Put health and immediate safety first
Move away from continuing danger if it is safe to do so. Obtain first aid or appropriate medical help. Serious or urgent symptoms should always be treated as a medical priority rather than an administrative matter.
Make sure the incident is reported
Workplaces usually have a process for recording accidents and near misses. Provide a factual description and check that the date, location and circumstances are recorded accurately.
- Note who received the report
- Request a copy where appropriate
- Record any correction you asked to be made
Preserve a clear factual record
Contemporaneous notes can help reconstruct events later. Record what happened in your own words, the people present and any immediate effects. Preserve relevant correspondence without altering original files.
Consider independent support
Depending on the circumstances, useful support may come from a medical professional, trade union, workplace representative, insurer or appropriately regulated legal professional. Different sources serve different roles.