If you are unfortunate to have an accident at work, the first thing to do is notify someone and seek medical help. Even if you think there is nothing wrong, it’s best to have a doctor check you out so it is on record that you attended a medical facility following your accident. Ensure you inform the doctor that it is was a work injury. After visiting the doctor, follow their instructions to the letter so as not to jeopardise any claim you might need to make - and prevent the possibility of further injuring yourself. If you do happen to aggravate the injury, it will be part of your original claim so be sure to keep accurate records, and visit the same doctor each time.
If possible, ensure the area where your accident occurred is safe so no further accidents can take place (or ask someone else to make the area safe). And then ask for the appropriate papers so that your accident and any related injuries are noted down. Be as specific as possible, and tell only the truth. If it results in a claim, it may end up being denied simply because you told a little white lie.
Take photos of the area if you can, and note down all relevant details (such as time, date, weather, witnesses, what actually happened and your actions following the accident). Again, be accurate but truthful – don’t fabricate anything with the aim of making it sound more serious than it was. Remember, a work accident could result in a minor injury that could still see you taking time off work, or suffering from a psychological condition.
Above all, remain calm and polite and don’t accuse or threaten anyone in your workplace, even if your accident was a direct result of something someone did or did not do.