How to Report Injuries in the Workplace

Suffering a workplace injury can be stressful. This is especially true for a person who is unfamiliar with the process of reporting the injury and seeking medical and financial compensation during recovery. Following the proper procedures will prevent delays.

Essentially, an injured worker must do two things after a work-related injury occurs. The employer should receive a written notification as soon as possible after the injury. The number of days may vary among states. Some require reporting within 24 hours; others may require up to five days. The next step for the injured worker is to file a workers' compensation claim with the state's workers' compensation department.

Reporting the Injury to the Employer

Making a verbal report to the employer is okay, but not sufficient for workers' compensation purposes. It is important to have written documentation of the incident to avoid discrepancies or possible denial of a claim due to unreported facts.

Timely reporting is also important. Not meeting the date requirements for reporting the injury – whether 24 hours or five days – may also lead to a reduction in benefits. Additionally, not having a written report can make it harder to prove to a judge that protocol was followed.

An injured worker should request an accident reporting form from their immediate supervisor. If the supervisor does not have the correct form, the person should request one from the human resources department.

Documentation of the injury should include the date, how, when and where the incident occurred. The worker should keep a copy for his or her own records.

Reporting the Injury to the State Workers' Compensation Department

In some states, an injured worker might lose all rights to receiving workers' compensation benefits if a claim is not filed within the timeframe set by the state. Basically, the injured worker should obtain an injury reporting form from the local workers' compensation department and follow the directions for proper filing. Some states may have the form on its website for easy access.

Generally, the worker will need to include more detailed information than was provided to the employer. In some cases, an injured worker might seek legal counsel before filing the claim. The employer may provide some benefits and medical care to the injured worker. However, filing a claim with the state may protect the worker if treatment is required beyond a number of years. The worker forfeits access to these additional benefits by not filing a claim with the state.