A workplace accident, whether minor or severe, can have a huge impact on you. Whether it’s a large knock in confidence, a physical injury, or a life-changing situation, it’s important to look after yourself and take appropriate measures when the worst occurs.
The main area to concentrate on is your physical and wellbeing – only through recovery can you work better to handle the situation.
Assess Your Injury
Don’t worry about taking time off work, or the impact that your injury is going to have on your job just yet – the main thing is concentrating on how badly you’re injured in order to get the appropriate care.
This includes paying attention to signs and symptoms even days after your accident. It’s a good idea to get checked over by a doctor or medical professional as soon as the accident happens, as even a slight bump on the head may have repercussions which you can’t see. Although it’s admirable to want to shake it off and get back to work, you don’t want to return to work and put yourself at risk.
Analyze What Was at Fault
You need to work out what caused the accident or injury. Was it due to neglect on your own part? Perhaps just a natural accident that couldn’t have been avoided? Or was it due to negligence on your employer’s side? If the latter, you need to gain full support for making a case or claim against your employer if applicable. Seek legal help for your claim, and remember that criminal defense attorneys can be appointed to assist you in the matter.
If you have a good relationship with your employer, and they have a health and safety policy in place, it may be that you can communicate with them personally in order to resolve the situation.
Keep a Record of Everything
If you do have to take a significant period of time off work, you need to protect your income and cover your losses. Keeping a record of all hours of work missed due to the accident and the subsequent pay loss means you have a full record should you need to make a claim and be reimbursed for your losses.
Your record should also include any relevant outgoings made directly as a result of the accident which wasn’t your fault, such as medical bills and pain relief.
Concentrate on Self Care
Nobody can tell you when the right time is to return to work after an accident. Even if all physical injuries have healed and you are physically sound, your mental recovery is important too.
In more severe cases, you may have feelings of fear and anxiety about returning to work or the site of the accident. You should take all the time you need to care for your health, and it may help to talk to someone if you need professional guidance on rebuilding your confidence following an accident. Don’t force yourself to return to work if you are not ready.
