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What to Do Immediately After a Workplace Accident: A Comprehensive Guide

Workplace accidents can happen in any industry, and when they do, it’s essential to know what steps to take to protect yourself and your rights. At Martin A. Harvey & Co. solicitors, we understand the importance of acting swiftly and decisively after an accident occurs. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the top causes of workplace accidents and provide a comprehensive guide on what to do immediately after
experiencing one.

Top Causes of Workplace Accidents:
1. Slips, Trips, and Falls: These accidents are among the most common in the workplace and can occur due to wet floors, uneven surfaces, or cluttered walkways.
2. Machinery Accidents: Improper use or maintenance of machinery can lead to serious injuries, including crush injuries and amputations.
3. Overexertion: Lifting heavy objects or performing repetitive tasks can result in strains, sprains, and other musculoskeletal injuries.
4. Falls from Height: Working at elevated heights without proper safety measures in place can lead to devastating falls.
5. Vehicle Accidents: Employees who operate company vehicles are at risk of accidents both on and off the road.

You can read more about the top causes of workplace accidents here according to the HSA.

What to Do Immediately After a Workplace Accident:
1. Seek Medical Attention: Your health and safety should always be the top priority. If you’re injured in a workplace accident, seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor.
2. Report the Accident: Notify your supervisor or employer about the accident as soon as possible. Be sure to provide detailed information about what happened and the extent of your injuries.
3. Preserve Evidence: If possible, take photographs of the accident scene and any visible injuries. Collect contact information from any witnesses who saw the accident occur.
4. Follow Doctor’s Orders: Adhere to the treatment plan prescribed by your healthcare provider. Failure to follow medical advice could jeopardise your recovery and any potential compensation claims.
5. Document Everything: Keep detailed records of your medical treatment, including doctor’s appointments, prescriptions, and any out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the accident.
6. Consult with an Attorney: It’s important to seek legal guidance following a workplace accident, especially if your injuries are severe. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and navigate the claims process.
7. Know Your Rights: Familiarise yourself with your rights as an injured worker, including your entitlement to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.


Workplace accidents can have serious consequences, but knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath can make all the difference. By following the steps outlined in this guide and seeking legal assistance when needed, you can protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to. Remember, you don’t have to navigate the aftermath of a workplace accident alone. We’re here to help.

If you’ve been injured in a workplace accident, don’t wait to seek legal help. Contact Martin A. Harvey & Co. solicitors today. Our team of experienced personal injury lawyers is here to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Workplace Accident Claims: Know Your Rights

At Martin Harvey & Co. Solicitors, we are experts in personal injury claims, so we know that whether you are working on site or from home, work-related accidents are a significant concern.

In 2020, 7,417 non-fatal incidents were reported to the Health and Safety Authority, 96.3% of which were related to workers.

Of these reported incidents, the most common triggers were:

  • Internal injury due to manual handling
  • Slipping or falling
  • Loss of control of object, machine, vehicle, etc.
  • Aggression, shock, or violence
  • Body movement leading to an external injury, such as a cut or bruise

Consistent with these findings, is the fact that the back is the most commonly injured area for workers, making up 20.4% of injuries. (Source)

What to do if you experience a work-related injury

If you experience an accident at work or on your way to work, you should report it to your employer. If you are absent for three consecutive days (excluding the day on which the accident occurred), your employer should report this to the Health & Safety Authority.  For a full rundown on when and how employers should report these incidents, see this guide from the Health & Safety Authority.

Your employer has a duty to ensure your health and safety, including the provision of a risk-free workplace, adequate training, and proper facilities. (Source) Some workplace accidents occur due to negligence on the employer’s part if they do not adhere to health and safety legislation and fulfil their duty of care. 

If you do not have grounds to raise a workplace accident claim against your employer, there are several potential means of obtaining financial assistance in the event of a workplace injury. Your employment contract will tell you whether you can avail of paid sick leave. Note that your employer has no legal obligation to provide this to you. Alternatively, you may be able to avail of the Occupational Injuries Scheme, or, depending on the extent of your injury, illness benefit or disability allowance. (Source)

If you can prove negligence or a lack of fulfilment of legal obligations on the part of your employer, you can raise a workplace accident claim against them. To support your claim, it is important to document the incident. Determine if there were any witnesses or CCTV in operation at the scene of the accident. Seeking medical attention once the injury has occurred will also provide you with medical records to support your claim. In some cases, the employer may try to prove that the injured party holds some responsibility for the accident, which is called contributory negligence. For this reason, it is strongly recommended to seek advice from a solicitor, who can guide you through the claims process and ensure that you are awarded the rightful amount of compensation.

At Martin A. Harvey & Co. Solicitors, we are specialists in the area of workplace accidents. We can provide professional advice with respect to your injuries and your particular rights regarding out of pocket expenses and the loss of your wages. Contact our team using our contact form on 021 496 3400 freephone or email us at maharvey@martinharvey.ie.

Back to Work & Workplace Accidents

BACK TO WORK – ACCIDENTS IN THE WORKPLACE ON RETURN FROM POST COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

Under the Health & Safety at Work regulations in Ireland there are very clear obligations for employers to ensure the safety of staff and visitors on their premises and prevent workplace accidents.

If you are an employer, you have legal obligations to safeguard all people in your workplace. There are health and safety rules covering a wide range of issues such as the use of computers in the workplace, regulations on working with hazardous materials, construction regulations, manual handling regulations and many others.

Nervous about returning to work?

There is a need for increased vigilance when it comes to implementing health and safety procedures for employees soon returning to work. Hazard audits may not have been carried out during lockdown and there has certainly been reduced consultation between employers and employees in regards to real and perceived hazards.

The implementation of safety procedures to minimise new hazards has been sporadic, inconsistent or non-existent as a result of lockdown. Furthermore, resuming normal workplace activities after such a long period of enforced inactivity may result in a significantly altered workplace and new dangers and hazards. This comes with an increased risk around health and safety policy, procedures, and hazard audits.

It is at times like this, when we are most likely to forget about safety audits, that we must remember to proceed with them the most.

3 Easy Steps for Employers

Here are some simple steps that employers should consider in order to ensure that they are putting the safety of staff and visitors first.

1) Consideration should be given to possible changes in the workplace with an emphasis on new hazards. Carry out a full safety audit and hazard audit, ergonomic review and brief all employees before recommencing work.

2) After such prolonged absence, all staff should be refreshed on existing health and safety procedures, and updated on new health and safety procedures. These procedures will come about following the safety and hazard audit

3) New procedures and health & safety measures identified in the hazard audit of the new or enhanced work environment should be discussed fully with employees, and should be implemented comprehensively .

Had a workplace accident ?

Doctor’s appointments to attain medical reports for the Injuries Board process can be difficult to organise at the moment, but we can help you to arrange a medical review. The Injuries Board will accept applications filed by applicants or their injury solicitor without a medical report, which will help to speed up your case.

If you’ve experienced an injury in the workplace, please feel free to contact us here at Martin A. Harvey & Co. Solicitors on 021-4963400 freephone or email us at maharvey@martinharvey.ie.

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