An accident at work requires three actions that begin at the same time: immediate assistance and stopping the hazard, notifying the Labor Inspectorate, and written documentation of what happened. For accidents resulting in death, notification is required within 24 hours. A copy of the report is kept at the enterprise for at least three years and submitted to the inspector whenever requested.
This page shows what happens in the first hours, who is notified, what is documented, and when the employer becomes financially liable.
Read also: Workplace Health and Safety: The Complete Guide
The order of events matters, because evidence of what happened is quickly lost.
Step 1. First aid is provided and, as appropriate, emergency medical services are called.
Step 2. The source of the hazard is stopped, and, when necessary, work at that location is suspended until the hazard is removed.
Step 3. The condition of the incident scene is preserved for as long as possible and photographed before it is disturbed.
Step 4. The Labor Inspectorate is notified within the relevant deadline.
Step 5. Written witness statements are taken and an internal report is prepared.
Step 6. The declaration and accompanying documents are filed in the security file.
The third step is the one most often skipped. Immediately cleaning up the scene leaves the employer with no evidence that protective measures were in place.
The obligation to provide notification does not arise from the Labor Code, but from the specific legislation on occupational safety and health.
| Case | Notice period |
|---|---|
| Accident resulting in death | Within 24 hours |
| Another workplace accident | Immediately, with reporting within the deadline required by the Inspectorate. |
| Confirmed occupational disease | According to the procedure for occupational diseases |
The forms and public notification procedures are published by the State Labor Inspectorate and periodically updated, so they are verified on the official source before any submission. Measures and possible fines They follow the same legislation.
Caution: Failure to report a fatal accident within 24 hours is one of the few offenses carrying a fixed fine in multiples of fixed amounts, rather than a multiple of the minimum wage. This shows how seriously the law treats this deadline.
Read also: Employer's safety obligations
Article 42(a) of the Labor Code makes it clear. The employer always keeps on the premises a copy of the accident reports for workplace accidents that have occurred at least three years ago.
This means that the accident file does not close when the case is closed. It remains open for three years and is reviewed at every inspection, even if there have been no new accidents.
In addition to the official statement, we recommend an internal report describing the circumstances, the protective measures in place, the persons present, and the corrective actions taken after the incident. This document is the best evidence when discussing culpability.
Article 39 of the Code distinguishes between two entirely different situations.
The employer pays the difference between the damage and the compensation the employee receives from social security when the accident or occupational disease is the result of his gross negligence. This is point 2 of Article 39.
When the employer has not registered the employee for social insurance, he bears all expenses incurred by the employee as a result of the accident or occupational disease, as well as all damages arising from the failure to register. This is point 3 of Article 39, and there is no limit.
In this case there is neither social insurance to share the burden nor a cap on the amount. The entire cost falls on the employer. Therefore, the employee's declaration before starting work is part of the safety measures, not just… Monthly employee and payroll statement.
Read also: Employee contributions and reporting
Article 44 requires the employee to implement the measures prescribed by the employer and to inform the employer when they encounter difficulties in doing so. Only qualified persons may operate machinery and transport equipment.
This does not shift the responsibility. Article 27, paragraph 2, states that damage inherently related to the performance of the work is borne by the employer, and that the court may absolve the employee when he has acted with slight negligence or when the employer himself has erred in organizing and supervising the work.
This template was prepared by AlProfit Consult. It does not replace the official statement, but accompanies it and is kept in the security file.
Internal Report on a Workplace Accident
Subject: company name, NUIS
Report number and date of compilation
Compiled by: name and function
A. Event data
Date and time of the accident
The exact location within the work environment
The activity that was taking place at that moment.
The device or material included
B. The affected person
Job position and date of hire
Date of the most recent safety briefing and qualification.
The protective equipment that had been made available to them.
Nature of the injury according to the medical report
C. Circumstances
Step-by-step description of the event
Witnesses present and their statements
Attached photos
D. Applicable protective measures
Risk assessment for that job, latest date
Existing signage
Previous instructions
E. Notices issued
Date and time of the Inspectorate's notification
The person who made the notification
Attached notification document
F. Corrective measures
Measures taken immediately
Medium-term measures and implementation timeline
Responsibility for implementation
Signature of the compiler and the employer
Read also: Ready-made templates and forms for employment
The period of temporary disability also brings consequences to the employment relationship.
Read also: When notice periods are suspended
Within 24 hours. This is the deadline explicitly provided for in the labor inspection legislation.
Yes. The obligation to notify does not depend on the severity of the consequence. Only the deadline and procedure change.
At least three years of service with the enterprise, pursuant to Article 42(a) of the Labor Code.
When the accident or occupational disease is the result of his gross negligence, pursuant to Article 39, paragraph 2.
The employer shall bear all expenses and all damages arising from failure to register, without any limit, pursuant to Article 39, paragraph 3.
Not during the period in which you receive temporary disability pay, for up to one year, pursuant to Article 147, paragraph 1.
They are recognized as working time for the purpose of calculating annual leave, in accordance with Article 92, paragraph 3.
At the State Labor Inspectorate, which publishes the forms and procedures and periodically updates them.
