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Original poster

Accident at work - what next?

23 replies

OuchThatHurtLoads · 31/05/2025 14:41

I was recently in an accident at work. It was 100% their fault. I didn’t not do my job properly, or not follow policies and procedures. A bit of the building collapsed on me.

I am not seriously injured, but enough to be off sick and unable to get myself to/ from work. I also suffered shock.

I like my job, and don’t want to leave. However, this is just one of a few H&S concerns we have raised that have fallen on deaf ears. I could’ve been very seriously injured.

I’m not sure whether or not to take it further, and would welcome advice.

FYI the company has not contacted me since I’ve been off sick even to see if I am ok.

OP posts:
Daisydiary · 31/05/2025 14:46

Is the HSE involved?

MissMoneyFairy · 31/05/2025 14:49

Work should have filled out an incident riddor report, hse need contacting, did you get checked out at the hospital. Keep all copies of documents, are you on full pay while you're signed off,you may be entitled to temporary injury payment, are you in a union. How awful especially as they'd already been made aware. What sort of work place is it.

HotCrossBunplease · 31/05/2025 14:53

Are you in a union? If so, contact them for advice.

Original poster
OuchThatHurtLoads · 31/05/2025 15:27

I’ve been checked out by a doctor. I have bruising, whiplash and concussion.

No union. Not sure about HSE or Riddor as not heard a bean from them.

I’m kind of annoyed I’ve not heard from them, and I need a job. I’m torn between feeling angry at their lack of H&S and feeling bad at causing any conflict with management as I don’t really want to leave.

OP posts:
Pleasealexa · 31/05/2025 16:44

Does the workplace have a H&S department?

If not I would make contact with ACAS and using their advice, then write formally to the company with an update on your health and plan for return to work. . For example will you have a return to work assessment, do they have access to occupational health.

StMarie4me · 31/05/2025 17:05

Should it have been preventable? Was it due to lack of maintenance etc? How long have you been off work? All relevant for a RIDDOR report.

OldJohn · 31/05/2025 17:53

I’m kind of annoyed I’ve not heard from them,
They might not want to contact you incase it is seen as admitting liability

MissMoneyFairy · 31/05/2025 18:29

Is there an occupational health dept at work, what sort of work is it, what does your sick note say

Harassedevictee · 31/05/2025 20:31

@OuchThatHurtLoads as pp have said you need to ensure a RIDDOR is completed.

You then need to seek legal advice and if appropriate put in a claim, no employer is voluntarily going to admit liability and pay compensation.

Original poster
OuchThatHurtLoads · 03/06/2025 08:41

OK, so I think I need a bit of help here. I work for a large organisation, but it seems that our H&S is non existent.

There was someone solely responsible for this, but their role was made redundant and I think it was disseminated to some staff, but not sure.

At the accident one manager said that "everyone is responsible for reporting H&S issues", but for the life of me I cannot tell you the procedure, how I would do it, and in the 6 years I have been there I have never heard anything about it. I have done all the training available to me, but the only H&S I have ever seen is how to lift a box properly. I have seen no communication about how to report an issue. This is probably why the equipment was not reported as broken/ dangerous. No one knew how to do it. No one knew it was everyones responsibility.

I've been told that I am well within my rights to put in a claim to the company on their insurance, but I feel reluctant to do this as I think that is the starting pistol to me leaving. That said, I feel that I need to leave anyway as it's too stressful and now I am injured and my MH is affected.

So, whether I claim or not, I want my accident investigated properly and things fixing because someone next week may get seriously injured.

I really don't know where to start. There is no HR department in our building, only head office. I don't know who the H&S lead is. I don't know if an investigation was done. There will be CCTV.

I want to put in writing what happened to me, tell them my overall concerns, I want a response and I want to see action to make the place safe.

OP posts:
MissMoneyFairy · 03/06/2025 09:01

You can report the accident online to the health and safety executive, HSE. Follow the links on their website. They also give advice on what you need to do if you're injured. It's their job to investigate, all employers have a duty under the health and safety act which you can read up on. It won't be just one person especially in a large organisation who have hr and do they have occupational health department? To make a claim youd probably need a solicitor if youre not in a union, this could drag on for years like mine did, i had a union who dealt with everything, we needed statements, photos of the workplace, my injuries, medical reports, xrays, independent medical report, proof of loss of earnings, it's not just as simple as making a claim which they will strongly deny. Who told you to put a claim in? You could also contact ACAS for advice who also have a, website with all the information. It sounds an awful place, I hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
OuchThatHurtLoads · 03/06/2025 09:11

I don’t know if I could be bothered to claim. It won’t be a large amount as it’s not a serious injury. Also, it took years to settle a car accident I was in which was clear cut their fault, and I don’t need another drama like this.

However, I am out of pocket for a few things and I am not happy about that and I want reimbursing.

I think at this stage I a) want to look for another job, and b) I want feedback on my accident and I want to know what’s being done about it.

What I’d like to know is, what are my chances of compensation? How long would it take, and how much hassle would it be? This is so I can tell myself, it’s not worth the hassle, and also that would make me more comfortable just writing a very stern letter and asking to see a copy of the incident report.

OP posts:
ImRonBurgandy · 03/06/2025 09:28

What industry do you work in, and how long were you off sick?
'Making a claim' is separate from getting the accident investigated to ensure it doesn't happen again. One doesn't preclude the other, but for the bigger picture the investigation and actions taken are very important. You may be able to use any information gathered in an investigation as part of a claim.

ImRonBurgandy · 03/06/2025 09:28

Also what injuries did you have?

Original poster
OuchThatHurtLoads · 03/06/2025 09:51

I work for a large supermarket chain
Concussion
A loose bit of the structure of the building fell on me

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 03/06/2025 10:10

Agree with pp. This is exactly the sort of thing that should be reported to the HSE via their website.
Also I would suggest checking your home insurance policy to see if you have free legal advice. Concussion can take a long time to get over. I hope you have had a proper medical examination and a full written report has gone into your gp record.

Justme2023123 · 03/06/2025 10:16

Your employer is unlikely to just give you compensation as that would be seen as admitting fault. If you want compensation, you'll need to make a claim.

You also need to be aware that your employer may well not share the outcome of any accident investigation with you, so as not to prejudice their position in the event that you do make a claim.

MissMoneyFairy · 03/06/2025 10:20

Are you on full sick pay, how long are you going to be off sick for. You might get compensation for loss of earnings and goodwill for your pain and suffering but you'll need evidence, they will have a legal department that will deny liability but there's no harm in trying. You can call your occupational health department, they may want to assess you and see if you're fit to return to your usual duties. You can write to the hr department and your company website will show which director is responsible for health and safety, if may be the legal department. You should write a statement if you weren't asked to do this at the time and include a copy of your doctors assessment,

Comefromaway · 03/06/2025 10:31

If you are off work for more than 7 days the accident is RIDDOR reportable. If you are off work more than 3 days then there should be an internal investigation. Otherwise the accident book should be filled in.

If any of our workers are injured at work through no fault of their own we pay them full pay in order to mitigate any insurance claim. You should not be out of pocket.

By law it your employer employs over 5 people there has to be a Health & Safety policy. This should detail who you need to report things to. I would assume for a large company it would be available on a staff intranet. If it is not, ask HR for a copy. Ours contains Incident Report Forms (and we are only a smallish family run company)

ImRonBurgandy · 03/06/2025 18:54

Supermarkets are regulated by the local authority, not the HSE. Please contact environmental health at the LA where the employer is based and let them know what happened. They can then make sure everything has been done.

Comefromaway · 03/06/2025 19:48

ALL workplaces come under the remit of the HSE.

ImRonBurgandy · 03/06/2025 20:07

That's just not true but thanks for commenting
www.hse.gov.uk/lau/enforcement-allocation.htm

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