24 APR 2025
7 MIN
READ
What is an accident at work?
A workplace accident refers to an unexpected event that results in personal injury or harm to an employee while carrying out their work duties. These can range from minor slips and trips to more severe accidents, such as machinery-related accidents or falls. Understanding the nature of workplace accidents is crucial for employers to implement effective safety measures and ensure the well-being of their employees.
What to do when an accident occurs at the workplace
As a small business owner, prioritising your employees’ well-being is essential, especially in the aftermath of an employee accident at work. The safety and health of your team is crucial for both an employee’s well-being and your business’s productivity and morale. So, when an accident occurs, it’s important to respond quickly and effectively to make sure your employees feel safe and supported.
However, even with preventive measures in place, workplace accidents may still occur. Therefore, it’s important to handle them correctly when they do.
Here are some key steps to take in response to a workplace accident:
Supporting staff and providing medical assistance
Immediately assess the impact of the accident to assess if medical attention is required. Acting quickly in response to workplace accidents can make all the difference, so having a plan for first aid and arranging medical help in place can be vital and may impact the severity of the accident in the long run.
It doesn’t matter the size of your team, whether you have one employee or one hundred - the safety of your employees should be a top priority in any business. With that being said, it’s a good idea to have at least one employee, or yourself, trained as your designated first aider.
Remember to make sure that your first aid kits are well-stocked, easily accessible, and that your employees know exactly where to find them.
What should a first aid kit include?
- Disposable gloves
- Plasters and bandages
- Antiseptic wipes
- Gauze pads
- Medical tape
Being prepared with the right training and resources ensures you and your employees can respond effectively in emergencies. Remember to keep an eye on your first aid kits – topping up when suppliers are low!
Restricting the area
It’s important that you act quickly when an accident happens to identify any immediate dangers. By using barriers like cones or tape you’re able to cordon off the area to non-essential personnel.
By restricting access to the accident area, you’re following best safety practices without disturbing any evidence. This will help when reviewing evidence from the scene to work out how the accident occurred.
It may be useful to have an employee supervise the restricted area, especially to update any medical responders who arrive to help and prevent any further incidents.
Do you have to report every accident?
Notify HSE if necessary
You need to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for:
- Accidents resulting in the death of a person
- Accidents resulting in severe injuries to workers
- Non-fatal accidents requiring hospital treatment to non-workers
Make sure to report these incidents promptly and keep a record. Notifying the HSE helps keep everyone safe and ensures you’re meeting legal requirements.
When is an accident book required in the workplace?
By law, you are required to have an accident book in the workplace if you employ ten or more people. Although you may not be legally required, that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from the use of an accident book. It can be particularly useful for helping to stay compliant and tracking any reoccurring issues.
For example, from keeping a record you may happen to notice a few trips or slips in a particular area. From there, you may decide to make appropriate changes - whether it’s tidying up wires and cables, or placing a sign to alert employees!
Did you know, some accidents are required by law to be recorded? You can learn more about the legal requirements within health and safety legislation here.
Investigate how the accident occurred
When a workplace accident occurs, it’s your responsibility as the employer to investigate the nature of the accident and how it happened. If you’re not sure where to start, here are step by step actions to take:
Gather and record all relevant information, including witness statements.
Use the information you’ve collected to identify the root cause of what happened.
Identify any risk control measures to prevent future danger, or remove any hazards identified.
Consider how you intend to implement these new measures. This may include changes to process, updated SOPs, providing additional training or updating your equipment.
From here, create an action plan that clearly demonstrates your next steps. Outline any specific actions and set hard deadlines for the changes to be put in place.
Follow guidelines in the contract of employment to understand the employee’s rights and benefits
As an employer, it’s recommended that you consult the guidelines in the employee contract when managing your employees’ rights and benefits after a workplace accident. If an accident does occur, it’s your responsibility to inform the impacted employee of their rights, and any relevant benefits. This helps to keep you on track for managing any claims or disputes while prioritising your employee’s health and safety.
How to mitigate risks of future accidents
Accidents happen, unfortunately, that’s often an unavoidable part of life. And while there’s no ‘foolproof’ way to avoid them, there are steps you can take to minimise the risks.
Risk assessments
The HSE provides free online templates to help assess your business for any health and safety risks.
These can help to identify:
- Who may be at risk of being harmed and how
- What your business currently does to control potential risks
- Any further action needed for proper risk control
- Who is responsible action
- Deadlines for actions needed
Safety training
Ensuring that your employees are trained on what to do in case of a workplace accident is important for:
Overall safety and well-being
Proper safety training arms employees with the knowledge and skills they need to respond effectively to workplace accidents, which can help prevent injuries and could potentially save lives.
Quick response times
When accidents happen, every second can count. Keeping your employees up to date with their safety training enables them to act quickly, and with confidence.
Liability as an employer
You have a legal responsibility to provide a safe working environment for all employees. Training employees on what to do can help reduce risks and liability in the event of an accident.
Compliance
The Health and Safety Regulations 1981 requires employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These regulations apply to all workplaces, including those with less than five employees and to the self-employed.
Display cautious signs and safety posters
Having health and safety signs and posters in the workplace is a handy way to raise awareness and act as a reminder to employees, customers and clients of safety protocols. These visual cues help ensure everyone understands their responsibilities and recognises potential dangers in the workplace. Having signs and posters also reinforces good habits among employees, as when safety practices are visible, people are more likely to follow them.
Many regulations also require certain signs, so having them up helps you stay compliant and avoid legal complications.
Protect your business from claims
Document incidents in detail
One of the best ways to protect your business from claims is to keep thorough records of any accidents that happen at work:
- It creates a clear record of events
- Helps you spot patterns for future risks
- Can be used if you need to defend against a legal claim
When recording an accident, make sure to note the date, time, and location. Record the names of everyone involved, including witnesses, and gather any statements while the details are still fresh. It also may help to describe what happened leading up to the incident.
Employer liability Insurance
Regardless of the time and effort that you invest in your business, there’s always a chance that something might go wrong. To protect yourself from the financial strain of compensation claims or legal costs, it’s a good idea to explore employer’s liability insurance cover that works for you.
Employer’s liability insurance is a legal requirement for most businesses that employ staff. It protects you against claims made by employees who are injured or become ill because of their work. Whether it’s a slip and fall, or more serious workplace accident, this type of cover ensures you can manage the costs of compensation and legal fees that may arise due to a claim.
Protect the future of your business
Running a business is hard work, so you want to protect the work you put in to make your business a success. Do a little thing today that can make a big difference to your business tomorrow.
Get AXA Business Insurance and Future You will thank you.
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