8 Things To Do When Work Trips You Up

There are so many hazards that crop up at the workplace, and while you can take every single precaution out there, it doesn’t mean that work won’t trip you up from time to time. There are some workers who can even trip over their own feet, but if it’s in the workplace, it’s a workplace issue. Whether you have experienced a laceration, a strain or even exposure to hazardous chemicals, you need to know what to do when work quite literally trips you up. It’s not a good thing to have an accident at work, particularly if your employer is at fault. 

The best employers take all of the steps possible to prevent accidents on the job, but that doesn’t mean that they will never happen again! The most conscientious employer is always acutely aware of the issues that will crop up and be a risk in the workplace, so hopefully, you have one of those! In any case, you need to know what to do when things go wrong at work. Let’s take a look at eight things that you can do when you have an accident or acquire an injury at work.

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1. Report it! The very first thing that you have to do when there is an accident at work is to report it as early as possible. Early reporting gives your employer the chance to investigate why you’re hurt. You also want to ensure that you get workers’ comp, and that means reporting it in line with your workplace policies. Early reporting allows your employer time to correct the issue and get a big jump onto the claims process. You should report injuries even when they are the most minor ones because otherwise, you’re going to regret waiting if you miss out on a claim.
2. Assess. The next step to take is to assess the injury itself. A quick and efficient response can make a difference between your outcome being a positive one or a negative one. The company you work for should have a policy for this, and they should also have a safety officer on site who can be the point of contact for alerting the emergency services if necessary.
3. Secure the scene. If you have had an injury in a specific area of work, the scene needs to be secured and access limited to prevent any other employees being injured, too. Your employer should block off the area and secure any loose equipment that caused the accident in the first place. They should make sure that no one else goes near the site until there has been an investigation. The last thing that needs to happen is even more injuries or accidents as a result of loose items and equipment. 
4. Get a hospital report. When you are taken to hospital, you need to make sure that you have a print out to give your employer and the insurance company. You need to know that your job is safe, which is why you have to follow as many rules as possible to guarantee that you get the compensation and the outcome that you deserve. Your employer is also required to follow certain steps and there has to be all of these steps covered if they don’t want to gain a huge fine for improper practice. 

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5. Openly communicate. You have to convey any concerns about workplace safety as quickly and as early as possible with your employer. The conversation should be open and by being honest about your worries, you can ensure that your employer doesn’t make that mistake again. Employers should keep all lines of communication open, including for those who have been emotionally affected by the accident that occurred. Think of those who witness something and it’s scary!
6. Keep following up with the doctor. If you have been given a treatment plan to follow, then you need to follow it to the letter. You first need to be sure that you have seen the professionals and confirm that you need specific treatment. You then need to keep hold of the original copies of this information, particularly if you have sustained a severe injury. If you don’t see any treatment programs through, you could be refused the compensation you need to come back from this.
7. Work out timing for going back to work. The longer you’re out of work, the harder it becomes to get back into it after an injury. You need to return quickly and safely, and that means ensuring that you are in a program with your employer to get you back to your job. The main thing here is to ensure that you are able to safely return to work without risking any further injuries.
8. Prevention & being alert. It’s vital that you take the right steps to prevent any similar incidents from happening in your workplace. Your employer should be doing this, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t keep an eye on how you work and your own personal safety. Self-awareness is so important here, and planning ahead for any further issues is important to your continued safety in your job. You deserve to feel secure and safe while you’re at work as much as you would when you’re at home. Every single workplace should have a plan to handle injuries, and you should attend any necessary training to avoid this issue happening again.

Training and education is key here. You might be excellent at your job, but if you have been injured, you need to know that you have the right equipment to work your job as smoothly as possible. Having the right safety measures in place will ensure that you can return to work with confidence, and you can trust that your employer will be aware of the issues they are having in their own business. When work trips you up, you don’t have to stay on the floor afterwards. You get up, you dust off and you carry on with your career.