What to do if a staff member is injured at work
The first 24 hours after a workplace injury are critical. Here's a step-by-step guide to what you need to do - and the mistakes that can make things worse.
When a staff member is injured at work, the first priority is always their immediate safety and wellbeing. Make sure they receive first aid, and call an ambulance if the injury is serious. Don't move them if there's any risk of spinal injury.
Once the immediate situation is under control, you need to secure the scene. If the injury was caused by a hazard, make sure that hazard is controlled before anyone else is exposed to it.
Record the incident as soon as possible. Write down what happened, when, where, who was involved, and what the injury was. The more detail you capture while it's fresh, the better - this record will be important for your WorkCover claim and any subsequent investigation.
Notify WorkSafe Victoria if the injury is serious. Under Victorian law, you must notify WorkSafe immediately if a worker dies, requires immediate treatment as an in-patient, or suffers a specified serious injury. Failure to notify is a serious offence.
Support the injured worker to access medical treatment. They have the right to choose their own treating doctor, and you're required to cover reasonable medical expenses through your WorkCover insurance.
Begin planning for their return to work as soon as it's appropriate. You're required to provide suitable duties where possible, and to develop a return-to-work plan in consultation with the worker and their treating doctor. Getting this right early makes a significant difference to outcomes for everyone.
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