If you’re injured in an accident at work, you might be entitled to workers’ compensation, as almost every employer is obligated to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their employee. In the event of a work-related accident that causes injuries, you should know a few crucial things and do the following things:
- make your employee aware of your injuries
- report the accident’s injury after it is discovered
- visit a doctor as soon as possible
- claim compensation for your accident.
If this bureaucratic process is over your head, you can always consult a legal solicitor to help claim your compensation.
For your process to unveil problem-freely, it’s a good idea to ensure you do these things:
- have witnessers’ contact details
- take photos of what caused your accident at work and your injury
- make notes about the occurrence immediately because your memories are fresh
- include drawings if you know they could help show what happened.
You can claim compensation up to three years from the work-related accident or until the limitation period dictated for your injury. Still, you should start the process as soon as possible.
No matter how safe you think you are at work, it’s best for you to know that you are not alone and that others can help you cut on the damage suffered in case a misfortunate hazard happens.
Keep reading to ensure you know what an accident at work is and what steps to take should you suffer injuries from an unforeseen work-related mishap.
What are employer responsibilities after a work-related accident
Employers have a legal duty of care to protect your safety and health at work.
Different measures like the ones following are included:
– Ensuring appropriate safety and health training
– Providing Personal Protective Equipment, such as shoe covers, safety glasses, high-vis clothing and gloves
– Training staff on how to carry out practices and to use machinery safely
– Carrying out regular maintenance of equipment
– Carrying out regular risk assessments
– Displaying relevant hazard warning signs.
Your employer must take notice of your work-related accident as soon as possible, and they should seek medical attention and ensure you’re free from immediate danger.
Most businesses have specific procedures that they adhere to when an employee is injured at work, such as the accident book, where they record details of employees’ work-related injuries.
What is an accident at work claim?
If you can prove that your employer is guilty of breaching duty of care and causing your injury or illness, you may pursue a claim against them. You can then be compensated from your employer’s liability insurance if the process turns out problem-free.
To make an accident work claim, you have to prove that your medical condition or injuries are not a result of your fault and show the evidence that can demonstrate this. It is best to reach out to a legal solicitor to help you with the process, as they work hard to secure the maximum compensation you can get for your hazard.
If you should worry about losing your job for filling the claim, then there are chances you’d have a case for unfair dismissal and can make a claim for any possible losses you’d suffer as a result of losing your job and having to move to a new one, to change your entire career.
Factors that determine how much compensation you can get are:
– Medical records. Medical attention ensures you get the necessary help and can support and strengthen your claim.
– Witness statements. It is essential to ask for the contact details of any possible accident witnesses to take their statements later.
– Accident book logs. These can show how the casualty occurred and strengthen your claim.
– CCTV footage. These show the real story and the circumstances that favoured your hazard.
What is perceived as an accident at work?
An accident at work is an unintended event that leads to a condition or injury. There are several cases that determine a work-related casualty, and you should know how mishaps like manual handling, falls and slips occur to prevent them from happening. It’s important to understand what kind of casualties at work you can claim compensation for, and these are:
- Vehicle accidents in jobs that involve much time spent on the road, like travelling sales representatives and delivery, company car crashes can happen.
- Manual handling injuries which are among the most common injuries that affect workers. It’s estimated that over a third of work injuries occur due to manual handling and can result from repetitive movement of the back, legs and arms or adapting awkward positions to drag, carry and lift objects.
- Falls from height that are possible in window cleaning, scaffolding and construction if workers are not provided with proper safety equipment, such as safety railings and harnesses. Employers must ensure surfaces are dry and free from obstacles and the equipment is in a good working state.
- Slips, falls, and trips which are common in all workplace environments and can result from poor lighting, spillages, loose cables and uneven surfaces.
- Stress-related illnesses like anxiety and depression that affected 2,530 out of 100,000 workers in 2018-2021 and are triggered by excessive workload, workplace bullying, unrealistic deadlines and pressure to meet targets.
How to report an accident at work
It’s essential to report your work-related casualty because it can be used as solid evidence for your claim compensation, helps your employer develop solutions for future potential risks and improve safety precautions at your workplace. You must use as many details as possible when reporting such disasters so they are noted down in an accident book.
Reporting of Injuries and Dangerous Regulations puts duties on the employer and the people responsible with work premises to report the following occurrences:
- Occupational diseases
- Dangerous occurrences
- Specified injuries
- Carcinogens mutagens
- Biological agents
- Gas incidents
- Accidents
- Deaths.
Now that you’ve put your mind at ease by understanding the steps you’d need to take to reduce the damages and harm provoked by a potential work-related casualty, all that remains to do to protect your health and safety is to work carefully and protect yourself the best way you can.