Great Advice For When You Suffer an Accident at Work

BizBritain By BizBritain
over 7 years ago read
Great Advice For When You Suffer an Accident at Work

Any accident brings with it physical pain and some level of emotional upheaval. An accident in the workplace can bring with it additional complications and stresses. Knowing just what to do and how to get help, however, can quell a great deal of anxiety.

Here’s our advice on how to proceed, should you suffer an accident on your job.

Seek first aid from qualified co-workers

Your employer has a duty of care to provide a safe working environment. As outlined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), they are also required by law to have at least one trained first-aider in your place of work during any shift.

In the first instance, if you are able, you should alert the first-aider or others who can fetch them. If you are incapacitated, your co-workers and first-aider should have received training on how to respond. If you feel that you or others need more training, this is definitely an issue to bring up with your employer.

As St John Ambulance explains, if you suffer an injury to your neck or back, it is extremely important that you remain still until you can get medical attention. Your workplace first-aider should be able to keep you in a safe position until paramedics arrive.

If you are bleeding heavily or badly burned, your co-workers should know to call an ambulance immediately, while taking appropriate measures to stop the bleeding. Your workplace should have first-aid kits within easy reach in all areas.

File an accident report immediately

Make a formal report of the details of the accident to your employer. This should ideally be done immediately, no matter how small the accident. Your place of work should have health and safety guidelines to let you know what to include. As a rule of thumb, however, you should put in writing:

  1. Precisely when and where the accident occurred
  2. What you believe led to it
  3. What injury you sustained
  4. What first aid you received afterwards.

This information is vital if you need to pursue legal advice in the aftermath. It is also important so that your company’s health and safety officers can ensure measures are taken to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Get the best medical care to aid in your recovery

If you have lasting medical issues from your accident, the proper medical care is vital in recovery. If you have the means, you might want to consider going private to avoid long waiting times and to receive care in pleasant and relaxing surroundings, from highly trained and respected medical professionals.

If you’ve suffered a knee or hip injury, you might benefit from specialist orthopaedic treatment. Places such as Highgate Private Hospital in London offer numerous services to aid recovery from injury. Its consultants are acclaimed experts in orthopaedics, back and spinal problems and pain management.

An injury at work can be a distressing disruption to your daily life, although by seeking the right guidance and help, you can hopefully make it a temporary one and resume a healthy and happy working life.