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Most people don’t like to think about something happening to them at all, let alone in their workplace, but such incidents do occur. Would you know what to do if you’re injured at work? While every organisation has its own internal processes and procedures, there are a few steps you should always make sure you take care to follow. It’s worth looking at this information early on, before anything untoward occurs. Trying to get yourself together and figure out what you need to do when an accident does happen is not easy, or always possible. Workplace injuries are more common than most people think, and advice from personal injury experts like Sinnamon Lawyers can help you to be prepared.
Medical Assistance and Reporting
The first thing to do is to get medical help. Most companies have at least one person trained in first aid, and they should be your first port of call, if you are able. If your injury is serious, of course, a full scale medical team may need to be called in with an ambulance, paramedics, etc. In that case a colleague will probably assist you but however this occurs, you should still speak with the first aid officer at your workplace as soon as you can. You should also report the incident to your immediate supervisor or manager. If you can, make a note of everything you can remember leading up to the accident, the accident itself, and any subsequent events (such as who took what action and how long after your injury occurred, etc.). You may not be in a position to do this until some days after the event but try your best to make a record of what happened as soon as you can. Should you decide to lodge a claim for worker’s compensation, this information will prove useful. You should also contact a personal injury advocate as soon as possible if you intend to claim for compensation, as most workplace injuries have a time frame for the lodgement of claims.
After the Event – Treatment
Ensure you follow all medical advice and keep copies of your reports, forms, invoices, receipts, and any other medical or legal documents that pertain to your injuries and your recovery. Attend all doctors’ appointments and keep a record of your treatment and its progress. A diary is a useful document for this exercise, especially if you are seeing more than one health professional across the same recovery period. Keep in touch with your workplace and keep all parties involved updated with your progress. This includes all medical and legal professionals. Should your solicitor require you to meet with other doctors, it is in your best interests to do so, as they are likely experts whose evidence will support your claim.
There are two phases to being injured on the job; the injury itself and the moments preceding and following; and the long trail of paperwork and recovery that follows. This is the phase where most people lose momentum but it is important to keep focused at this point. Most people who are injured on the job need to claim for compensation; after all, bills don’t just stop because you can’t work, so it’s worth listening to your legal team and following their lead to ensure you receive fair compensation so you can recover without worrying about money.
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Have you, or has someone you know, ever experienced a workplace injury? Let us know how on the job injury has affected your life in the comments box below.
I know someone who got injured during his job, he was a welder and there was an electrical wiring fault. His face got burnt and luckily he was still alive, the company helped him and his family. They gave all the claims to the family’s victim.
I would say one should see your doctor right away. Waiting can hurt your claim for benefits because your doctor might not be able to confidently say that your job is what caused the injury. You get to pick which doctor you see, and your medical bills should be covered completely.