Employees who suffer injuries while they’re at work often become focused on getting the medical care they need. While that’s the priority in these situations, there’s another step that has to be taken once medical concerns are stabilized. If you have been hurt on the job, you will also need to report your injury to your employer.
Sometimes, workers don’t report injuries because they think that their injury isn’t serious, but the condition can worsen over time. Waiting to report the incident could lead to significant questions about where, when and how the injury occurred.
Why should you report an injury?
Reporting a workplace injury creates a written record of what happened. It connects that injury to the job. It can also serve as a record of who witnessed the injury and how the timing of the symptoms occurred. Significant disputes can occur if the report isn’t made.
Initially, you may make a verbal report to your supervisor, but you should ensure that a written report is created to help avoid confusion later. This should include the type of injury and what caused it.
A workplace injury report should be factual and clear. It should identify all the important facts about the incident because it’s possible that memories may change over time. Having a comprehensive account of what happened to cause the injury is also beneficial.
You should receive proper medical attention for the injury. This might be through an emergency room, urgent care or doctor’s office. Working with your medical team to develop a treatment plan is important. That plan should outline when it’s safe for you to return to work and what type of restrictions you’ll have, if any, when you return to work.
It’s critical that you pay close attention to everything related to the workplace injury. Timely notice, accurate records and thorough medical information can help to protect your ability to receive the workers’ compensation benefits you’re due.