However much prevention there is, an accident can happen. What matters is what you do right afterwards. This lesson explains what an accident at work is, what you should do and what the employer must do under § 105 of the Labour Code and Government Regulation No. 322/2025 Sb., which has applied since 1 January 2026.
What is an accident at work
Under § 271k of the Labour Code, an accident at work (pracovní úraz) is damage to an employee's health or the employee's death caused independently of their will by a short-term, sudden and violent effect of external influences while performing work tasks or in direct connection with them. Typical examples are a fall, a burn, a cut or an electric shock.
What you do
- Stop work and avoid further danger. Switch off the machine.
- Get help. In serious cases call 155 or 112 at once (see the first aid lesson).
- Report it immediately to your supervisor. Under § 106, you must report your own accident, if your state of health allows it, and also an accident you witnessed.
- Change nothing at the scene unless it is necessary to save people or to avert further danger. Under § 105(1), the employer must not change the state of the scene without a serious reason until the causes have been investigated.
- Say what happened and help to establish the causes. You will be asked to comment on them.
- See a doctor, even if the injury looks small. Later complications are easier to document when everything has been recorded from the start.
Do not be put off because the accident was "only minor". Even a minor accident must be recorded.
What the employer does
1. Investigates the causes
Under § 105(1), the employer clarifies the causes and circumstances of the accident together with the injured person, if their condition allows, and with witnesses. Employee representatives also take part, if there are any at the employer.
2. Enters the accident in the accident book
Under § 105(2), the employer keeps an accident book (kniha úrazů). It records all accidents, including those without incapacity for work or with incapacity of up to 3 calendar days. It records, for example, the injured person's name, the date and time, the place, the activity, a description, the causes and the witnesses. On request, the employer will give you a certified copy or extract.
3. Draws up an accident record
Under § 105(3), an accident record (záznam o úrazu) is drawn up if the accident led to incapacity for work longer than 3 calendar days or to death. You receive one copy, or the family members do in the case of death.
4. Reports the accident and sends the record
Under Government Regulation No. 322/2025 Sb., accidents are divided into four groups:
- fatal: the injured person dies within 1 year of the accident,
- serious: hospitalisation lasts or will last more than 5 consecutive calendar days,
- accident with incapacity for work longer than 3 calendar days,
- other: no incapacity for work, or incapacity of up to 3 days.
The employer submits the report electronically through the portal of the State Labour Inspection Office:
- a serious or fatal accident is reported to the labour inspectorate without undue delay,
- the accident record is sent at the latest within 15 working days of the day the employer learned of the accident,
- the signed record is kept for 10 years,
- a copy of the record is given without undue delay to the injured person and to employee representatives.
In the case of a fatal accident, or if a crime is suspected, the Czech Police are also informed.
As an employee, you do not report anything through the portal. But the accident record will be presented to you for signature. If you disagree with the description, say so and ask for it to be supplemented.
Occupational diseases
The employer also keeps a register of occupational diseases that have been recognised, and takes measures against risk factors (§ 105(6)). If you suspect that your work is harming you, contact the occupational health doctor.
Summary
- After an accident, stop work, get help, report it to your supervisor and change nothing at the scene.
- The employer enters all accidents in the accident book and draws up an accident record if the incapacity lasts longer than 3 calendar days.
- The record is sent electronically within 15 working days, and serious and fatal accidents are reported without undue delay.