What to do if you're injured at work

Last updated: September 4, 2026

Applies to: US W-2 employees. If you are an independent contractor, still report the incident to the on-site manager immediately and then email support@ascen.com — but what you are covered for depends on your own agreement and insurance. See also Reporting a workplace injury or safety incident.

Summary: If you're hurt on the job, get emergency care first if it's serious, then tell your on-site manager and Ascen right away. A 24/7 nurse hotline can help you decide what care you need, and workers' compensation covers work-related injuries at no cost to you. Reporting quickly protects both your health and your benefits.

First: is it an emergency?

If your injury is serious or life-threatening (for example, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, a head injury, loss of consciousness, or a possible amputation), call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Your health comes first. You can handle the reporting steps below once you're safe and being cared for.

Step 1 — Tell your on-site manager immediately

As soon as you're able, report the injury to your manager or supervisor at the client worksite where it happened. Do this even if the injury seems minor. Reporting right away creates a record and makes sure you get the care and follow-up you're entitled to.

Step 2 — Contact Ascen

Reach out to Ascen as soon as possible so we can help you get care and start your claim:

Let us know what happened, when and where it occurred, and how you're feeling.

Step 3 — Call the 24/7 nurse hotline

You have access to a free, around-the-clock nurse care line staffed by medical professionals:

  • CareLine: 1-888-485-2687 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

The nurse will listen to what happened, help assess your injury, and tell you whether you need to visit a clinic or whether simple home care (like resting or icing the area) is enough. If you use the hotline before contacting us, that's fine — they'll notify Ascen so we can follow up with you.

If you saw the nurse or tried home care and you're not getting better, call the hotline again and describe your symptoms. They'll advise you on next steps.

You can also report an injury from your phone with the free CarivaCare Connect app, which lets you start a report and attach photos of the injury. Calling the CareLine is still the fastest way to get treatment advice — use whichever you can reach first.

Step 4 — Get the right care

  • If you need medical treatment, Ascen will help direct you to an appropriate clinic. Take the "first fill" prescription sheet we email you — you will need it if the clinic prescribes you medication (see Step 5). You do not need to carry a treatment authorization form: if the clinic needs your treatment approved, ask them to call Ascen on (857) 370-6142 and a member of our team can authorize it over the phone.

  • After your visit, send Ascen a copy of your visit summary and your work status — the document from the provider that says what you're able to do at work and any limitations (called "restrictions").

  • Keep any paperwork the clinic or hospital gives you, and let us know if you have a follow-up appointment scheduled.

Step 5 — The paperwork you'll be asked to complete

There are two documents we'll ask you for. Completing both quickly is the single biggest thing that keeps your claim — and any benefits owed to you — moving.

1. Ascen's injury report form. This is your First Report of Injury. It asks what happened: the injury, how it occurred, the date, time and location, anyone who witnessed it, and whether you've been treated. Fill it out here — Ascen workplace injury report form — even if you already told your manager and called the CareLine. The written report is what your claim is built from, so the sooner it's in, the sooner things move.

2. An authorization to share and use your medical information. We'll email this to you to sign electronically, and it takes a couple of minutes. It lets your doctors, clinics and hospitals release records about this injury to the people handling your claim so they can review it and approve your care and benefits.

  • It covers this claim and the benefits tied to it — not your medical history at large.

  • It expires on its own, generally twelve months after your claim is processed or after your coverage ends, whichever is later, and you can withdraw it in writing at any time.

  • Not signing it doesn't change how any provider treats you — but without it your claim may not be able to be reviewed, which can result in your benefits being denied. If anything on the form is unclear, ask us before you sign.

  • A Spanish version is included with the form. Tell us if you'd rather have your paperwork and updates in Spanish.

The same packet includes the "first fill" prescription sheet, for medication prescribed for this injury before your claim is accepted. Keep it with you and take it to your clinic visit and to the pharmacy. To get the card itself, text WFC00 to 833-377-8345 and follow the prompts — the card arrives as an image on your phone. Show it at the pharmacy along with your prescription. It covers your first fill only (generally up to a 10-day supply, with a dollar cap shown on the card); once your claim is accepted you'll be sent a permanent card.

None of this costs you anything, and nothing here comes out of your pay.

Step 6 — Stay in touch

Keeping in contact is one of the most important things you can do. Respond to Ascen's messages, share updates on how you're recovering, and let us know when your provider clears you to return to work or gives you restrictions. The sooner we have this information, the sooner we can support you and coordinate with the worksite.

What this doesn't cost you

Work-related injuries are covered by workers' compensation, which Ascen provides at no cost to you. You don't pay for the nurse hotline, your work-related medical care, or the claim itself. To learn more, see How workers' compensation works for you.

Good to know

  • Report even small injuries. A minor cut or strain can turn into something bigger, and reporting early keeps your options open.

  • Returning to work matters. Many injuries allow you to return quickly, sometimes with temporary restrictions. The rules and timelines for returning to work and for any lost-time pay vary by state and by your assignment location. Ascen will walk you through what applies to you.

  • Workers' comp is state-administered. Specific benefits and deadlines depend on the state where you work. You can read about the basics at the U.S. Department of Labor: Workers' Compensation (DOL).

Your right to a safe workplace

You have the right to a safe workplace and to report a job injury without fear of retaliation. OSHA offers a plain-language overview of your rights as a worker: Workers' Rights (OSHA).

Related articles: How workers' compensation works for you • Reporting a workplace injury or safety incident