Injuries at work
Injured as an agency worker: who should you notify?
The agency pays you, but another business may control the workplace. Keep both organisations informed and preserve the assignment details.
Identify who arranged and controlled the work
A staffing agency may handle wages while a warehouse, factory or other host business gives day-to-day instructions. Record who supervised the shift, who supplied equipment and who explained the task. The agreement between the organisations may also be relevant.
Do not rely on being told verbally that the other company will deal with everything. Send a factual written report to both organisations, request confirmation and keep copies outside a work account you might lose access to.
Training should match the task
Being experienced in another workplace does not necessarily mean you knew this machine, route or safety procedure. Explain which induction you received, in what language and whether you understood it. A signed attendance list is not the same as proof of every instruction actually given.
If the accident involved equipment, our machine injury guide explains the evidence to preserve. Where somebody says you should have been more careful, also read the guide to an employee’s own mistake.
Report injury and keep employment questions separate
Medical care, sick leave arrangements and the compensation investigation may proceed along different routes. Follow the applicable reporting process for illness while making clear that an accident occurred. A decision about wage continuation does not, by itself, determine liability for all injury-related loss.
If you are concerned about your assignment ending, obtain advice on your employment position separately. Do not assume that pursuing an injury claim guarantees an assignment or that losing the assignment extinguishes the claim.
Make the timeline easy to follow
Save the assignment confirmation, shifts worked, agency correspondence and contact details of witnesses. Describe the job you were doing when injured, not just the job title on the contract. Explain any last-minute change in task or equipment.
If responsibility is disputed, see the existing article about an employer refusing liability. Injury Lawyer can help identify which questions need to be put to each organisation rather than letting the claim stall between them.
What to keep or ask for
- Agency contract and assignment confirmation.
- Names of the host business and actual supervisor.
- Induction, training and equipment information.
- Written incident notifications to both organisations.
Questions you may still have
Should I only contact the company that paid my wages?
No. The host business may hold crucial accident evidence and may have relevant safety responsibilities. Notify both and ask your adviser how the claim should be directed.
Does a short assignment reduce my safety rights?
A temporary arrangement does not itself excuse unsafe work. The exact legal responsibilities depend on the employment and assignment circumstances.
Sources and legal context
General information about Dutch personal injury claims. Some source material is in Dutch. Your circumstances may require a different assessment.
This guide explains general principles. It is not a decision on liability or the value of an individual claim.