A Guide To Workplace Accidents

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Accident in the workplace can be common, particularly in hazardous industries, but even your typical desk job can be dangerous. While often these injuries could have been prevented, sometimes they are not, which means that it is important that people know how to react in case they or a coworker finds themselves injured one day. It is vital that you follow the right procedure so that you can get the medical advice needed, make sure no one else is injured and go through the proper channels. Read on to find out what to do when there is an accident in the workplace. 

Assess Injuries

The first and most important step is to check yourself for injuries and get medical attention if necessary. The designated first aider should be able to provide immediate care, but you should call the emergency services if necessary. Additionally, it is worth getting a full assessment carried out as even a minor injury could turn into something major, such as a head injury.

Report The Accident

Next, you will want to report the accident. You should report this to your colleagues if you were working alone at the time so that they are aware but also so that they can avoid suffering an injury too. You then need to report the accident to your manager who will have to record the accident in the logbook and may have to notify the relevant authorities if it is a serious accident. Try to avoid placing any blame at this stage and instead focus on yourself and notifying the necessary people.

Speak To A Personal Injury Specialist

It is then a good idea to speak to a personal injury specialist who will be able to listen to what happened and determine whether or not you could file for compensation. This will be particularly important if you will require time off of work or the accident interferes with your life in any way. There will often be costs to cover, such as loss of future earnings and medical bills, so compensation can help to cover these and hold the responsible party accountable.

Collect Evidence

Although your lawyer will work on your case, it is helpful if you can collect evidence to determine exactly what transpired. This might include taking photographs of the accident site, of any machinery that was involved and pictures of your injury. Additionally, you should speak to any witnesses so that you can get a clear overview of what happened.

Keep A Journal

You should keep a journal following the accident which contains information on your injury and how it has changed (along with photos). This should also keep track of any costs that the accident has cost you so far. 

Accidents happen at work all the time, even in regular office jobs. Often these injuries could have been avoided, which means that the responsible party needs to be held accountable. You will also need to make sure that you get the care that you require and that action is taken to stop the accident from happening again.