Steps You Must Take If You’re Injured at Work

To protect your health and a potential claim for compensation after an injury at work, there are several important things you need to keep in mind. During a medical emergency, it can be chaotic and confusing, especially when your health is at risk.

The staff at Advanced Spine Care and Pain Management of New York are experienced in work-related injuries, especially those serious injuries that can make it difficult to return to your job quickly.

The most common on-the-job injuries occur from:

• Falls
• Slips or trips
• Auto accidents
• Repetitive motions

There are also many cases of workers suffering serious injuries to their back, limbs, or head when a heavy object falls on them.

As a good reminder of what needs to happen after an on-the-job injury, here’s a quick list of the steps you need to take immediately after the injury.

Report all injuries big and small

Whether you break a bone or get a paper cut, it’s vital that you report the incident to your supervisor as soon as possible. As long as you’re conscious and capable of filing an incident report, this should be your first step after a work-related accident.

For major injuries, medical care may be necessary before discussing your injury with your employer.

Even if the injury doesn’t appear serious at first, there’s always a risk for additional medical complications that develop later. A small paper cut, for instance, can turn into a serious infection that can put you out of work for some time.

Get medically evaluated

After speaking with your supervisor, you should seek a medical evaluation immediately. New York law requires that you visit a health care provider authorized by the Workers’ Compensation Board, unless it’s a medical emergency.

For serious injuries, you may need to go directly to an urgent care center or the local emergency room. Be sure to tell the attending physician that your injury occurred at work.

Once you receive the results of the initial evaluation, you may want to schedule a follow-up visit with your primary care physician. For some injuries, including serious injuries that affect your spine, you may need to see a specialist for additional diagnostic work or treatment.

Follow up on paperwork

If you plan to file for workers’ compensation, you need to get back in touch with your employer to complete any additional paperwork after your diagnosis.

You also need to visit the Workers’ Compensation Board office nearest you to file the appropriate documents.

Follow your doctor’s care plan

To protect your health and ensure a quick, efficient recovery, you should follow the advice your physician or specialist provides for after-care.

You need to stay on top of your additional medical appointments for follow-up care. If you’re referred to a specialist or for physical therapy, be sure to show up for appointments and follow all recommendations for recovery.

Return to work only when ready

If you plan to go back to work earlier than what your provider recommends, you can end up causing long-term damage or complications to your health.

The staff at Advanced Spine Care and Pain Management of New York can discuss your expectations for returning to work throughout your treatment, so you know just what to expect. They can also help you navigate the complexities of workers’ compensation claims following a work-related injury, so you can stay focused on your recovery.

If you’ve been injured on the job, don’t delay medical treatment. Contact Advanced Spine Care and Pain Management of New York by phone or use the online booking feature to learn more about treatments available for work-related injuries.