Contributed Post
Sometimes life can deal you a lousy hand no matter how careful you may be. It catches you off guard, and most accidents happen at work. Perhaps it’s due to more unfamiliar territory than at home, but a lot of injuries occur in the workplace. So when harm is caused to you within work, what do you do in the aftermath?
Remember All The Details
All workplaces should have an accident log book so that both sides can cover their version of events. If you can, try and remember all the details of the accident both before, during and after it. This might be needed if the accident wasn’t your fault and instead was through the carelessness of others.
Smaller accidents might not require a hospital visit, but you should always do your best to document the events, in case you feel it’s something that could have been prevented and wasn’t your fault.
Seek Legal Advice
Some accidents are not always the fault of the victim, and that’s when it’s advisable to seek legal advice. This might be merely a consultation with a law firm to discuss the accident and whether it’s worth perusing some sort of compensation for any losses to your income or time spent recovering to get fit and healthy.
Seeking legal advice is always useful no matter how severe the accident maybe because it’s within the workplace. There are also specialist law firms for specific workplaces. For example, a maritime accident attorney would be useful for if you happened to be a maritime worker, where the work can be more dangerous than other professions.
Get Plenty Of Rest
It’s obvious but many of us will want to be getting on with our everyday routines and therefore we forget that when we have this trauma to the body, we need to let it recover. Make sure to listen to the advice your doctor has given you and adhere to any rules and restrictions to allow your body to heal as quickly as it can. Some injuries may need light exercise, so if this is the case, it’s imperative you do so.
Muscles and joints can very quickly cease up and will need stretching. But don’t push your body too much. Listen to it and stop when you need to, to avoid any further damage to the injury. Massage therapy may also be required, especially with sports-related injuries, but consult your physician or doctor first before proceeding.
Liaise With Your Workplace
The workplace shouldn’t be an enemy, even if you take legal action against them. It’s important to liaise with your workplace, particularly with regards to the conditions of your contract and any sick pay you are entitled to. Having this positive relationship with your workplace may end up with more leniency on time off, and they may even suggest alternatives such as flexible hours, to ease you back into a routine.
They may also be able to recommend access to benefits that you might not have known about. This would be hugely beneficial if your recovery process were a little longer than expected. Accidents are also avoidable, so if it’s an accident that was waiting to happen, it’s useful to talk to your manager to discuss how it can be avoided, so it doesn’t happen again.
Keep Your Mental Health In Check
Having an accident or injury at work can also be quite traumatic, and we all handle trauma differently. Some might struggle with it openly, while others might keep it hidden. Keeping an eye on your mental state of mind is hugely important in helping you get better. Stress and emotional troubles can have an impact on your body so if you find yourself struggling to cope, it’s always best to consult your doctor and seek help through a therapist.
You might merely benefit from talking to those closest around you, or there are cases where talking to those who have experienced the same injury or a similar one, can be extremely helpful. The important thing is to speak to someone, don’t keep it all internally brewing because that will only hinder your recovery.
Recovering from an accident is a timely one and is different for everyone. Make sure you know your rights, consult your job contract so that you get what is rightly owed to you. But most importantly, get lots of rest and don’t rush to get back onto your feet. No job is worth the potential harm to your health.
