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According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) data, almost two million workers in the United Kingdom reported suffering from work-related ill health in 2022/23, with 561,000 people self-reporting a non-serious injury.
Experiencing a workplace injury can be a challenging ordeal, especially if it's one that causes you to take time off work, and our new research shows that taking time off is a common occurrence.
In our new research, we asked non-desk based workers across the UK about their experiences with workplace injuries, and can reveal that almost 1 in 5 (18%) HAVE taken time off for a work-related injury.
As well as this, the majority (90%) of people reported that they were out of work for up to 2 weeks as a result - equalling around 10 working days.
With so many processes in place, it can be easy to forget what must be done if you experience an injury in the workplace.
To help workers navigate the policies and procedures around workplace injuries, our safety experts have outlined their 5 key tips to ensure that workers are adequately supported:
1. Report the incident
After experiencing an injury in the workplace, it’s important to make any managers, or senior colleagues aware. This ensures that the incident is recorded with anyone who may need to know, and you can get time to check yourself for any injuries without just leaving work unannounced.
Additionally, it helps to ensure the manager can make any appropriate changes to the environment, to stop any further accidents.
Failing to report a workplace accidently promptly also puts you at risk of jeopardising any personal claims you may make, and you could potentially lose credibility.
Whereas on the other hand, if your employer fails to report the accident, they can risk a fine of up to £20,000.
2. Seek professional guidance if required
Sometimes our injuries are more than just simple bumps or bruises, and if you want to make a claim, it’s important to seek professional guidance.
Search for a trusted solicitor who can help with this, and follow any necessary steps to help your case.
Some well-known UK solicitors specialising in workplace accidents include Injury Lawyers 4U, Irwin Mitchell, and Slater and Gordon Lawyers UK.
3. Seek medical assistance
It is crucial to seek medical assistance promptly after an accident. Sometimes our injuries can’t be seen on the outside, so getting yourself checked is vital to ensure your health and wellbeing.
If you have first-aiders at work, approach them for help, or visit your local hospital, or GP, in more serious cases for appropriate medical care suited to your needs.
4. Document the incident in the accident book at work
Every workplace should have an accident book, especially if you have more than 10 employees working in one location.
It’s important to log this here as it means you have a recorded account of the accident, and senior employees can check this if necessary when going back through reports.
5. Ask for witness statements and take photos
If you’re planning on making a claim, collecting evidence is vital, and can help to support your account of the injury.
Ask any witnesses for statements detailing the accident, and take photos and videos of the environment in which the injury occurred.
If you’re going to be out of work, ask a trusted colleague to help with this to ensure everything is documented.
At Altro, we have a clear vision for Zero Harm, and with our safety flooring solutions, we know it’s vital to ensure that the correct precautions are taken when considering safety in the workplace.
After all, we put safety at the forefront of everything we do, and ensure that our Zero Harm policy is a benchmark for other companies.
When it comes to workplace injuries, it’s vital to support your staff members with any complications they may have, and take the necessary precautions so your staff feel safe at work without any health and safety issues.
If you would like to find out more about safety flooring solutions for your business, you can enquire with us here.
