The first 48 hours after a workplace injury
What happens in the first two days after a worker is hurt shapes the whole recovery and the whole claim. This is a plain guide for Sutherland Shire and Sydney employers, and for injured workers, on the steps that matter early, and how PACT supports you from day one.
The first two days set the tone
Research and everyday experience both point the same way. Workers who are assessed and treated early, kept connected to their workplace, and given a clear plan tend to recover faster and return to work sooner than those left waiting. The opposite is also true. A slow start, mixed messages and a claim that stalls make a straightforward injury harder to resolve.
None of that first 48 hours needs to be complicated. It is mostly about looking after the person, reporting properly, and getting the right treatment started. Here is what that looks like in practice.
What to do in the first 48 hours
Work through these in order. If you are the employer, most of the early steps are yours to start. If you are the injured worker, your employer and treating team will help you with each one.
- Make the person safe first, with first aid or emergency care if the injury needs it
- Report the injury in your workplace register and notify your workers compensation insurer, usually within 48 hours
- Have the worker see a doctor for a Certificate of Capacity, which sets their capacity for work
- Lodge the claim with the insurer and get the claim number
- Start physiotherapy early, the worker can choose their own physio, and treatment can begin without waiting on a referral
- Keep the worker connected with a friendly check in and a conversation about suitable duties
What actually helps a worker recover and return
Employers who get good, durable recoveries tend to do a few simple things well. They make early, supportive contact so the worker does not feel cut off. They look for suitable duties, meaningful work within the medical restrictions, rather than waiting for a full recovery before anyone comes back. And they let the worker settle with one good treating team instead of bouncing between providers.
Staying connected is not about pressure. It is about the worker knowing their job is there and that the workplace is part of the recovery, which is one of the strongest predictors of a durable return to work.
Why who treats the injury matters
On a work injury, the physiotherapist does more than treat the body. They write the recovery reports the insurer and case manager rely on, recommend capacity that feeds the Certificate of Capacity, work with the rehabilitation provider, and help shape the return to work plan. Done well, that keeps everything moving. Done poorly, the paperwork is what makes a claim stall.
PACT was founded by Andrew Ellis, an AHPRA registered and SIRA approved physiotherapist who spent a decade inside the occupational rehabilitation system as a Senior Rehabilitation Consultant and a Workplace Health and Safety and Injury Management Advisor before opening the clinic. He has sat on the employer and insurer side of these claims, so PACT reports and plans are written to keep a recovery on track.
How PACT helps in those first 48 hours
We prioritise new work injuries, so a worker can usually be assessed within a day or two, in clinic in Miranda or by telehealth across NSW. On an accepted claim we bill the insurer directly, so there is no gap and nothing for the worker to pay, and our first report reaches the case manager the same day as the assessment.
To get started, have the claim number and insurer name ready and call (02) 8330 6776, or send the details through the claim form on our workers compensation page. We confirm approval with the insurer and book the worker in.
- New work injuries prioritised, usually seen within a day or two
- In clinic in Miranda or telehealth across NSW
- Direct insurer billing, so no gap for the worker
- First report to the case manager the same day as the assessment
No out of pocket cost
On an accepted workers compensation or CTP claim, your treatment is billed directly to the insurer. There is no gap and nothing for you to pay at your appointment, and we handle the invoicing for you. If you are a private patient, see our fees.
Good to know
What are the first steps if a worker is injured on the job?
Does the worker need a GP referral before starting physio?
Can the worker choose their own physio, and can that be PACT?
What are suitable duties and why do they matter so early?
How quickly can PACT see an injured worker?
See what people say on Google
We let our patients speak for themselves, on Google, where you can read it independently.
Read our Google reviewsInjured at work? Let us take it from here.
Same day appointments often available at our Miranda clinic, or by telehealth across Australia.