If you have sustained a work-related injury, you need to report it to your employer or supervisor. However, it’s important to know the steps to follow when reporting to avoid mistakes that may threaten your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits.
Here is how to report a work injury:
Report promptly
Your employer or supervisor should know about your injury within 30 days of the accident. Thus, you need to report it as soon as possible, preferably on the same day. Besides protecting your rights to benefits, reporting promptly ensures you receive immediate medical attention, as your employer can begin arranging your access to treatment.
You should also report minor injuries. Never downplay an injury, assuming it will heal by itself. An injury that seems minor can worsen with time. And if this happens after 30 days, your case may become complicated.
Report in writing
You can first notify your employer about your injury verbally to get medical attention. Then, after treatment, you send a written notification, including your name and address, date, time and place of the injury and the nature of the injury. Chances are, your employer will provide you with a form to complete, but if they don’t, the Missouri Department of Labour and Industrial Relations has an online form that you can use.
Make a copy of the written notification and keep it for documentation. You should also record the date you send the notice to your employer if you mail it. If you hand-deliver it, write down the date and time of delivery and the name and title of the person who receives the notice.
How you report a work-related injury matters. Besides reporting, you need to make other informed decisions throughout your case to protect your rights.