Reporting An Accident At Work

If you suffered an accident at work and another party is liable, you may be eligible to make a work accident claim. However, before getting started with the claims process, it is necessary to report the accident to your employer.

Reporting an accident at work is essential, whether you want to claim compensation or not. That will ensure that your legal rights are protected and your employer can implement the necessary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

To learn more about the steps you should take after a workplace accident, please continue reading this guide. For free legal advice or to start a claim, call 0800 470 0474 today or use our contact form to request a call back.

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Table of Contents

• What should I do if I have a work-related accident?
• Am I legally required to report an accident at work to my employer?
• How do I make an accident report?
• What should be recorded in the company accident book?
• What workplace accidents and injuries should I report to my employer?
• Do I have to report a near-miss incident?
• What should my employer do if I have a work accident?
• What is RIDDOR?
• Do I have to report my accident to the HSE?
• How long do I have to report a workplace accident?
• Do I need an accident report to make a personal injury claim?
• What is the time limit for making a workplace accident claim?
• Can I lose my job if I claim compensation from my employer?
• Do I need a solicitor to make a workplace injury claim?

What should I do if I have a work-related accident?

If you have an accident at work, it is crucial to take the right actions to protect your health, safety, and legal rights. The key steps are detailed below:

• If you suffered a serious injury, call 999 for immediate medical attention. Otherwise, see your GP or go to the hospital as soon as possible, even if your injuries seem minor. Make sure you keep any bills or receipts related to your treatment.
• Report the accident to your manager or employer and make sure that all the details are recorded accurately in the accident book. You should also make sure that your employer has reported the accident to HSE if they have a duty to do so.
• Gather as much evidence as possible, such as photos or videos of the accident scene and your injuries, witness details and CCTV footage, if available.
• Check your contract with the employer for information about accidents or Statutory Sick Pay. Make sure your employer is aware of the potential risks in the workplace to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.
• Write a diary about the progression of your injuries and symptoms and how they have affected your life. Keep copies of all reports, medical records, and other relevant documents.
• If you want to start an accident at work claim, seek legal advice from a specialist personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Am I legally required to report an accident at work to my employer?

It is essential to inform your employer of any accident that occurs at the workplace. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employees must cooperate with their employers to ensure a safe working environment. This includes reporting any hazards or accidents within the workplace.

Your employment contract may also contain clauses requiring you to report accidents. This will allow your employer to investigate the accident and take steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Reporting an accident at work is beneficial for you because it provides a record of what happened, when it happened, how it happened and whose fault it was.

This can help you make a successful work accident claim and secure compensation for the pain and losses you have suffered.

How do I make an accident report?

To report your accident, you must refer to the relevant person or department in your company. Typically, this will be:

• A dedicated health and safety representative if you work for a large company;
• A supervisor or manager who is usually responsible for the immediate safety of their team;
• The business owner, if you work for a small company.

All companies that have more than ten employees are required by law to keep an accident book.

You must ask the responsible party in your company to fill out an accident report form and make sure you present them with all the details of the incident. You can read more about what should be recorded in the accident report in the section below.

If you work for a smaller company that does not have an accident report book, you should create your own written report, including all the essential details about what happened.

What should be recorded in the company accident book?

If you have been involved in an accident in the workplace, you must make sure that all the details of the accident are recorded in the company’s accident book. The accident report would typically contain the following information:

• The full name, date of birth, and job title of the injured person;
• The date, time and location of the accident;
• The date when the report was completed;
• A detailed description of the incident and the events leading up to it;
• A description of the injuries sustained and their cause;
• Whether any medical professionals were called to the accident scene;
• Whether the injured party is pregnant;
• The full name, occupation and contact details of the person who recorded the incident;
• The signature of the injured party and the person logging the details.

The information recorded in the company’s accident book may be used as evidence in a future claim for compensation.

What workplace accidents and injuries should I report to my employer?

You should report all workplace accidents and personal injuries to your employer, regardless of how minor they might initially seem, including:

• Slips, trips and falls.
• Falls from height.
• Cuts and lacerations from machinery, tools, or sharp objects.
• Broken bones.
• Burn injuries from electric shocks, fires or harmful substances.
• Repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis.
• Respiratory problems like asthma or mesothelioma.
• Hearing loss from prolonged exposure to loud noise.

This will create a record of the event and allow your employer to investigate potential hazards.

Do I have to report a near-miss incident?

A near-miss incident is a warning sign that indicates potential hazards that could lead to serious injuries in the future if not addressed. You must report all near misses to your employer to help them identify and eliminate these risks to prevent future accidents.

Examples of near misses that are important to report include:

• Slipping on a wet floor but not falling.
• Equipment malfunctioning that did not cause injury.
• Falling objects that missed you.
• A chemical spill that was quickly contained.
• A piece of scaffolding nearly collapsing.

Keep in mind that any situation where an accident could have occurred should be reported as a near miss to create a safer workplace.

The near-miss record should contain information similar to that of an accident report, including the corrective measures taken to ensure future health and safety measures.

What should my employer do if I have a work accident?

Following any workplace accident, your employer has several duties, which may include:

• Provide immediate first aid or call for emergency medical services if necessary;
• Secure the accident scene to prevent further injuries and to preserve evidence;
• Investigate the accident to find out how it happened and what hazards contributed to it;
• Record the accident in the company’s accident book;
• Report the accident to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) if it meets RIDDOR requirements;
• Cooperate with any official investigations from the HSE;
• Pay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for up to 28 weeks if you cannot return to work due to your injuries;
• Make reasonable adjustments to accommodate any disability you might have suffered due to the accident;
• Implement the necessary corrective measures and review relevant safety procedures to prevent similar accidents from happening again.

What is RIDDOR?

RIDDOR refers to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

It is a piece of UK legislation under which employers, those in control of work premises and the self-employed are legally required to report certain types of workplace accidents and incidents to the HSE. These include:

• A list of specific reportable injuries that include broken bones (other than fractures to the fingers and toes), loss of sight, amputations and severe burns;
• Accidents occurred due to falling from heights;
• Accidents occurred due to exposure to hazardous substances and chemicals;
• Any other type of illness or accident that causes an employee to take time off work for seven or more days;
• Industrial diseases and illnesses such as vibration white finger disease;
• Certain dangerous occurrences (near misses) that have the potential to cause harm;
• Incidents that involve gases that result in people being taken to the hospital;
• Injuries to members of the public that result in them being taken to the hospital;
• Work-related accidents that cause deaths.

Do I have to report my accident to the HSE?

No, you do not need to report accidents to the HSE as an employee. Such reports should only be submitted by the person responsible for this under RIDDOR, who would typically be an employer or person in control of work premises.

The only time when you would be required to submit a report yourself is if you are self-employed. The report should be made online and should contain the following information:

• The date when the report was submitted;
• The date, time and location of the incident;
• Details of the injured party and the person making the report (name, job title and phone number);
• Details of the premises or company where the incident took place (name, email, address);
• Details of the incident, injury or illness sustained.

How long do I have to report a workplace accident?

All accidents and incidents at work must be reported to your employer immediately or within the shortest time possible. Some employment contracts could specify a timeframe for reporting accidents, but this is not that common.

On the other hand, there are specific time limits for reporting workplace accidents to the HSE. Typically, a report must be submitted as soon as possible and within 10 days of the incident. There are a few exceptions:

• If the accident resulted in an over-seven-day injury, the HSE must be notified within 15 days of the incident;
• Gas incidents and dangerous gas fittings must be reported within 14 days of the incident or after becoming aware of the hazard.

Do I need an accident report to make a personal injury claim?

It is the duty of your employer to ensure that you are protected from all risks of accidents and injuries at work. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, they must carry out regular risk assessments and adopt preventative measures to minimise any potential risks.

If this duty is breached and you have an accident, you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim. You will need various types of evidence to support your claim, such as photographs, witness statements, expert testimony and financial documents.

Workplace accident reports are essential when making a claim for a workplace injury. While you are not legally required to have one to make your claim, it can significantly strengthen it because:

• It provides evidence that your injuries occurred at work;
• It establishes the date, time, location, and circumstances of the accident;
• It can corroborate your version of events and help establish liability;
• It can provide details that you might forget over time.

Without the accident report, your employer could more easily contest your claim and deny liability. Also, if you were legally required to report the incident and you failed to do so, you would be in breach of the law, and this would significantly weaken your claim.

What is the time limit for making a workplace accident claim?

Under the Limitation Act 1980, you typically have three years to make a claim if you are injured at work, starting from:

• The date of your accident;
• The date your injuries were diagnosed and linked to the workplace environment if they developed over time (the date of knowledge).

It is worth mentioning that the three-year time limit is suspended if the injured party cannot handle a claim. This could be due to the severity of their injuries or a condition such as Alzheimer’s disease. In this case, a litigation friend could claim for them.

If you lost a loved one in an accident at work, you have three years to start a claim from the date of death.

Can I lose my job if I claim compensation from my employer?

If you suffer an injury or illness at work due to your employer’s negligence, you are entitled to claim compensation for your pain and suffering.

Under UK employment law, you have legal protection against being unfairly dismissed for making a legitimate claim against your employer. The Employment Rights Act 1996 makes it illegal for them to sack you solely for seeking compensation for a workplace accident.

Furthermore, all employers must have Employers Liability Insurance in place to cover any personal injuries to employees. If you make a successful claim, their insurance company will pay your compensation, and your employer will not be left out of pocket.

If you suffer any unlawful consequences for making your claim, a specialist lawyer can help you make a further claim at an employment tribunal.

Do I need a solicitor to make a workplace injury claim?

While you are not legally required to have a solicitor in order to start a claim, this is highly recommended. Solicitors have specialist knowledge of the relevant legislation and can accurately assess the strength of your claim.

They can advise you on your legal rights and will know exactly how much your claim is worth. Your solicitor will help you gather the necessary evidence to support your claim and will also conduct all communication with your employer and their insurer.

Furthermore, your solicitor will offer you a no win no fee service, which means you won’t have to pay them unless your claim is successful. If you lose, you do not owe them a single penny.

For legal advice about claiming compensation for a workplace accident, do not hesitate to contact us by calling 0800 470 0474 or using our online claim form.

Last edited on 29th Apr 2025

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.