Accidents on site happen. Even on well-run jobs with experienced teams, something can still go wrong.
What matters most is what you do in the minutes, hours and days that follow. Handle it well, and you protect your worker, your business and your insurance position. Handle it badly, and a relatively minor incident can quickly turn into an HSE investigation.
Here is a clear step by step guide for small UK contractors.
Step 1: Make the Area Safe
The first priority is always preventing further harm.
Before anything else:
- Stop work in the immediate area
- Isolate energy sources (electricity, gas, machinery)
- Move other workers and members of the public away if needed
- Cordon off the area if there is a falling, slipping or collapse risk
Do not rush in if it is not safe to do so. Many secondary injuries happen because colleagues try to help without checking the area first.
Step 2: Provide First Aid and Call for Help
Get your trained first aider to the casualty as quickly as possible.
For anything more than a minor injury, call 999. It is always better to have paramedics arrive and not be needed than to delay and make things worse.
When calling 999, give:
- The full site address and postcode
- A clear description of what happened
- The number and ages of casualties
- Any access details (gate codes, site contact)
Assign someone to meet the ambulance and guide them in.
Step 3: Preserve the Scene
Once the casualty has been treated, do not start clearing up immediately.
If the accident is serious or potentially RIDDOR reportable:
- Leave tools, equipment and materials where they are
- Take photos and videos of the area from several angles
- Note the names of everyone present
- Note the time, date, weather and lighting conditions
If the HSE attends, they will want to see the scene as close to its original state as possible.
Step 4: Record the Accident
Every UK employer must keep an accident book under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations.
Record:
- Name and address of the injured person
- Date, time and location of the accident
- A clear factual description of what happened
- The nature of the injury
- The name of the person making the entry
Keep the entry factual. Do not speculate about cause or blame.
Step 5: Decide If RIDDOR Applies
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.
You must report the following to the HSE:
- Deaths
- Specified injuries (such as fractures, amputations, serious burns, loss of consciousness)
- Injuries that cause the worker to be unable to do their normal duties for more than seven consecutive days
- Certain occupational diseases
- Dangerous occurrences (near misses such as scaffold collapses, structural failures, electrical short circuits causing fire or explosion)
Reports are made online at hse.gov.uk/riddor.
Deaths and specified injuries must be reported without delay. Seven-day injuries must be reported within fifteen days.
Step 6: Notify Your Insurer
Contact your Employer's Liability and Public Liability insurer as soon as practicable.
Most policies require notification of any incident that could lead to a claim, even if no claim has been made yet.
Give your insurer:
- A copy of the accident book entry
- Any photos or witness notes
- Confirmation of any RIDDOR report
- Details of any HSE contact
Step 7: Carry Out an Investigation
The HSE expects employers to investigate accidents and learn from them.
A simple investigation should cover:
- What happened
- Why it happened (root causes, not just the immediate cause)
- Whether the risk assessment and method statement were adequate
- Whether they were followed on the day
- What needs to change to stop it happening again
Document the findings. Update your risk assessments, method statements, training and supervision arrangements as needed.
Step 8: Communicate With the Team
Accidents shake teams up. People worry, gossip and speculate.
A short, calm briefing covering what happened, what is being done and what changes are being made helps:
- Reduce rumour
- Reinforce safety expectations
- Show staff that the business takes their safety seriously
Do not name or blame individuals when communicating with the wider team.
Step 9: Support the Injured Worker
Keep in regular, supportive contact with the injured worker.
Cover:
- Sick pay and any company sick scheme
- Likely return to work date
- Any reasonable adjustments needed when they come back
- Counselling or occupational health support if appropriate
A worker who feels supported is far less likely to escalate a claim.
Step 10: Review and Improve
Use the incident to genuinely improve the business.
This might include:
- Updating your risk assessments and method statements
- Refresher training for the team
- Better PPE or equipment
- Changes to site rules
- A toolbox talk on the specific issue
Keep a record of every change made. If the HSE ever follows up, this is exactly what they want to see.
Final Thoughts
Accidents are stressful, but a calm, structured response makes a huge difference.
For a small UK contractor, the key is preparation. Have your accident book, first aiders, RIDDOR process and insurer contact details all in one place, before anything ever goes wrong.
When the day comes, you will be glad you did.
