After being injured at work, you may wonder what accident at work procedure you might follow. It is vital to follow the correct accident at work procedures for your employer. Workplace health and safety procedures vary depending on the industry you work in and where you work. In this guide, we aim to help you understand what steps you can take after an accident at work and when you could claim.
If you need free legal advice, get in touch with our advisors. They’re available 24/7 and could connect you with our panel of solicitors if you have a favourable claim. However, you’ll be under no obligation to proceed with our panel’s services. Why not call us on the number at the top of the page or contact us online?
Choose A Section
- What Is The Typical Accident At Work Procedure?
- How Might An Accident Happen At Work?
- The Procedure After Suffering A Duty Of Care Breach
- Valuing Compensation For An Injury At Work
- Why Does It Help Me To Use A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
- Guidance On The Accident At Work Procedure
What is the Typical Accident at Work Procedure?
Accident and incident reporting procedures should be in place where you work. What’s more, a solid health and safety policy helps to keep employees safe.
Your employer’s accident at work procedure may vary from other workplace’s, but some accidents are universal. For example, if the floor is slippery due to spillage, it should be attended to. A floor sign might be required after the spillage has been cleaned.
Health and safety signage may be temporary, like a wet floor sign, or it may be permanent, like the emergency exit signs.
However, if you suffer an injury at work whether the proper process is followed or not, you should seek medical attention or first aid.
Under workplace health and safety legislation employers must ensure employees get immediate help for any injuries suffered while at work. The correct accident reporting procedure in the workplace needs to be followed too.
If required, contact emergency services or have someone do this for you if you are incapable.
Accident Log Book
After an accident at work, the appropriate person should fill in the accident book as soon as possible afterwards. If you are unable to, then the next appropriate person can fill in the accident book. It may be best practice in your workplace for a qualified first aider to sign off on the accident book.
The accident needs to be logged in the accident book, even if no injuries are immediately apparent. An accident logbook is an essential part of health and safety regulations for businesses of more than ten employees.
You may be able to claim compensation for your injuries if they were caused by your employer’s negligence. It is important the correct accident at work procedures are followed and this starts with the accident book. This could act as the first piece of evidence.
Facts and Figures on Accidents at Work
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a government body that enforces health and safety laws. They release health and safety statistics for Great Britain. According to the HSE, in 2020/21 1.7 million people were suffering from an illness or injury related to work. 142 workers were killed while at work. 441,000 people suffered an injury related to work according to self-reports.
How Might an Accident Happen at Work?
Accidents at work happen in different ways. Different industries will have different occupational health and safety risks. However, all employers should have an accident at work procedure to follow.
If your employer breaches their duty of care, you may suffer a workplace accident. This duty of care is outlined in law.
According to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers must take reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Employers can do this by (for example):
- Telling you what risks are connected to your workplace.
- Providing you with the appropriate health and safety training.
- Conducting risk assessments and acting on them to reduce or remove any hazards.
If your employer fails to take these steps where appropriate, they could be breaching their duty of care. If this leads to an accident and your injuries, you could claim.
General Accidents
Working in catering is going to have different health and safety training to working in an office, but both can still present similar risks, such as falling on a wet floor. Wet floors cannot always be avoided. However, they should be attended to. The correct health and safety signage should be available, for example.
Health and Safety in Construction
Construction health and safety presents a different set of risks due to the physical labour involved. Safety procedures for avoiding accidents in the workplace must be in place.
It is your employer’s responsibility to carry out a risk assessment and point out the health and safety responsibilities of employees. An accident investigation procedure at the workplace can help prevent future accidents.
If your employer’s negligence caused you to suffer an injury at work, you could claim compensation. Why not follow the banner below to find out more?
The Procedure After Suffering A Duty of Care Breach
It is a good idea to follow the correct procedure for reporting an accident in the workplace. Workplace health and safety regulations mean your employer may have trained you on the accident at work procedure. However, below, we’ve included a general list of what you can do following a workplace accident.
- Seek immediate medical attention. Someone else may have to phone an ambulance for you. As well as getting the healthcare treatment necessary for your recovery, medical attention can be beneficial if you choose to claim. The medical record entries from your GP and the hospital can be used as evidence.
- Fill in the accident logbook at work. This can also act as a piece of evidence if you claim. Your employer may have to report a serious workplace accident under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).
- Gather evidence of what happened and speak to witnesses to get their contact details should they need to provide statements if you claim. You can also request CCTV footage from your employer and take photographs.
You can also seek legal advice on the accident at work claim procedure and whether you could seek compensation. Our advisors are available 24/7 to help.
Valuing Compensation for an Injury at Work
Compensation for personal injury can be divided into two heads of claim: general damages and special damages.
General Damages
General damages compensate you for the physical and mental pain and suffering you endured due to the accident.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) is a publication solicitors use to help value general damages. It provides potential compensation figures for various injuries. In the compensation table below, we’ve included some of the figures from the JCG for illustrative purposes.
| Injury | Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Moderately severe brain damage | £205,580 to £264,650 | This level of brain injury results in severe disability. This may include physical disability, cognitive and personality changes. The award amount is affected by life expectancy, physical limitations caused by the injury, potential deterioration, level of dependence on others, ability to communicate, behavioural issues, and epilepsy. |
| Moderately severe post traumatic stress disorder | £21,730 to £56,180 | A chance of recovery with professional help, however the damage is likely to result in significant disability for the foreseeable future. |
| Severe tinnitus and/or noise induced hearing loss | £27,890 to £42,730 | This covers hearing loss from noise at work. Hearing loss impacts most people as they age. This is factored into deciding the final award. |
| Chest injuries: lung cancer | £65,710 to £91,350 | Causes severe pain and impairment of one or both lungs. Can include difficulty breathing and restriction of daily activities and employment. |
| Permanent or serious kidney damage | £158,970 to £197,480 | Kidney damage resulting the loss or severe damage of both kidneys. |
| Double incontinence | Up to £172,860 | Loss of natural bowel function and complete loss of bladder function with other complications. |
| Moderate back injuries (i) | £26,050 to £36,390 | A wide variety of back injuries. |
| Amputation of index, middle and/or ring fingers | £58,100 to £85,170 | Weak grip rendering the hand almost useless. |
| Amputation of little finger | £8,110 to £11,490 | Results in total loss of little finger. |
| Less serious leg injuries (i) | £16,860 to £26,050 | Fractures that lead to incomplete recovery or serious soft tissue injury |
| Severe Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (i) | £49,270 to £78,840 | Severe cases where the prognosis is poor with limited ability to function or work. |
Special Damages
Special damages can also be awarded. These damages compensate you for the financial losses associated with your injuries.
These can include:
- Medical expenses
- Transportation costs
- Loss of income
- Potential loss earnings
- Repair or replacement of damaged property
Keep evidence of all special damages. For example, keep the repair receipt if the heel on your designer shoe broke during a wet floor fall. Also, save all bus or taxi tickets for trips to the hospital relating to your injury.
Why Does It Help Me to Use a No Win No Fee Solicitor?
You may be able to seek compensation for your injuries. If so, you could use the services of a solicitor. Our panel of solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. No Win No Fee means there are no fees to pay your solicitor upfront. You also wouldn’t have to pay the solicitor an ongoing fee. You only pay a fee if your case wins. This would be a ‘success fee’ and it’s capped by law.
If your case loses, you do not have to pay the solicitor’s fee at all.
Speak to a No Win No Fee solicitor without any risk. If you have a favourable claim, our advisors could connect you to a solicitor from our panel.
Give Us a Call to Discuss the Accident at Work Procedure
For more information and to find out if you are entitled to compensation, contact our advisors. You can:
- Contact us through our website
- Call the number at the top of the page
- Use our live chat
- Follow the banner at the bottom of the page
Guidance on the Accident at Work Procedure
Here are some extra sources that could be of use for you:
If you’re still suffering due to your injury, find out about NHS services near you.
The HSE has more statistics on non-fatal injuries at work.
You can also find out more about the HSE and what they do.
We have other guides which you can read, such as the following:
- Should I Take The First Compensation Offer After A Workplace Accident?
- How Do I Claim Compensation For An Injury At Work?
- Calculating Compensation For An Accident At Work
- How To Sue Your Employer After A Workplace Accident
- How Do I Find The Best Accident At Work Solicitors?
- Increasing Your Chances Of Winning A Work Accident Claim
- Using An Accident At Work Claims Calculator
- Could I File A Claim If I’m Injured At Work?
- No Win No Fee Injury At Work Claims
Your employer’s accident at work procedure should be simple to follow. Different types of employment have different health and safety regulations but every employer should make reporting an accident easy. However, if you weren’t able to record the accident, you could still be eligible to claim. Get in touch today.