In 2024/25, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that 680,000 workers in Britain sustained an injury at work, and 1.9 million suffered from a work-related illness. These statistics 
highlight the importance of knowing what to do after an accident at work, not only to ensure your safety but also to protect your rights.
Workplace accidents can have significant consequences for employees, affecting their ability to work, their personal lives, and their financial stability. Therefore, being aware of the procedures to follow in the aftermath of an accident, whether you work in an office, on a construction site, or in a shop, can make all the difference when making a work injury claim.
What To Do Immediately After An Accident At Work
When an accident occurs at work that involves yourself or a fellow employee, the steps you take in the immediate aftermath are important for ensuring both the well-being and the rights of the person involved. Therefore, after experiencing or witnessing an accident at work, you should:
Get First Aid If Available
Immediately after the accident, get first aid if it’s available in your workplace. This can include basic care like cleaning and dressing wounds, applying ice packs, or immobilising affected areas. This can help prevent complications and provide an initial assessment of the injuries sustained.
Get Professional Medical Attention
Regardless of whether you received first aid at work or not, you should still get your injuries treated by a medical professional as soon as possible, especially if the injuries are severe or could potentially get worse. Visiting a hospital not only ensures a thorough medical examination but also means there’ll be an official record of the injuries, which is important for any insurance or compensation claims.
Report The Workplace Accident
Inform your employer, supervisor or a designated safety officer about the accident at work as soon as possible. Reporting the incident promptly is important for several reasons including:
- Legal compliance. In the UK, there are specific legal requirements for reporting workplace accidents. For example, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) obligates employers to report certain types of injuries, diseases, and dangerous incidents to the relevant authorities. Immediately reporting the accident at work ensures your employer’s compliance with their legal obligations.
- Documentation. Reporting the incident right away helps to formally document what happened. Make sure the details of the accident are recorded in the company’s accident book, which is mandatory for companies with ten or more employees. This will create an official record of the event, capturing essential details such as the time, place, and nature of the incident.
- Prompt response. Immediate reporting should trigger a prompt response from management, including first aid treatment, medical care, or emergency responses. It also alerts them to any immediate risks present in the workplace that may need to be addressed to prevent further accidents at work.
- Evidence preservation. Reporting an accident right after it happens helps in preserving any evidence related to the incident which can be crucial for determining what went wrong and who may be at fault.
Preserving Evidence Of The Accident
If it’s safe to do so, you can help preserve any physical evidence related to the accident at work by:
- Not touching anything in the area where the accident occurred to maintain the conditions exactly as they were at the time of the accident.
- Asking your manager to cordon off the area with barriers or signs to ensure that the physical evidence is not tampered with by anybody else or degraded by ongoing work.
- Gathering any items that are directly connected to the accident, such as a broken step-ladder, a piece of machinery that malfunctioned, or any substances that caused a slip accident at work.
- Taking photographs and videos as soon as possible of the accident scene from multiple angles. Also, make a note of any injuries sustained by you or others involved. Visual evidence can be powerful in demonstrating the circumstances and impact of the accident.
Notify Your Union Representative
If you are a member of a union, inform your union representative about the accident. They can offer help and support with organising, preparing, and maintaining records and information related to the accident to ensure that your legal rights are upheld throughout any subsequent actions.
Building Evidence For A Workplace Accident Claim
Documenting every detail of an accident at work while the information is still fresh in your mind may seem like a lot of work but it can be vital for supporting a workplace accident claim. Some of the main things you can do to best ensure your evidence is relevant and strong include:
Write A Detailed Account Of The Accident At Work
As soon as you’re able to, write down a comprehensive account of what happened. Include the date, time, and specific location within the workplace where the accident occurred.
Also, write down the sequence of events leading up to the accident. Note any conditions or factors that may have contributed to the incident, such as wet floors, missing or obscured warning signs, or any changes to the usual health and safety procedures.
Gather Witness Information
Collect names and contact details of anybody who witnessed the workplace accident or who was present in the vicinity. Get their accounts of the incident as soon as possible, as memories can fade or become less accurate over time.
Also, encourage witnesses to provide you with written statements detailing their observations of the incident. These should also include the date and time when the statement was made.
Maintain A Diary Of The Aftermath & Your Recovery
Keep a daily diary of your physical and emotional recovery, taking note of any pain you’re experiencing, discomfort, hospital visits, conversations with your GP or other healthcare professionals, and how the injury affects your daily life, activities and work.
Keep Detailed Records Of Expenses & Financial Losses
Keep a detailed record of all expenses and financial losses related to the accident at work. This includes:
- Medical expenses. Record what you’ve spent on medication, treatments, and any medical aids required.
- Travel costs. Record your expenses for travel to and from doctors, hospitals, and any other medical appointments.
- Lost earnings. Maintain a detailed record of any lost income due to time off work needed while you recover or for medical appointments. Include dates of absence and any relevant pay slips or employer statements that show your usual earnings versus what you were paid during your recovery.
- Miscellaneous costs. Keep track of any other costs incurred as a direct result of the injury, such as damage to clothing, hiring help at home or modifications needed to your home or vehicle.
Make sure you keep all receipts, bills, and detailed statements. These are all essential for calculating special damages compensation, which covers out-of-pocket expenses and financial losses directly tied to the accident. Accurate and comprehensive record-keeping can significantly strengthen your claim, providing clear evidence of the financial impact the injury has had on your life.
Save All Correspondence
Save copies of all correspondence related to the accident at work, including emails and written correspondence with your employer, insurance companies, and healthcare providers. If you discuss the accident or your injuries with your employer, supervisor, or any other parties, record the date, attendees, and key points discussed during these meetings.
By doing the above, you ensure you now have comprehensive evidence that can be invaluable for workplace accident claims. This evidence will not only help in substantiating your claim but also in achieving a fair settlement if the claim is successful.
Contacting A Workplace Accident Solicitor
If you have experienced an accident at work, we encourage you to seek professional legal advice from a workplace accident solicitor as soon as possible.
You can start by contacting one of our advisors to discuss your situation in a free consultation. If a claim appears viable, one of our experienced solicitors may offer to take on your accident at work claim on a No Win No Fee basis. Remember, acting swiftly can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.
For further information on what to do after an accident at work or to arrange a free consultation, please call us on 0800 6524 881 today or use our live chat service.