What do you do if you’re injured on the job? While the chances of you getting injured might be small, depending on what job you do, there’s always a possibility. Thus, it’s important to know how you should respond if you’re ever injured on the job and what your rights are in case your injury sets you back a little. 

For some people, claiming workplace injury compensation is unpleasant because they enjoy their work and the people they work for. However, it’s not about that. Whether your employer is at fault or not, you’re still eligible to get workplace compensation if you’re injured while working, and here’s how to get it. 

Know your rights

In Australia, different states may have specific or different regulations surrounding workplace injury compensation. Understanding when you are eligible to claim for an injury, whether physical, psychological, or both, is vital if you’re ever in this kind of situation. 

As an employee, you’re generally eligible for injury compensation if you suffer an injury or contract a disease at work and require medical treatment or time off from work. While workplace injury compensation laws are designed to protect and aid employees, they aren’t there to take advantage of business. Thus, there are regulations that surround placing a claim:

• Employees would need to see a general practitioner as soon as possible directly after the injury occurs and would need to sign a First Certificate Capacity form, which is a record and diagnosis of the injury done by a professional
• In addition to that, they’d also need to fill out a Workers Compensation Claim Form
• After that, your employer will have roughly a week to fill in their part of the form and hand it to their insurer
• Once that form is handed in, it will then be assessed and decided upon whether you’re eligible for compensation based on the circumstances of the situation
• If you haven’t heard back from the insurer within 14 days, it’s assumed that they have accepted the claim, and your employer has to compensate you appropriately
• If you happen to get deferred decision notice within the 14, this means that the decision is still being processed. However, if you do not hear back within 120 days, your employer will be liable to compensate you for any medical or health expenses in addition to the workplace compensation
• For more information about workplace compensation or to learn more about making a claim, consult your local regulations

What To Do If You’re Injured at work

Now that you have a brief overview of workplace injury compensation regulations, let’s consider what you need to do if you are injured at work while on duty:

1. Visit your own GP

The first thing you’ll need to do is visit the doctor to address any injuries you may have. The longer injuries are left untreated, the worse they may get. Consider the severity of your injuries. If they are severe and need immediate attention, get someone to take you to the doctor immediately. If they aren’t so bad, consider going a bit later. Either way, you need to see the doctor sooner rather than later. 

While at the doctor’s, ask them for a First Certificate Capacity form, which records the extent of the injury and the amount of time needed off work. In some states, your employer is obligated to send you to a doctor of their choice if you make an injury claim. While you may need to adhere to this request, having a second record can only work in your favour if the claim is legitimate. 

2. Keep all of your records

As you’re processing your claim, make sure that you keep all of your records organised and in one place. This includes your First Certificate Capacity, the claim form, any communication or promises made by your employer when the accident happened, and an incident report. Try to have everything written on paper if you can. Trying to claim your word versus your employer can get tricky. 

3. Fill out your own paperwork

When you’re placing your claim, don’t allow others to fill out the form for you. If you’ve been in an incident, your employer may ask you to sign an incident form. Be sure to read it thoroughly before signing anything. If the form is slightly too ambiguous, ask your employer to make it more specific, so you’re fully aware of what you’re signing. 

4. Do your own research

Employees are usually unaware of exactly what they’re entitled to and often blindly trust the words of their employer. However, by doing a bit of your own research, you may find that your employer is trying to reduce their liability for the accident by convincing you that you’re only entitled to less or no compensation, given the circumstances. If you’ve done your research but still feel like you need more assistance, contact a professional to help.

5. Get legal advice or assistance

Workplace injury compensation can get tricky if the events surrounding the injury are somewhat blurry. Likewise, sometimes employers simply don’t want to compensate, playing the blame game with their employees. To navigate through a situation like this, having a lawyer in your corner who knows the legislation and whether you have a case or not can be invaluable. And, if you’re worried about the cost, some lawyers only charge a fee if they win your case. 

Final thoughts

To tell you the truth, the regulations around obtaining workplace compensation are so strict because people often try to take advantage of it. However, if you’ve been injured at work by accident or by negligence on your employer’s part, follow the tips above to get your workplace injury compensation. Trust us, it could be helpful in the long run.