How to report an accident at work

Having an accident at work can be extremely upsetting and stressful. If you experience an injury at work, it’s vital to report the accident to your employer.

Reporting your work accident ensures there is a record of what happened. It can be used as evidence if you want to make a claim for workplace accident compensation for your injuries. It can also help your employer to improve their health and safety procedures to avoid others getting injured in the workplace in future.

Tom Hartigan, a specialist personal injury solicitor from our Salisbury team, explains what you need to do if you or a colleague has an accident at work.

Work accident reporting process

1. Get medical help – If you witness an accident in the workplace or you are injured, it’s essential to get medical attention from a first aider and ensure an ambulance is called if needed.
2. Report the injury in the accident book – Workplaces with more than 10 people are legally required to have an accident book to record and report details of staff members’ accidents or injuries. This can then be used alongside medical records as proof that the accident happened, which can be used as evidence for a work accident claim.
3. Take photos – It might not be at the front of your mind but photos of the injuries and where the accident happened can be key evidence when making a workplace compensation claim. If there is CCTV footage of the accident, this is also helpful for your claim.
4. Make an official report – Report serious accidents to RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences 2013). This is the government’s reporting scheme for serious workplace injuries. Not all accidents in the workplace need to be reported to RIDDOR, but if an employee has been forced to take more than 3 days off work, or if a worker has tragically died, a full report must be made. More information about RIDDOR reports can be found in their guide.
5. Speak to a specialist personal injury lawyer as soon as possible – If you, a colleague or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident, you may be able to make a work accident compensation claim. There is a legal time limit of 3 years from the date of your work accident to make a claim.

Novum Law can help you make a workplace accident claim

Tom Hartigan says:

“The importance of safety in the workplace cannot be overstated – too many people still suffer life-changing injuries because of health and safety failures.

“If you are involved in a serious accident at work, following the correct procedure will ensure you get the help and support you need. Not only is it your employer’s legal duty to report your accident and injuries in the right way, it will give you the best chance of securing maximum compensation and getting the justice you deserve.

“At Novum Law, we have a team of specialist work accident solicitors who understand exactly what injured workers are going through. We have successfully handled hundreds of workplace accident claims and have the experience and expertise to make the compensation process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.”

Contact us today and ask about making a No Win No Fee work accident claim

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident at work, you may be able to claim compensation. Novum Law’s team of specialist work accident solicitors have the expertise to help you on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis.

For a free, no-obligation chat, call us on 0800 884 0777, email info@novumlaw.com or complete our online enquiry form.