Your employer has a strict legal duty to ensure that every piece of equipment you use at work is safe, properly maintained, adequately guarded, and fit for purpose. Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), when that duty is breached and you are injured as a result, you are entitled to claim compensation — regardless of how long you have worked there or whether you have been injured before.
NJS Law’s specialist team handles faulty and dangerous equipment injury claims across England and Wales on a No Win, No Fee basis.
This page is part of our Accident at Work Claims service.
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A faulty or dangerous equipment claim is a legal claim for compensation against your employer — or, in some cases, an equipment manufacturer, supplier, or hire company — when defective, poorly maintained, improperly guarded, or unsuitable work equipment causes you injury.
“Work equipment” under PUWER 1998 covers an extremely wide range of items. If it is used in the course of your employment and it injures you, PUWER is likely to apply.
Common examples include:
The overarching duty on all employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all employees — including protection from falls when working at any height.
Applies specifically to equipment used for lifting — forklifts, cranes, hoists, patient hoists, and mobile elevated work platforms. Requires all lifting equipment to be strong and stable, all lifting operations to be properly planned and supervised by a competent person, and all lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined at defined intervals (typically every six months for equipment used to lift people, and annually for other lifting equipment). LOLER failures are a frequent cause of serious workplace injuries.
PUWER 1998 requires machinery to be suitable for its intended use, properly maintained and inspected, fitted with effective guards and other safety measures, protected against specific hazards, and operated only by workers who have received adequate information, instruction, and training.
Falls from height are the single biggest cause of fatal construction accidents. The Work at Height Regulations require employers and principal contractors to plan and supervise all work at height, use collective protective equipment (guardrails, safety nets), and provide fall arrest equipment (harnesses) where collective measures are insufficient. Scaffold must be designed, erected, and inspected by a competent person
You may be able to make a faulty equipment claim if you are:
You may still be entitled to claim even if you were partly responsible for the accident — for example, if you bypassed a guard or used equipment in an incorrect way. Where both you and your employer share fault, your compensation is reduced proportionally — but you do not lose the right to claim altogether. See our guide: Can I Claim If the Accident Was Partly My Fault?
You may also have a claim against the manufacturer if the equipment was defective when it left the factory — even if your employer properly maintained it. Your solicitor will identify all potential defendants.
Solicitors use the Judicial College Guidelines, 18th edition (April 2026) to estimate the value of your injury. The table below shows approximate ranges for injuries commonly caused by faulty or dangerous equipment:
Injury Type | Severity | Approximate Range |
Finger — loss or partial amputation | Serious | £17,580 – £45,840 |
Hand injury — crush, laceration, or degloving | Moderate to severe | £29,000 – £57,000+ |
Arm — below-elbow amputation | Severe | £102,890 – £130,930 |
Wrist injury (lasting impairment) | Moderate | £13,370 – £29,260 |
Eye injury — serious (one eye) | Serious | £49,270 – £66,920 |
Leg fracture | Moderate to serious | £27,760 – £130,930+ |
Back injury (lasting symptoms) | Moderate | £12,510 – £38,780 |
Back injury (permanent disability) | Severe | £38,780 – £169,400+ |
Head / brain injury | Minor to severe | £2,690 – £379,100+ |
Psychological injury / PTSD | Moderate to severe | £9,980 – £100,670+ |
In addition to compensation for your injury, you can claim back all financial losses caused by the accident, including:
See our guide to : General Damages vs Special Damages and Average Compensation Payouts.
NJS Law has recovered over £6 million for injured workers in 2024–25 alone.
Report the incident to your employer immediately and ensure it is recorded in the workplace accident book. Ask for a copy of the entry. This creates an official record of the date, location, equipment involved, and circumstances.
Visit your GP or A&E as soon as possible — even if your injuries seem minor at first. Ensure your medical notes record that the injury was caused by a specific piece of work equipment. Medical records are one of the most important pieces of evidence in any equipment injury claim.
If possible, ask your employer to take the equipment out of service immediately and not to repair, modify, or dispose of it. Photograph the equipment — particularly any missing or damaged guards, warning labels, or defective components. Collect the names and contact details of any witnesses.
Request any CCTV footage covering the accident location immediately. Most employers overwrite recordings within 30 days — delay can result in this evidence being permanently lost.
Speak to one of our specialist employer liability solicitors for a free, no-obligation assessment of your claim. We will advise whether the claim lies against your employer, the equipment manufacturer, a hire company, or a combination of all three.
If we take on your case, we gather all available evidence — including maintenance logs, inspection certificates, PAT test records, and any prior defect reports — and issue a formal Letter of Claim to your employer’s insurer. They have 21 days to acknowledge receipt and a further period to investigate and respond.
You will be referred to an independent medical expert who will assess your injuries and prognosis. In complex machinery cases, we also commission an independent engineering expert to examine the equipment and produce a report on whether it complied with PUWER and relevant British standards. This expert evidence is central to valuing and proving your claim.
We present a full Schedule of Loss to the defendant’s insurer and negotiate the best possible settlement on your behalf. Around 95% of claims settle at this stage — without going to court. Once a settlement is agreed or judgment awarded, your compensation is paid. Your solicitor’s success fee is deducted at this stage — the amount is agreed with you before you sign anything.
Under the Limitation Act 1980, there are strict time limits for bringing a personal injury claim. Act within these limits — missing the deadline is the most common reason valid claims cannot be pursued.
Claim Type | Time Limit | Notes |
Standard workplace accident | 3 years from date of accident | The most common scenario |
Industrial disease or occupational illness | 3 years from date of diagnosis (or “date of knowledge”) | Applies where symptoms developed gradually over time |
Child injured at work (or as a visitor) | 3 years from their 18th birthday | A parent or guardian can bring a claim at any time before the child turns 18 |
Person lacking mental capacity | Time limit suspended during period of incapacity | A litigation friend manages the claim |
Fatal workplace accident | 3 years from date of death | Dependants may claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 |
For a full explanation of all time limit exceptions and what to do if you are approaching your deadline, see our guide: Personal Injury Claim Time Limits in England and Wales.
For guidance on how long the claim process itself takes once you have started: How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take?
Case highlight
Our client arrived for work early one morning when his forklift truck struck a pothole hidden under murky water at the loading bay. The impact caused severe spinal injuries, leaving him unable to move. What followed was four years of rehabilitation, specialist hospitals, and legal complexity — with NJS Law by his side throughout.
“Nichola, my solicitor, took on two professional barristers who got my claim going. Without NJS Law, I wouldn’t have gotten this far. They helped me far beyond things I wouldn’t have known about.”
— NJS Law client, £3.7 million settlement
Settlement
£3,700,000
Injury type
Severe spinal injury
Cause
Hidden pothole — employer negligence
Duration
4-year case
Interim payments
Yes — housing, mobility, therapy
Outcome
Full independence restored
Our client suffered serious leg injuries when faulty workplace equipment malfunctioned without warning, causing a heavy load to fall directly onto both legs.
The injuries included broken bones, severe ligament damage, an extended hospital stay, ongoing pain, and long-term mobility issues.
NJS Law successfully showed that the accident was caused by defective or poorly maintained equipment, and that the employer had failed to keep the workplace equipment safe and fit for purpose.
Our client suffered a broken leg after tripping over a wooden pallet that had been left in a cluttered and poorly maintained workspace while they were operating an electric pump truck.
As they tried to manoeuvre safely around colleagues, they fell backwards over the pallet, which had been left leaning against a pipe.
The pump truck then moved forward and trapped their leg.
NJS Law proved that the accident was caused by unsafe workplace conditions, poor housekeeping, and a failure to remove obvious hazards.
Our client was sent overseas for a work project and was repeatedly required to lift and carry heavy items without suitable lifting equipment, assistance, or adequate manual handling training.
The client suffered a serious back injury, required a four-day hospital stay, experienced long-term pain and mobility difficulties, and needed time off work to recover.
Although the accident happened abroad,
NJS Law successfully established that the UK-based employer had breached its duty of care.
Our client suffered a serious arm injury while trying to clear a printer jam at work.
The printer had been positioned tightly against a wall, making it difficult to access safely.
When the client tried to move it into a safer position, they felt sudden pain and heard three sharp snaps in their arm.
The injury caused muscle and soft-tissue damage, required medical treatment and rehabilitation, led to time off work, and resulted in ongoing pain, weakness, and reduced mobility.
NJS Law proved that the employer had failed to provide a safe workplace setup, proper risk assessments, and safe procedures for dealing with equipment faults.
All accident at work claims at NJS Law are handled under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) — what most people call No Win, No Fee. Here is exactly what that means for you:
You can read a full plain-English explanation of how No Win, No Fee agreements work at No Win No Fee Claims Page.
Our dedicated solicitors specialise in slip and trip claims and have decades of combined experience securing fair compensation. We understand how stressful an accident can be and provide clear, supportive guidance throughout the process.
Contact us today for a free consultation and move forward with confidence under our No Win No Fee promise. Taking early legal advice can strengthen your claim and protect your rights.
680,000 workers were injured in the workplace in 2024–25. You may be entitled to compensation.
Being injured at work can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure of your rights or worried about your job. Our expert solicitors provide clear, honest advice and manage every aspect of your claim, so you can focus on recovery while we fight for justice.
Our specialist EL/PL team brings decades of expertise across workplace injury, employer liability, and serious injury claims.
Authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (no. 8006550).
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£3.7M forklift settlement · £135,000 Manchester worker · £33,000 overseas injury · £18,000 arm injury. Real outcomes for real clients.
Making an accident at work claim can feel overwhelming. Below we’ve answered the most common questions our clients ask. These cover eligibility, time limits, compensation, and what happens if your case goes to court.
PUWER stands for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. It places specific legal duties on employers to ensure all work equipment is suitable for its purpose, properly maintained, inspected regularly, adequately guarded, and only used by workers who have received adequate training and information. A breach of any of these duties that causes injury is the legal basis for a compensation claim. PUWER applies to virtually all equipment used in the workplace — from hand tools to industrial machinery.
Yes. Your employer’s duty is not simply to fix obviously broken equipment — it is to carry out proper maintenance, inspection, and testing to identify and prevent failures before they happen. If equipment failed because of a latent defect that proper maintenance would have identified, your employer may still be liable. A maintenance log showing inspections were overdue or never carried out is often central evidence in these claims.
Your employer may still be liable. PUWER Regulation 11 requires employers to have systems in place to ensure guards remain in position — not simply to install them. An employer who allows guards to be routinely removed without consequence, or who lacks a system for checking they are in place, has failed in their duty. A colleague’s act does not automatically transfer liability away from the employer.
Your employer is responsible under PUWER for ensuring that any equipment used by their workers — including hired equipment — is safe and suitable. The hire company may also be liable if they supplied defective or poorly maintained equipment. Your solicitor will examine the hire agreement, inspection certificates provided by the hire company, and your employer’s pre-use checks to identify the appropriate defendants.
Not necessarily. Under PUWER Regulation 8, employers are legally required to provide adequate information, instruction, and training before workers use equipment. If you were not properly trained, or the equipment lacked the required guards or safety controls, your employer may bear full or partial responsibility even if you contributed to the accident. Contributory negligence reduces your award proportionally — it does not end your right to claim. See our guide: Can I Claim If the Accident Was Partly My Fault?
Yes. If the equipment was defective when it left the factory — rather than becoming dangerous through your employer’s failure to maintain it — a product liability claim can be made against the manufacturer or UK importer under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. This is a strict liability claim: you do not need to prove the manufacturer was negligent, only that the product was defective and caused your injury. Your employer may also be jointly liable for failing to inspect before putting it into service.
Yes. Subsequent repair or replacement does not prevent you from claiming — and in fact it can support your case, as it suggests the employer recognised the equipment was a risk. Your solicitor can obtain maintenance records, inspection logs, and the original accident book entry. In appropriate cases, we instruct an independent engineering expert who can assess the equipment even after repairs have been made.
Yes, in many circumstances. PUWER 1998 applies to all work equipment used at work, regardless of your employment status. If a site owner, principal contractor, or host employer had control over the equipment you were using, they may owe you a duty of care even if you were not their direct employee. Claims involving contractors and agency workers are more complex, but NJS Law handles them regularly.
The most useful evidence includes: the accident book entry; photographs of the equipment (especially any missing guards, damage, or defects) and your injuries; maintenance and inspection records; CCTV footage (request this immediately — most employers overwrite within 30 days); witness names and contact details; and your medical records from GP and hospital. In complex cases, your solicitor will also instruct an independent engineering expert. Your solicitor will advise on any additional evidence once they have reviewed your specific case.
In most cases, you have three years from the date of your accident to issue court proceedings under the Limitation Act 1980. For product liability claims under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, there is an additional 10-year longstop from when the product was first supplied — take legal advice promptly if the equipment is old. Missing the deadline is the most common reason valid claims cannot be pursued.
Our solicitors have written a library of plain-English guides to help you understand your rights. Read the articles most relevant to your situation:
Injured at work? Learn the key steps to take straight away to protect your health, evidence, and legal rights.
Find out how workplace injury compensation is calculated and what factors can affect the value of your claim.
Learn how No Win No Fee accident at work claims work and how you can start a claim without upfront legal fees.
A simple guide to the personal injury claims process, from starting your claim to reaching a settlement.
Understand your rights if you are worried about your job after making a workplace injury claim.
Learn what RIDDOR is, which workplace accidents must be reported, and how it may support your claim.
Find out your rights after a construction site accident and how to claim compensation for your injuries.
Learn how PUWER 1998 protects workers injured by unsafe machinery, tools, or workplace equipment.
Understand when you may be able to claim compensation after a fall from height at work.
Find out what affects the length of a personal injury claim and what to expect during the process.
Learn how PUWER 1998 protects workers injured by unsafe machinery, tools, or workplace equipment.
Learn how personal injury payouts are assessed and why compensation varies from case to case.
Understand the key time limits for making a personal injury claim in England and Wales.
Find out how partial fault can affect your personal injury claim and compensation amount.
Learn the difference between compensation for pain and suffering and compensation for financial losses.
Find out when interim payments may be available before your personal injury claim fully settles.
For fast, friendly affordable legal advice. Contact a member of our team today.
