Having an accident in the workplace can be a confusing and upsetting incident, particularly if the accident was caused by a defective piece of equipment or by negligence on the part of a colleague or employer. If you’re not sure how to proceed in the aftermath of an accident, here is some helpful advice that will hopefully ensure you receive the appropriate response – and compensation – from your workplace.
Ask For Immediate Assistance
As soon as an accident takes place, your top priority should be seeking medical help from your workplace healthcare team. By law, your workplace must have a qualified first-aider and a fully-stocked kit on-site at all times, so make sure you are checked out right away. Then, if you and the first-aider have concerns about your injuries, you can seek further medical attention at your GP or local hospital.
Report The Incident
Once you have made sure of your physical well-being, it’s time to report the incident to your colleagues and to your manager. You should also make sure that your employer makes a note of it in your workplace accident book; this is a legal requirement.
If they try and refuse, don’t let them sweep the incident under the carpet. Send emails or letters urging them to report the accident; if they still refuse, it’s within your rights to resign and potentially even take legal action against them. Hopefully, it will not progress that far, however, and they will report what happened right away, and take action to ensure it does not happen to anyone else.
Acquire Evidence
If your workplace accident wasn’t your fault, and if you want to prove that you are eligible for compensation, then it’s a good idea to try and amass as much evidence as you can to prove you weren’t to blame. Take photographs and videos of the place where the accident occurred and any machinery or equipment that was involved.
You should also note down the extent of your injuries, and any related symptoms which occur over the following days. This evidence, along with the photos and videos, may come in very useful when it comes to filing a claim.
Speak To A Solicitor
Serious accidents at work, particularly those caused by employer negligence or poor workplace practices, will, in many cases, result in compensation. If you’re not sure how to proceed with claiming for an accident at work, you should contact a legal service such as Quittance, which specialises in that area of law, to ensure you receive the appropriate assistance.
Think About Making A Formal Complaint
As well as claiming for compensation if an accident was caused by employer negligence, poor health and safety enforcement, or faulty equipment, you should submit a complaint. Also known as a grievance, this formal complaint should prompt further investigation on the part of your employer.
Failure to do this on their part could be grounds for you to file a claim of constructive dismissal or possibly even act as a whistle-blower if you fear that other people may be at risk. You’ll then be able to ensure the ongoing safety of everyone in your organisation and improve working practices for everyone.