If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Call 911 for serious injuries like heavy bleeding, a head injury, a fall from height, chest pain or trouble breathing.
- 2Get first aid and medical care. Tell the clinic you are a temp worker hurt on assignment.
- 3Tell the on-site supervisor right away, then call or message your staffing agency coordinator the same day.
- 4Follow up both reports in writing, like a text or email, and save the replies.
- 5Write down the site address, your supervisor's name, the task, the equipment and any coworkers who saw it.
- 6If it is safe, take photos of the area and equipment involved.
- 7If the site gives you its own first aid, still tell your agency the same day.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
When you work through a staffing agency, there are often two companies involved: the agency that employs and pays you, and the client business where you do the work. In many situations the agency's workers' compensation coverage is involved, but arrangements vary. Reporting to both avoids confusion about who knew what and when.
Ask your agency who handles injury claims and whether there is a form you need to complete. Ask the job site for a copy of any incident report they write. If the two tell you different things, write that down.
Deadlines to report an injury and file a claim vary by state, and they do not pause while companies sort out who is responsible. Contact your state's workers' compensation agency soon if you are unsure.
Keep your assignment paperwork, pay stubs, the site name and address, and a log of every conversation with either company.
Getting medical care
Get a full evaluation from a licensed clinician, especially for back and hand injuries, which are common on warehouse and production assignments. A clinician decides what is appropriate after examining you. Tell the clinic both the agency's name and the site where you were working, so bills and records go to the right place.
Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first. Your agency may direct you to a specific clinic, so ask your coordinator before or soon after your first visit. If the job site sends you to its own first aid station, that is fine, but also tell the agency.
For prescriptions, ask the pharmacy and the claims adjuster how work-injury medications are handled. Many can be filled at a local pharmacy or delivered to your home.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- The agency and the job site each say the other is responsible and no one is processing your claim.
- Your assignment ends right after you report the injury.
- The claim is denied or delayed, or medical care is not approved.
- Equipment or conditions at the client's site caused the injury, which may raise third-party questions.
- You are told to just see your own doctor and use your own insurance.
- The injury is serious and you are unable to take new assignments.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow your care plan and keep your appointments. Write down how the injury affects tasks like lifting, gripping or standing, since temp assignments vary and those details help when talking about work. If your assignment ends while you are recovering, ask the agency in writing how your claim and benefits continue.
Ask whether your agency has light-duty or modified assignments that fit your restrictions. Give your restrictions in writing to the agency, not just the job site.
Stay in touch with your agency coordinator and the adjuster. Let them know when you have appointments and when your restrictions change. Keep a list of every new assignment offer and whether it fit your restrictions.
Questions to ask
- Who carries workers' comp for me on this assignment: the agency or the client company?
- Who is my claims adjuster, and what is my claim number?
- Which clinic should I go to for a work injury?
- Can I get a copy of the job site's incident report?
- Does the agency have light-duty assignments that fit my restrictions?
- Pharmacist or adjuster, how do I fill work-injury prescriptions, and is home delivery an option?
- Attorney, could the client site be responsible for any part of this?
Frequently asked questions
Who do I report to if I was injured as a temp or staffing-agency worker?
Report to both the on-site supervisor and your staffing agency, in writing if possible. Each may have its own form. Reporting to both helps avoid gaps.
Do temp workers get workers' comp?
Temp workers are often covered, but how it works depends on your state and the arrangement. Frequently the staffing agency's coverage applies. Ask your agency and your state's workers' compensation agency.
What if the agency ends my assignment after I get hurt?
Write down what you were told and when. Being let go after reporting an injury is a situation where people often talk with a workers' compensation attorney. Keep reporting and getting care.
Can I sue the company where I was placed?
That depends on your state and the facts, and it is a legal question for an attorney. In some situations a business other than your employer may be considered a third party. Many attorneys offer a free first consultation.
Do I have to go to the clinic the agency picks?
It depends on state rules and the agency's setup. Some states let the employer direct the first visit. Ask your agency or the adjuster before or soon after your visit.
What records should a temp worker keep after an injury?
Keep your assignment details, the site address, supervisor names, pay records, and copies of every report. Add medical visit summaries and a log of calls. Store them in one place.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).