What should I do if I have an accident at work – and who will help me then?
If you have an accident at work, you must report it immediately. Your employer and the statutory accident insurance will assist you. There are special doctors (reporting doctors) responsible for medical treatment.
You should know:
- Inform your supervisor or a colleague. The earlier you report it, the better your employer can assist you.
- Your company reports the accident to the statutory accident insurance. This can be an accident insurance provider or the employers' liability insurance association.
- A reporting doctor is a doctor who specializes in workplace and commuting accidents. They decide how your treatment will proceed. Your employer will tell you where the nearest reporting doctor is.
- Even minor workplace accidents, where you are only slightly or not injured at all, should be reported. Some consequences only become apparent later. For this, you must contact a first aider or your supervisor—they will make an entry in the so-called "first aid book." This serves as proof that you reported an accident even without damage.
- If it is a workplace accident, you do not have to pay anything. Treatment, rehabilitation, and support are covered by the statutory accident insurance.
You can find further information here:
- DGUV – "What is a workplace accident?" The DGUV explains simply when an accident is considered a workplace accident:https://www.dguv.de/de/versicherung/arbeitsunfaelle/index.jsp
- BMAS – Statutory accident insurance. The BMAS provides information on how accident insurance protects you in case of workplace accidents:https://www.bmas.de/DE/Soziales/Gesetzliche-Unfallversicherung/gesetzliche-unfallversicherung.html
- DGUV – Find a reporting doctor. Here you can find out where the nearest reporting doctor in your area is:https://diva-online.dguv.de/diva-online/