Someone was hurt on your job. What to do in the first 24 hours

Nobody plans for this day. A short checklist helps when your head is spinning.

First: people

• Call 999 if anyone is seriously hurt.
• Make the area safe and stop the work.
• Keep others away from the danger.

Next: evidence

Do this as soon as it is safe, and before things get moved.

• Take photos and video of the scene and equipment.
• Write down the time, weather and who was there.
• Get names and numbers of witnesses.
• Keep any failed equipment. Do not repair or bin it.
• Record it in your accident book.

Check if you must report it

RIDDOR is the legal duty to report certain incidents to HSE. Reportable events include:¹

• Any death from a work-related accident.
• Specified injuries to workers, such as fractures other than fingers, thumbs and toes, and amputations.
• Injuries that stop someone doing their normal work for more than seven days. Report these within 15 days.
• Certain occupational diseases.
• Dangerous occurrences, even if nobody was hurt.
• Certain gas incidents.

If someone is off for more than three days but not more than seven, you must record it, but you do not need to report it.¹

Call your insurer

Policies normally ask you to tell the insurer promptly. Give the facts. Do not say it was your fault, and do not offer to pay. Let the insurer deal with that.

HSE notes that an employers' liability insurer cannot refuse a claim just because you admitted fault or failed to report it.² But the policy may let the insurer recover its costs from you if your safety failures led to the claim.² Follow the conditions either way.