What Should You Do If You Get Injured at Work

Injuries at work can sneak up on you. One moment you’re reaching for the printer paper and the next you’re nursing a back spasm like you’ve been in a rugby match. 

Whether you’ve slipped on a wet floor due to a lack of signage or you’ve been in an incident involving a rogue office chair, getting her at work can be confusing and stressful.If you’re looking to handle it like a pro, take a look at our tips below.

Image source: Pexels

1. Report it immediately. No matter how minor the injury may seem, report it. Even if all you’ve done is roll your ankle when you’ve turned the corner incorrectly, you need to make sure that you’ve spoken to HR and to your first aider. You don’t get bonus points for toughing it out, whether you’re working in construction or in a cubicle jungle.Your employer needs to know if something has happened. This will get everything on record and perhaps avoid issues down the road. Think of it as your official moment to log something important at work.
2. Seek medical attention. Even if you feel mostly OK, always get checked out. Some injuries, such as sprains or concussions, don’t kick in until much later on. A quick visit to the doctor or workplace medical provider prevents small issues from turning into bigger ones. Plus, having a medical record is useful if there’s ever a debate about what happened or how serious it was.
3. Get the right help. If your injury leads to you missing work, any complications or medical expenses that start piling up like junk mail, it may be time to bring in the experts. Someone like personal injury attorney Mark D. Prince can help you understand your rights and options without turning it into a courtroom drama. 
4. Keep records. It can feel a little over the top at first, but keeping a record of everything related to your injury is key for your recovery. This includes recovering your money when your medical bills pile up, and it also includes you gathering doctors notes, notes about time off work, and even photos of the injury itself. If things start to escalate, this information will be gold, and it’s especially important if you’ve slipped on something at work, because you can take a picture of the actual slip.
5. Don’t stress out. It’s very easy to allow stress to spiral when you’re dealing with an injury and paperwork that goes with it, but don’t let it run the show. Talk to somebody, practice a little bit of self-care, and take some time off work if you need to. You need to also rest and listen to your body because you’ll heal much faster when you’re not burning out mentally.

Getting injured at work is not just about bruises and bandages, it’s also about knowing how to protect your health and your rights. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and advocate for yourself where possible.