Safety
"Slap a plaster on it, carry on — no big deal."
You injured yourself at the workplace — the company does not want to report it as an accident.
§ 193 SGB VII / § 14 ArbSchG
The boss may NOT do that
Every workplace accident with > 3 days' incapacity MUST be reported!
A workplace accident (including a commuting accident) must be reported by the employer to the employers' liability insurance association (BG) within 3 days if it leads to more than 3 days of incapacity for work (§ 193 SGB VII). For any need for treatment, go to the "Durchgangsarzt" (D-Arzt, a specially authorised doctor) — not the family doctor. A first-aid-book entry ALWAYS (even for minor injuries, kept for 5 years). Waiving or concealing makes the employer liable.
What the law says
§ 193 SGB VII – Accident report
Employers must report accidents involving insured persons in their companies through which an insured person is killed or so injured that they become unable to work for more than three days, within three days.
§ 14 ArbSchG – Duties of the employer
The employer must instruct employees about safety and health protection at work.
What you can do
- A first-aid book is mandatory — have EVERY incident recorded (even a cut on the finger).
- For injuries beyond a plaster: see the D-Arzt (list at BG.de).
- The BG pays for treatment + injury benefit regardless of fault.
- No report by the employer? You can report it to the BG yourself — free of charge.
Email template for your trainer
Subject: Report of the workplace accident of [date]
Dear [name of trainer],
on [date] I injured myself at work: [brief description]. This led to incapacity for work of [X] days; medical treatment took place at the [D-Arzt].
I kindly ask for the following measures:
1) an entry in the first-aid book (§ 24 DGUV V 1),
2) an accident report to the employers' liability insurance association (§ 193 SGB VII),
3) confirmation with a copy of the report to me.
Kind regards
[Your name]
More cases: Safety
- You can buy your own safety shoes.
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- A youth health check-up (J1)? You don't need that.
- Stop whining, that's part of the job.
- 35 degrees in the office? You'll have to cope.
- Come on, a beer after work — are you in?