How do we handle Personal Injury at Work? We spend at least half of our lives doing our jobs and sitting in our designated offices. There is every chance that we can get sick in the process, and these illnesses can be work-related, such as construction accidents or non-work related. Non-work related illnesses can make you uncertain about when to take a personal day off because it is entirely your issue and not the company’s liability.
But, there should be no doubt in immediately addressing work-related illnesses because they can exacerbate over time at work. Therefore, we must not ignore them to maintain our machismo because, even inconspicuous injuries at work can have dire consequences if left unattended.
Here, we have listed down a checklist of tasks that you must do in case you incur a personal injury at work.
1. Concentrate on your health:
First and foremost, get your injury evaluated by the workplace first aid department as corporate companies are legally required to engage a first aider on site. If you do not feel like moving after the injury, call a colleague and ask him to take you to the first aider.
2. File an accident report:
Inform your colleagues and manager about the incident and file an accident report according to the company’s policy and procedure. Make sure that you follow every instruction to the tee and report the incident as soon as possible because certain benefits lapse after a definite amount of time.
3. Collect evidence for safe side:
It is always better to be safe than sorry. Take pictures and videos of your injury and accident location to back your claim. This evidence can come in quite handy if your employer is dishonest and uncooperative.
4. You are entitled to Sick Pay:
Even if your employer cannot give you sick pay for all the days you are absent; you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). It does not offer remuneration in proportion to the sick pay, but getting something is still better than getting nothing.
5. Involve a trusted colleague:
If an incident happens due to some operational issue, then the employer is liable to rectify that for the future safety of workers. But he can also use that modification to shun responsibility towards compensation claims.
Therefore, keep in touch with a trusted colleague while you are away and get information about the operational changes. Jot the info down and resort to it when needed.
6. Consult an attorney:
If you are having issues with claiming compensation, it is always good to have competitive counsel like Quirk Law Firm while handling a personal injury claim. Such association will help you get familiar with your legal rights and ever changing personal injury laws.
7. Take time to rehabilitate:
Always remember that health is wealth. You cannot do anything until you are fit and healthy. Therefore, focus on your rehabilitation and come back afresh. Be aware of employer’s responsibility to assimilate rehabilitated employees back as rehabilitation is part of the compensation policy.
“You need to realize your rights as an employee so that your employer is not able to take advantage of your oblivion case. Moreover now you know beforehand the steps you have to take in case you are injured.”
Pinstripe Magazine Staff
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