What to Do After a Workplace Injury
A workplace injury triggers a specific set of UK legal protections and procedural requirements. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and various sector-specific regulations create a comprehensive framework for incident reporting, investigation, and employer responsibility. Beyond the legal framework, practical steps preserve evidence, protect your health, ensure proper benefits, and position any compensation claim for success. Unlike many other accident types, workplace injuries also have specific employment law considerations — workers must not be victimised for reporting accidents or pursuing claims, and have specific dismissal protections during recovery. Understanding both your rights and the proper procedures is essential.
In this guide
- Immediate Steps
- The Accident Book
- RIDDOR Reporting
- Photographs and Evidence
- Witnesses
- Medical Attention
- Sick Pay and Benefits
- Employer Conduct After Accident
- Return to Work
- Starting a Compensation Claim
- Time Limits
- Common Questions After Workplace Injury
- Related Guides
- Our Partner's Fees Explained
- Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Injury
This guide walks through exactly what to do after a UK workplace injury — at the moment of injury, in the following hours, in the days afterwards, and how to start a compensation claim if appropriate.
Immediate Steps
Step 1: Ensure Your Safety
- Stop work if unsafe to continue
- Move to safe location if possible
- Don’t move with serious back/neck injuries unless absolutely necessary
- Don’t move colleagues unless absolutely necessary
Step 2: Get First Aid
- Workplace first aider should attend
- For serious injuries, call 999
- Note exactly what first aid was provided
- A&E if appropriate
Step 3: Tell Your Manager
- Report the incident immediately
- Note exactly who you told and when
- Ask them to record it
- Don’t accept “let’s just see how it goes”
The Accident Book
Statutory Accident Book
UK workplaces with 10+ employees must:
- Maintain an accident book (BI 510 or equivalent)
- Record all workplace accidents
- Make it accessible to all employees
- Keep records for at least 3 years
What to Record
- Date and time of accident
- Your name and contact details
- Names of witnesses
- Exact location
- Detailed description of what happened
- Description of injuries
- Equipment involved if relevant
Get a Copy
Critical for future claims:
- Request photocopy of entry
- Take photograph if needed
- Note the page number
- Confirm details are accurate
If There’s No Accident Book
- Send detailed email to manager (creates timestamped record)
- Keep your own contemporaneous record
- Note that no accident book was available
- May itself be evidence of safety failures
RIDDOR Reporting
What RIDDOR Requires
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013:
- Employer must report certain incidents to HSE
- Specific injury categories and timeframes
- Employer’s responsibility — not employee’s
- Failure to report is offence
Reportable Injuries
Major reportable categories:
- Fatalities
- Specified injuries (fractures except fingers/toes, amputations, etc.)
- Injuries causing 7+ days incapacity
- Specific occupational diseases
- Dangerous occurrences
Specified Injuries Detail
- Fractures (except fingers, thumbs, toes)
- Amputations
- Loss of sight (temporary or permanent)
- Eye injuries
- Crush injuries to head/torso
- Serious burns
- Scalpings (separation of skin)
- Unconsciousness from head injury
- Hypothermia, asphyxiation requiring resuscitation
- Acute illness from biological exposure
Confirm RIDDOR Reporting
Ask employer:
- Will RIDDOR report be made?
- When will it be submitted?
- Get reference number when available
- HSE can be contacted directly if concerned
Photographs and Evidence
Photograph the Scene
If safe to do so:
- The specific hazard that caused the injury
- Surrounding area
- Equipment involved
- Any defects or unsafe conditions
- Warning signs (or absence)
- PPE provided (or absence)
Photograph Your Injuries
- Initial state immediately
- Development over time
- Treatment progress
- Specific impacts visible
Preserve Other Evidence
- Damaged clothing
- Damaged PPE
- Equipment that failed
- Hazardous materials involved
- Specific items relevant to accident
Witnesses
Get Witness Details
- Names and contact details (personal, not just work)
- What they saw
- Their positions at time of accident
- Any conversations they overheard
Independent Witnesses
Particularly valuable:
- Visitors to workplace
- Contractors
- Other people not employed by your employer
- Customers in retail settings
CCTV Identification
Most workplaces have:
- Workplace CCTV (retention 28-90 days typically)
- Approach route cameras
- Specific area cameras
- Request preservation immediately
Medical Attention
A&E for Serious Injuries
- Don’t accept minimisation
- A&E records are powerful evidence
- Note exactly what you reported
- Get copies of records eventually
GP Within 48 Hours
Even for apparently minor injuries:
- Document symptoms early
- Get GP records of accident
- Specific medical assessment
- Treatment recommendations
Occupational Health
Where employer provides:
- Often beneficial for return-to-work planning
- But separate from your GP records
- Records may be requested for claims
- Truthful and accurate reporting essential
Specialist Treatment
For substantial injuries:
- Specialist consultant referral
- Physiotherapy
- Mental health support
- Long-term care planning
Sick Pay and Benefits
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
Basic UK provision:
- Currently £116.75/week (2024/25)
- Up to 28 weeks
- After 3 waiting days
- Specific qualifying conditions
Contractual Sick Pay
Many UK employers provide:
- Enhanced sick pay (often full pay for specified period)
- Check your contract
- Specific duration of cover
- May continue indefinitely in some cases
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Government benefit for serious workplace injuries:
- Apply 90 days after accident
- Specific assessment process
- Benefits depend on disablement level
- Doesn’t prevent compensation claim
Other Benefits
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Specific need-based benefits
CRU Considerations
Important for future claims:
- Compensation Recovery Unit recovers benefits from compensation
- Specific calculation method
- Worth understanding before claim
- Specialist solicitors handle CRU as standard
Employer Conduct After Accident
What Should Happen
- Accident recorded properly
- RIDDOR reported where required
- Investigation conducted
- Specific safety improvements
- Support during recovery
- Reasonable return-to-work planning
Warning Signs
- Pressure not to record accident
- Pressure to return to work too soon
- Reluctance to investigate
- Hostility about reporting
- Disciplinary action threatened
- Wage reductions
Your Legal Protection
UK employment law protects:
- Right to report accidents without victimisation
- Right to pursue compensation claims
- Right to specific dismissal protection
- Right to reasonable adjustments for disability (Equality Act 2010)
Return to Work
Phased Return
Often recommended:
- Gradual return to full duties
- Reduced hours initially
- Light duties where appropriate
- Occupational health assessment
Reasonable Adjustments
For disability under Equality Act 2010:
- Employer must make reasonable adjustments
- Including equipment, role, hours
- Specific consultation expected
- Disability includes substantial long-term impact
If You Can’t Return
In substantial injury cases:
- Specific dismissal procedures required
- III health retirement options
- Substantial impact on compensation claim
- Specialist legal advice essential
Starting a Compensation Claim
When to Engage Specialist Solicitor
- Any injury beyond minor
- Time off work expected
- Lasting symptoms
- Disputed liability
- Free initial consultation typical
Don’t Worry About Employer Reaction
Specific UK protection:
- Employer’s Liability insurance pays, not employer directly
- Compulsory insurance (Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance Act 1969)
- Can’t be dismissed for claiming
- Many employers expect such claims
Trade Union Members
Specific benefits:
- Union typically provides legal services
- No success fee deduction often
- Specialist union solicitors
- Specific union procedures
What Specialist Solicitors Do
- Preserve evidence
- Arrange specialist medical examination
- Calculate full compensation including lost earnings
- Negotiate with insurance
- Handle complex liability disputes
Time Limits
PI Claim Time Limit
3 years from accident date for most cases:
- Industrial disease — date of knowledge often applies
- Children — from 18th birthday
- Mental capacity — different rules
- Specific exceptions apply
See our time limits guide.
Industrial Disease Time Limits
For long-developing conditions:
- Hearing loss, asbestos, RSI etc.
- Time from date of knowledge
- Can be decades after exposure
- See our workplace claims hub
Common Questions After Workplace Injury
My employer says it was my fault. Can I still claim?
Often yes. UK employer liability is broad:
- Even “my fault” may involve employer failures (training, equipment, procedures)
- Contributory negligence reduces but doesn’t eliminate claims
- Employer must prove specific employee fault
- Many “your fault” defences fail on detailed analysis
Free initial specialist consultation clarifies the position. Don’t accept employer characterisation without legal review.
I’m worried about losing my job if I claim. What should I do?
Specific UK protection. Employees have substantial legal protection against victimisation for claiming:
- Unfair dismissal protection
- Specific anti-victimisation rules
- Employer’s Liability insurance pays claims, not employer directly
- Substantial UK case law
Most workplace claims have no employer impact. Compulsory Employer’s Liability insurance is precisely for these situations. Specialist solicitors handle relationships professionally.
My employer doesn’t have an accident book. Does that matter?
Yes — and it doesn’t prevent claims. If your workplace has 10+ employees, accident book is legally required. Lack of accident book:
- May itself indicate inadequate safety management
- Doesn’t prevent your claim
- Can be evidence of broader failures
- Alternative evidence (emails, contemporaneous notes) works
Send detailed email to manager describing the accident — creates timestamped record. Specialist solicitors handle missing-record cases regularly.
I didn’t report immediately. Can I still claim?
Usually yes, with some considerations. While immediate reporting is best:
- Time-limited rather than absolute requirement
- Late reporting may need explanation
- Specific reasons (initial assumption of minor injury, intimidation) often accepted
- 3-year time limit still applies
Specialist solicitors regularly handle delayed-report claims successfully. Don’t let delay prevent specialist consultation.
My injury was years ago. Is it too late?
Maybe not — depends on type. For accident-based injuries, 3-year time limit from accident applies. For industrial disease (hearing loss, asbestos, RSI, dermatitis), time runs from date of knowledge — when work connection became reasonably knowable. Many UK industrial disease claimants successfully bring cases relating to exposure 20-40+ years ago. See our workplace accident claims hub.
When should I engage a solicitor?
Soon, but no immediate panic. Free initial consultation with specialist solicitor recommended for: any time off work, lasting symptoms, disputed liability, substantial injury. Specialist solicitors:
- Handle insurance communications
- Preserve evidence
- Arrange specialist examinations
- Calculate full compensation
No commitment from initial consultation. No win no fee available for most cases. See our how no win no fee works guide.
Related Guides
What to Do After an Accident UK Guides
Employer Liability Insurance Explained
Personal Injury Claim Time Limits UK
Compensation Recovery Unit Deductions
Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Injury
If you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Start a free claim check in minutes — no upfront cost. No win, no fee if your claim is accepted.
