Worried about workplace injury? Here are three things you should know

Whether you’re a barista frothing milk, a tradie on a worksite, security guard on patrol, or a hotel attendant cleaning rooms, there’s a chance you could get injured on the job.

Getting injured at work can be a daunting experience – especially if you don’t know who to turn to for advice. And with impacts to your ability to provide for yourself and your family, your personal confidence, your resilience, and your mental wellbeing, it’s important to know what you can do to protect yourself.

With over two decades of experience in personal injury law, Senior Associate Suzanne Sharwood has seen firsthand the benefits of a compensation claim when a client’s been injured at work.

She says there are three important steps you can take to protect yourself in the case of a workplace injury.

1. Notify your workplace

Suzanne recommends notifying your workplace of your injury when it occurs using any official incident reporting process, and to flag the issue with your manager or supervisor.

“Reporting the incident may help prevent any further injury, and having it reported often makes internal processes with insurance companies much smoother,” she said.

“If you don’t report, you may make your claim more complex, or you could risk being ineligible.”

2. Contact your GP

Suzanne says to book in to see your doctor as soon as possible following any injury or accident.

“To lodge a compensation claim you need to see a GP or doctor and get an ACT Workers Compensation Medical Certificate, a special type of medical certificate for work injuries.

If you need to take time off work, or work reduced hours with modified duties, the doctor will note that on the medical certificate.”

3. Get in touch with a specialist worker’s compensation lawyer

According to Suzanne, if your injury has happened as a result of your employer’s negligence, you may be able to claim compensation, for the negative impact on your life, and for domestic help from your family and friends.

“It’s important to get in touch with a specialist worker’s compensation lawyer to provide guidance and advice at an early stage.”

Suzanne insists on the importance of seeking the compensation you deserve, to help maintain stability for you and your family.

If you want to connect with Suzanne or someone else in the MEJ team, make sure to reach out via our contact page. You can also use our free claim checker to see if you qualify for compensation.

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This article was originally published on HerCanberra.