We know that you go to great lengths to keep your employees safe and your facilities without incident, but despite all of the preventive measures you take to avoid an accident, an unfortunate fact is that at some point, most businesses will experience a workplace accident of some kind. Reporting work-related accidents and ill-health is your responsibility as an employer and is a legal requirement.
It is important to always have someone available who knows what to do, who to phone and how to immediately report the accident to us. All employers have a duty to ensure that their employees receive immediate and appropriate treatment following an accident. We encourage you to get to know the ambulance services, hospitals, emergency rooms and doctors in your area and to have the appropriate contact details easily accessible.
You may want to enter into an arrangement with the healthcare providers in your area to ensure that your employees are treated without delay when they get injured. You should inform the healthcare providers that your employees are covered by RMA for occupational injuries and diseases, and that as soon as we accept liability for a claim (usually within four days) the medical expenses are paid within seven days of receiving a medical invoice, provided all the required medical reports and documents are in order. Please be aware that as the employer, you will be responsible for all medical costs until RMA has accepted liability for a claim.
When to report an accident
An employee or a witness must report the accident to your dedicated HR, payroll or health and safety representative as soon as possible after it has occurred.
You are required to report the injury or disease to RMA as follows:
- Occupational injuries: within 7 days of injury
- Occupational diseases: within 14 days of diagnosis
You need to report the accident even if it is after the prescribed time. If the accident is not reported within 12 months of it happening, the injured employee will receive no benefits.
What should be reported
All work-related injuries on duty, no matter how minor, need to be reported, including:
- • minor lacerations
- • minor scratches and cuts
- • contusions
- • abrasions
How to report an accident
You can report accidents at any time using our online C-filing system.
Register here to make use of our online system anytime and anywhere.