After an accident occurs in any workplace, everyone’s main priority is always to ensure the health and safety of those involved first and foremost. This includes ensuring that all staff members have been moved away from the accident scene and that anyone hurt has been taken swiftly to hospital.

However, once everyone has been checked on and they are receiving any necessary medical attention, there are other steps that should be taken after an accident has occurred.

Preserve the Accident Scene

When any accident occurs on a construction site, the site manager should be able to follow an emergency response plan that has been outlined for this specific type of incident. In an emergency response plan, it might be stated that the scene should evacuated if necessary and machinery should be shut down if necessary, to prevent further casualties.

However, while any debris or hazardous material that might pose a further health risk should be cleared away, it is important to generally preserve the accident scene. This is because HSE officers may need to conduct a search of the area in order to analyse what happened. Furthermore, the scene and documented evidence of the scene, such as photographs, will be important if anyone involved wishes to make a personal injury claim at a later date.

Secure Evidence

If any accident victims are able, they should make a record of the incident as soon as possible to ensure that no specific details about the accident are forgotten. Similarly, they should report the accident to a superior as soon as possible, ensuring that they record the name and position of the person who accepted the report, as well as ensuring that the date that the report was submitted is written down.

Photographs of the accident scene should be taken and any documentation that might be relevant to the investigation should be ensured.

Report the Accident to the HSE

The Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) state that it is necessary to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) if an accident has occurred. For more serious or fatal accident, the HSE would like to be notified immediately and so it is best that the site manager or someone of authority contacts them by calling the Incident Contact Centre on 0845 300 9923.

HSE officers will arrive at the scene as soon as possible, especially if the accident is very serious. If the accident has sadly resulted in a death, the police are required to attend the scene and involve themselves in the investigation. Witnesses to the incident will likely be interviewed and they will take notes and document the accident scene and site in general. The police or HSE officers also have the power to seize any documentation that they believe may be relevant to the investigation.

Contact a Personal Injury Solicitor

If the victim believes that the accident and their resulting injuries was the fault of someone else’s negligent behaviour, they may be able to claim compensation in response. Therefore, they should contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as they feel ready. There is normally a three-year time limit for personal injury cases, beginning upon the date when the accident initially happened.

Making Personal Injury Claims

If you have been involved in an accident on a construction site that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. First Personal Injury solicitors are available to assist you and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. First Personal Injury work with both families and individuals across England and Wales, leading them on their legal journey and helping them claim compensation after an accident or injury.