Returning to Work After an Accident: Six Simple Steps
Every year thousands of accidents happen in the workplace. Some injuries are less serious than others, however, no matter the circumstances, you should always feel safe at work.
Your employer should do everything in their power to support you as well as they can, even if you have filed a claim against them.
Your employer has to take care of your physical health whilst you are doing your job, so if an accident in the workplace does occur, there are six vital steps that you should take.
Keep Your Employer in The Loop
If you want to avoid any potential misunderstandings, you should always keep your employer in the loop. Make sure to send them an email every once in a while, to update them about your circumstances.
Try to keep a written record of your conversations rather than relying on constant phone calls. This way you will always have proof of what was said during your conversations.
Establish a Reintegration Plan
If you have suffered a seriously debilitating accident, you can’t expect to jump back into work as if nothing happened. We recommend that you come back to work by slowly reintegrating yourself.
Speak to your employer and let them know how much you are willing to take on during your first weeks. For example, you may not be able to move around as much when you first get back to work. Offer your employer to start with some desk work until you’ve made a full recovery.
Don’t Go Back to Work Too Soon
Although there is no right or wrong moment to go back to work, you should never go back before you feel ready. Make sure to ask your doctor for their recommendation and never feel pressured by your employer to do anything that you don’t feel is right.
If you go back too early, you could run the risk of further injuring yourself which can leave you in an even worse position than you were before. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to workplace injuries.
There is no specific time frame for when you should return to work. Depending on your injury and recovery process, your doctor will let you know when you should think about returning. Even if the accident occurred outside of the workplace, you should still be wary about returning to work too soon.
Document Any Evidence or Symptoms of Complications
If you’ve gone back to work after an accident and you feel like your condition is worsening, make sure to document any evidence of worsening symptoms. Complications like these could affect your case in a court of law.
If your accident was experienced in the workplace, make sure to contact a professional legal team like Lamber Goodnow that can help you navigate the circumstances of your claim. This way you can focus on your health rather than legal paperwork.
Avoid Strenuous Movements
If your job involves a lot of physical activity, you will want to avoid any strenuous movements that could make your injury worse. For example, avoid any heavy lifting, kneeling, squatting, bending, or climbing.
Instead, see if you can help out in a different way. Once you feel recovered, you can regain some of your responsibilities. Just take it bit by bit.
Follow Up with All of Your Doctor’s Appointments
If you’ve been injured and you’ve filed a claim, you must follow up with your doctor’s appointments. Failing to do so can worsen the state of your physical health and it can also worsen your chances of winning your case.
You should never put your health at risk, so you must make sure that your doctor is checking up on the state of your recovery.
Above all, the most important thing to consider is your physical and mental health. Make sure that you have a great support network around you to help you during the recovery process. If you are feeling defeated, don’t keep it to yourself. The best way to help yourself in these instances is to open up to friends and family.
Don’t agree to anything that you don’t feel comfortable with and try to take each day at a time. You won’t feel recovered overnight, this is a process that takes time, so don’t be discouraged.
Make sure to get enough rest before you return to work. Try to lead a healthy lifestyle and make sure that your workplace considers both your mental and physical health when you return.
