It doesn’t matter where you work, from an office setting to a warehouse to a construction site, there’s always a chance you could suffer an injury on the job. Should that happens, it’s critical to turn your immediate treatment to your receiving medical care.
It’s easy to lose track of what you’re doing immediately after a workplace accident, as the pain associated with your injuries overcomes you. However, it’s important that you do your best to avoid these common mistakes:
- Working through an injury: Even if you suffer a minor injury, it’s best to stop what you’re doing and assess the situation. Continuing to work can result in additional harm, which only prolongs the recovery process.
- Treating yourself: Don’t assume that you can treat an injury at work and continue on with your day. Even minor injuries have the potential to cause long-term damage, so you should always seek the care of an experienced medical professional.
- Waiting to receive care: This goes along with treating yourself. Not only should you receive medical care, but you shouldn’t wait to do so.
- Neglecting to inform your employer: If you suffer any type of injury at work, report the incident to your employer as soon as possible. For example, you could tell your immediate supervisor what happened. You want to make it clear to them that you were injured on the job.
- Returning to work too soon: It’s best to follow the advice of your medical professional. If they suggest that you take time away from work to recover, don’t ignore them. Doing so could worsen your injury, thus making the recovery process much more complicated.
These are just a few of the many mistakes you could make after a workplace accident. On the plus side, when you take your time and remain calm, you’re in better position to avoid these common mistakes.
As the dust settles and you begin to consider the future, look into your legal right to file a workers’ compensation claim. You may be able to obtain compensation until you can return to work, which will help you financially.
