Wondering what the difference is between a work accident and a road traffic accident?
And does the term “equated to a work accident” ’actually tell you anything?

The following definitions will help you to correctly classify an accident event.
Employee accidents are divided into:

• accidents at work
  ,i.e. an event:

an emergency,
caused by an external cause,
causing injury or death,
which occurred in connection with work.
an accident equivalent to a work-related accident,
i.e. one to which the employee has succumbed:

- during a business trip and in circumstances other than those set out in the definition
of an accident at work,unless the accident was caused by the conduct of the employee that is unrelated to
the performance of the tasks assigned to it,

- during training in general self-defence,when carrying out tasks delegated by the trade union organisations
that operate at the place of employment.

• accidents on the way to/from work, which is defined as:an emergency event,

- caused by an external cause,
which occurred on the way to or from the place of employment
or other activity covered by disability insurance,
- if the commuting route was the shortest and was not interrupted
(there are exceptions to this rule).

ACCIDENTS AT WORK

Have you suffered an accident at work? Have you witnessed an accident at work?

- In either case, notify your supervisor immediately.
The supervisor will notify the Health and Safety Department and secure the scene (if necessary).

- If you witness an incident, it is essential that you provide assistance to the injured person.
- If you have had an accident and your health permits it, go to the Emergency Room or call 112.
Do not drive alone - ask your colleagues for help.

A member of the Health and Safety Department will contact you to establish the circumstances of the accident
and draw up post-accident documentation.

For more information, see IR 28/2012

MOBILE PHONES  HEALTH AND SAFETY DEPARTMENT (klick here)

The injured worker:

• if his/her state of health permits, he/she should immediately report the accident to his superior using any form of application:
  text message, e-mail, phone...

The worker who witnesses an accident:

• should, if possible, provide first aid to the injured worker.
  He/she should also notify the injured worker’s supervisor of the accident if the injured worker is unable to do so himself. 

Why should you not wait to report an accident incident?

• The longer the amount of time that passes between the incident and the report,
  the more difficult it is to identify possible witnesses
  and to reconstruct the course of events before, during and after the accident.
• Delay may make it difficult or impossible to secure evidence - e.g. the condition of: machinery,
  personal protective equipment, etc.
• It will be more difficult to write an accident report and may take more time
  - later you will receive compensation for L-4 (but only if the incident is considered an accident)

In the event of an accident at work, the persons in charge of the employees
(heads of units/organizational units) are obliged to:

• take the necessary measures to eliminate or reduce risk,
• provide first aid to the casualty and secure the scene of the accident until the circumstances and causes of the incident have been established,
• immediately inform in writing the Health and Safety Department of any employee accident using the appropriate form.
  (link to the form)
• Prior information by phone: 320 25 81, or e-mail: bhp@pwr.edu.pl is advised.

In the event of a fatal, serious or collective accident, the Vice-Rector for Organisation and Development of Wrocław University of Science
and Technology should also be notified;
the Vice-Rector will immediately notify the competent district labour inspector and the public prosecutor of such an incident. Moreover, appropriate measures should be taken, based on the established circumstances and causes of the accident, to prevent similar accidents in the unit where the accident occurred.

If you want to know the detailed procedure for determining the circumstances and causes of employee accidents at
Wrocław University of Science and Technology, please refer to ZW 28/2012.

In the event of a road traffic accident, the employee’s supervisor, upon being informed of the incident, should complete the same report form as for an accident at work, ticking appropriate boxes.