A workplace accident can be stressful enough without having to figure out the Finnish compensation system at the same time. And if you are working in Finland but come from another country, the process may feel even less familiar.
The good news is that the basic process is quite straightforward. You do not usually have to do that much of anything. The main thing is to report it and overall just follow the site specific instructions and your employer’s protocol about it.
In Finland, employees are covered by statutory workers’ compensation insurance for occupational accidents and diseases. In most cases, you do not need to negotiate compensation with your employer or make a complicated application yourself. Instead, the accident is reported to the employer’s insurance company, which investigates the claim and determines what compensation you are entitled to under Finnish law.
This guide explains what to do after a workplace accident in Finland, what the Workers’ Compensation Center (TVK) does, what kind of costs may be covered, and what you can do if your claim is rejected. There are also other aspects of this e.g possible legal consequences on negligent behaviour or violating safety rules but that is a topic for another blog post.
1. Report the accident to your employer
The first step is to tell your employer about the accident as soon as possible. Follow the reporting procedure used at your workplace. If possible, make sure that the accident is described accurately: what happened, where it happened, what you were doing, and what injury or symptoms followed.
This is important because your employer normally submits the official notice of the occupational accident to its insurance company. The employer must submit the notice without delay and no later than 10 working days after becoming aware of the accident.
If you are asked to confirm or provide information about what happened, check that the description is accurate. A clear and factual description can be important later when the insurance company assesses whether the injury was caused by the accident.
It is important to report it even if you do not think it was that serious. For the sake of an argument let’s say an employee sprains his ankle on Friday afternoon and thinks it will heal by itself during the weekend. Often it does, but what IF it doesn’t. Reporting this incident 72 hours later or so might cause some problems. “Why did you not report it when it happened?”
“Can you prove that it happened at work and not in your free time?” It is likely your employer will believe you, but better that it is reported when it happens and no need to prove the incident afterwards.
Another thing is that often medical assistance works better the sooner it is started.
What if my employer does not report the accident?
You are not completely dependent on your employer.
An injured employee can also notify the insurance company directly in writing. A healthcare provider treating the injury can also initiate the claim. The notification should include information about the employer, the accident and the injured employee.
So if you are unsure whether your employer has reported the accident, ask which insurance company handles the employer’s workers’ accident compensation insurance and check that the claim has been registered.
2. See a doctor as soon as possible
If you have been injured, seek medical attention promptly.
Tell the healthcare professional clearly that the injury happened at work and explain exactly what happened. Make sure that the circumstances of the accident and your symptoms are recorded correctly in your medical records.
This is particularly important if your symptoms become worse later.
For example, imagine that you hurt your back while lifting something at work. At first, the pain may seem manageable, but a few days later it becomes much worse. If there is a long gap between the accident and the first medical examination, it can become more difficult for the insurance company to establish a causal connection between the accident and the injury.
This does not mean that every delayed medical visit automatically results in a rejected claim. It simply means that prompt medical documentation can make the circumstances much clearer. In addition, often an early treatment works better than treatment which was postponed.
3. Your employer’s insurance company handles the claim
Once the accident has been reported, the insurance company starts processing the claim.
The insurer should contact you after the claim has been initiated and make sure that it has the information needed to make a decision. In most cases, you do not need to submit a separate application for every benefit. The insurance company is required to determine, on its own initiative, what compensation you are entitled to based on the information available.
The insurer must normally issue its decision promptly and no later than 30 days after receiving sufficient information to resolve the claim. If the deadline is exceeded, compensation for the delay may become payable.
4. What can be compensated?
The Finnish workers’ compensation system can cover a range of costs and losses resulting from a compensable occupational accident.
Depending on your situation (and on insurance terms), this can include:
- necessary medical treatment
- medical examinations
- prescribed medicines and healthcare supplies
- medical rehabilitation
- certain travel and accommodation expenses related to treatment
- physiotherapy
- loss of income during incapacity for work
- rehabilitation benefits
- workers’ compensation pension in cases involving longer-term loss of working capacity.
For example, daily allowance may be paid when incapacity for work lasts for at least three consecutive days, excluding the day of the accident. The rules for calculating the amount depend on the circumstances and the period of incapacity.
It is also worth keeping receipts and other documents relating to expenses caused by the accident. Some types of costs, such as medicines, treatment supplies and travel expenses, must be claimed within one year of the costs being incurred.
5. What is TVK?
If you have never dealt with the Finnish workers’ compensation system before, you may come across the abbreviation TVK.
TVK stands for Workers’ Compensation Center (Työtapaturmavakuutuskeskus).
TVK has an important role in Finland’s statutory workers’ compensation system. It is not simply another insurance company. Among other things, TVK processes certain compensation cases where an employer did not have the required insurance, and it has responsibilities concerning employees who are insured in another country.
What happens if your employer has no insurance?
Employers in Finland are generally required to insure their employees against occupational accidents and diseases. If an employer did not have valid workers’ compensation insurance when the accident happened, TVK can process the claim.
An uninsured employee is entitled to the same statutory compensation as an insured employee. The employee, employer or healthcare provider can submit the claim to TVK.
This is particularly useful to know if you are unsure whether your employer has the required insurance.
6. What if you are a foreign worker in Finland?
Being a foreign national does not, by itself, mean that you have less protection under the Finnish workers’ compensation system.
As a general rule, work performed in Finland must be insured in Finland, and the employee’s nationality does not determine whether the employer has to take out workers’ compensation insurance.
However, there is an important exception.
Posted workers
If you have been temporarily posted to Finland by an employer based in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland, or certain other countries covered by relevant social-security arrangements, you may remain insured in your home country.
In this situation, you will normally have an A1 certificate showing where you are insured. The compensation procedure can therefore be different from that of an employee who is insured in Finland.
For example, a worker from Poland who is temporarily posted to Finland by a Polish company may have an A1 certificate confirming that the worker remains insured in Poland.
If you are a posted worker and have an accident in Finland, your employer should contact TVK. Medical expenses in Finland may be handled through TVK after the necessary authorisation has been obtained, while cash benefits such as compensation for loss of income are generally paid by the country where the worker is insured.
If you are unsure whether you are a normal Finnish-insured employee or a posted worker, check your employment and insurance documents, including whether you have an A1 certificate.
7. Keep your own records
Even though the insurance company handles the claim, it is a good idea to keep your own documentation.
Save:
- medical reports and certificates
- prescriptions
- receipts for medicines and treatment
- travel receipts
- copies of emails and messages concerning the accident
- the date and time of the accident
- the names of people who witnessed what happened
- copies of the accident report and insurance decisions
- information about sick leave and lost income.
If your case becomes more complicated later, having your own record can make it much easier to explain what happened.
This is especially useful when you are communicating with several parties, such as your employer, healthcare provider and insurance company.
8. What if you do not speak Finnish?
Do not be afraid to ask for clarification.
Many foreign workers in Finland use English at work, and your insurance and healthcare correspondence may contain unfamiliar Finnish terminology. If you receive a document you do not understand, ask the relevant organisation to explain what it means or whether an English version is available.
Most importantly, do not sign or agree to something you do not understand simply because you feel that you are expected to do so.
When communicating about the accident, keep your description factual and consistent. Explain:
- what you were doing;
- what happened;
- when and where it happened;
- what you felt immediately afterwards;
- what symptoms developed later; and
- what treatment you received.
You do not need to use complicated legal language. A clear description of what actually happened is usually much more useful.
9. What if the insurance company rejects your claim?
A rejected claim is not necessarily the end of the process.
If the insurance company decides that the accident or its consequences are not covered, it must issue a written decision explaining the grounds for the decision.
If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal.
The appeal is submitted to the insurance company that made the original decision. The insurer first has an opportunity to reconsider the case. If it does not change its decision, the appeal is forwarded to the Employment Accidents Appeal Board.
The appeal must normally be submitted within 30 days of receiving the decision.
The appeal should be made in writing. The procedure before the Employment Accidents Appeal Board is free of charge for the injured employee.
Always check the appeal instructions attached to your particular decision, because they explain exactly how and where the appeal should be submitted.
The most important thing to remember
A workplace accident does not become more complicated simply because you are a foreign worker.
If you work in Finland, the Finnish workers’ compensation system will normally protect you in the same way as other employees, regardless of your nationality. The main exception is when you are posted to Finland and remain insured in another country.
The most important practical steps are simple:
Report the accident. Seek medical attention promptly. Make sure the accident is documented accurately. Keep your records. And do not ignore an insurance decision if you believe something has been assessed incorrectly.
If you are unsure about your situation, especially if you are a posted worker, have an A1 certificate, or your employer has not reported the accident, it is worth getting specific advice rather than assuming that the normal procedure applies.
Useful official information
The Workers’ Compensation Center (TVK) provides detailed information in English about occupational accidents, compensation, foreign workers and the claims process. The official TVK website is a good starting point if you need to check the current rules or contact TVK directly.
