1. Make notes

You should keep notes about your symptoms, including:

• what you’re doing at work when you have the symptoms
• what you’re feeling when you have the symptoms
• how serious and severe the symptoms are

This could help to find a solution to your symptoms and figure out if your symptoms are related to work.

Keep your notes in a safe place in case you need them later.

What to include when describing your symptoms

If your symptoms are physical, you should note how much time you spend at work doing physical tasks that might be making your symptoms worse.  For example, this could be:

• standing
• walking
• lifting
• bending
• kneeling
• reaching

If your symptoms are due to exposure at work, you should describe the type and frequency of exposure. For example, if you’re having trouble breathing, describe to your doctor what’s happening at work when the trouble starts, such as:

• fumes
• smoke
• perfume smells
• mouldy smells
• cold
• heat
• noise

Also tell your doctor if and when your symptoms go away. For example, they might go away when you leave a certain area of your workplace, go outside, or open windows.

If your symptoms are psychological, you should describe what happens when you experience your symptoms. For example, you get anxious or scared when you have to operate a certain machine and it’s the same machine your friend was using when they were seriously hurt. You should also note if your symptoms interfere with your activities of daily living at work or outside of work.