record of the circumstances, which is much more reliable than trying to recall details from memory weeks or months later.

Understand Your Sick Pay Entitlement

A yellow safety helmet lies on the floor in focus, with a person wearing work clothes lying motionless and blurred in the background, suggesting a workplace accident or injury.

Being unable to work because of an injury can cause financial worry. It is important to understand what you are entitled to be paid while you recover. Your employment contract or company handbook should outline the details of the company’s sick pay scheme. This may be more generous than Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Clarifying your financial position early on can relieve a significant amount of stress, allowing you to concentrate fully on your recovery.

Find Out If You Can Make a Claim

If your employer’s negligence led to your injury, you might be entitled to compensation. This can help cover any loss of earnings, private medical treatment costs, and other expenses you have incurred. Understanding your legal position helps you make an informed choice about what to do next. If you have had a serious accident at work, seeking professional, no-obligation advice can help you determine if you have grounds for a claim.

If anything happens during seeking help via your GP or hospital, it is also worth knowing about the breakdown of NHS negligence compensation figures.

These are the five steps to take after suffering an injury at work that will protect your health and ensure the incident is handled correctly.

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