Any sort of workplace injury can be a terrifying and overwhelming experience. Whilst it can be incredibly distressing in the moment, it’s a serious matter that will require immediate action to protect both your health and your right to compensation.
The most critical steps are ensuring medical attention is given and the injury is reported formally, as well as having everything relevant documented. This ensures that you get everything possible to ensure fair treatment if seeking justice and compensation.
If you’ve injured your back at work, then there are steps you can take to ensure your rights are protected.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
In the immediate aftermath of your injury, you’ll want to get seen by medical professionals as soon as possible. Even if you don’t feel any immediate pain or obvious injuries, there’s no guarantee that these injuries will appear later on as your body gets over the shock of the trauma.
Prioritise your health first and foremost by visiting a hospital or A&E, even when the pain seems minor. The medical professionals you see will be able to conduct the relevant tests and scans to assess the severity of the back injury. Some back injuries can worsen over time, so it’s good to get an initial assessment.
Ensure the doctor records that the injury happened at work and ask for a detailed account of how it occurred. It’s good to get everything down in detail while it’s still fresh in your mind. It’s essential to get information from your peers and anyone who was a witness to the accident.
Adhering strictly to the doctor’s recommendations includes physical therapy to help aid recovery and to support your claim, too.
Report the Injury to Your Employer
When you’ve been injured, unless they’re already aware of the accident that’s happened, you should report the injury to your employer.
This is something to notify management of immediately, whether that’s your own supervisor or a manager. This will help allow the employer to follow all their legal obligations and protocols to help protect both the business and you as the employee.
You’ll want it confirmed that the injury has been recorded in the workplace accident book and that it’s followed up in writing by you if an accident book doesn’t exist. Sending an email or letter to your manager detailing the accident helps to create a paper trail, should it be needed as evidence further down the line.
Above everything else, do not say it was your fault or apologize for the accident. Chances are, you weren’t to blame or at fault for what happened.
Document the Incident
When documenting the incident, there are several things you can do, or you can ask a colleague to do if they’re there to witness it.
Take photos of the scene, especially if the injury was caused by a lack of equipment present, faulty equipment, spills, or general hazards.
Collecting contact details from colleagues who saw the incident is important too, as they’ll serve as crucial witnesses should the employer dispute where blame is placed.
Keeping a diary is helpful for documentation, even though it’s only from your own personal viewpoint. Note down your pain levels, symptoms, and how the injury has affected your daily life, like having trouble sleeping, for example.
You must keep records of all your medical reports, receipts for prescriptions, and any travel expenses that you put towards your appointments.
Understand Your Rights and Next Steps
It’s good to know your rights and what the next steps are when it comes to a back injury that occurs at work or as a result of repetitive strain within the workplace that could have been avoided.
There can be workers’ compensation available depending on where you are in the world. For example, in the UK, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay or contractual sick pay from your employer.
If the injury was due to employer negligence, then you may be able to make a personal injury claim. Whether it’s due to a lack of training, faulty equipment, etc. However, it’s important to be aware of time limits that might be in place for making claims. This is usually around three years from the date of the injury itself.
If you’re unsure about the injury and what you might be owed, then legal advice is good to pursue. Consulting a solicitor who specializes in workplace injuries for advice will help you understand what your eligibility for compensation.
The Dos and Don’ts
In general, when it comes to back injuries that occur in the workplace, there are some dos and don’ts to follow:
- Do keep yourself active and mobile
- Do ask for light-duty tasks if returning to work with restrictions
- Don’t try to play through the pain, which can cause lasting damage
- Don’t worry about being fired, as it’s illegal for an employer to discriminate against you for filing a legitimate claim.
How to Look After Yourself When Recovering From A Back Injury
You must be looking after yourself when recovering from a back injury. There are some steps to help you prioritize your health and recovery when it comes to back injuries. These include the following:
Stay active and move regularly
First and foremost, stay active and move your body regularly. Contrary to old advice, bed rest is going to be harmful for your body if you stay in it for more than a day or two.
Gentle movement, like walking, can help to increase blood flow to the area and promote healing as a result.
Hurt doesn’t mean harm
It is normal to feel some pain during the recovery, but this rarely means you’re damaging your spine further.
Use heat or ice packs
Applying a cold pack for fifteen to twenty minutes in the first 48-72 hours helps to reduce inflammation. After 48-72 hours, you should switch your heat packs or take a warm bath to help relax any stiff muscles.
Manage pain strategically
Managing the pain is important ot recovery and to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible. Use over-the-counter medication as and when needed it’s needed to control pain and enable you to keep moving too.
Modify daily activities
You’ll want to modify your daily activities when you’re recovering, and that includes avoiding any heavy lifting and twisting for those first few weeks. Take on light daily tasks, but be wary of how intense these are on the body whilst you’re recovering.
