Your employer is legally required to provide you with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) — free of charge — whenever the risks of your work cannot be fully controlled by other means. If you were injured because your employer failed to provide adequate PPE, provided PPE that was ill-fitting, defective, or unsuitable for the hazard, or failed to train you how to use it correctly, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
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A lack of PPE claim arises when an employer’s failure to provide, maintain, or ensure the proper use of suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) causes or contributes to a workplace injury or illness.
Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022, employers must assess workplace risks, provide suitable and properly fitting PPE, maintain and replace it when necessary, and ensure workers are trained in its safe use. A claim may arise not only where PPE was absent, but also where it was inadequate, defective, poorly maintained, or workers were not properly instructed in its use.
Claims are typically made against the employer’s Employers’ Liability insurance, which most UK employers are legally required to hold.
Common scenarios where a lack of PPE claim arises:
PPE covers any equipment or clothing designed to protect a worker from health and safety risks at work. The following types are the most commonly involved in lack of PPE claims:
⛑️ Head Protection
Safety helmets and hard hats — required wherever there is a risk of falling objects, head strikes, or overhead hazards. Mandatory on most construction sites under CDM Regulations 2015.
🥽 Eye & Face Protection
Safety glasses, goggles, and face shields — required for grinding, cutting, chemical handling, welding, and any work generating flying particles or liquid splash.
🎧 Hearing Protection
Ear defenders and ear plugs — required where noise levels exceed 85 dB(A) under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. Long-term exposure without protection causes permanent hearing loss.
🧤 Hand Protection
Gloves — covering cut-resistant, chemical-resistant, heat-resistant, and anti-vibration types. The specific glove must be matched to the hazard — the wrong type of glove can be as dangerous as none at all.
👢 Foot Protection
Safety footwear with steel toe caps and/or midsole protection — required where heavy objects may be dropped or sharp objects may be trodden on. Also includes anti-slip soles for wet or oily floors.
😷 Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
Dust masks, half-face respirators, and full-face respirators — required when working with dusts, fumes, aerosols, gases, or vapours covered by COSHH 2002. Fit-testing is legally required for tight-fitting RPE.
🦺 High-Visibility Clothing
Hi-vis vests, jackets, and trousers — required wherever workers may be struck by moving vehicles or plant. Mandatory on construction sites and road works under CDM Regulations 2015 and Traffic Signs Regulations.
🧗 Fall Arrest Equipment
Safety harnesses and lanyards — required when working at height where collective protective measures (guardrails, nets) are not reasonably practicable, under the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
👕 Protective Clothing
Coveralls, chemical suits, and arc flash suits — required when working with hazardous chemicals, molten metals, or high-voltage electrical systems. Must be correctly rated for the specific hazard.
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.
Updated from the 1992 Regulations, the 2022 Regulations extended the duty to provide PPE beyond employees to all workers — including agency workers, zero-hours workers, and limb (b) workers. Employers must: carry out a risk assessment and identify suitable PPE; ensure PPE is compatible with other PPE used; maintain, clean, repair, and replace PPE as necessary; store PPE properly; provide adequate information, instruction, and training on its use; and ensure it is actually used by workers.
Requires employers to assess the risks from hazardous substances (chemicals, dusts, fumes, biological agents) and put controls in place — including the provision of appropriate RPE or chemical-resistant protective clothing where exposure cannot be eliminated by other means. Failure to provide COSHH-compliant PPE is a common cause of occupational asthma, dermatitis, and chemical burn claims.
Requires employers to take action when noise reaches 80 dB(A) and to provide hearing protection zones and ear defenders when noise reaches 85 dB(A). Persistent failure to provide hearing protection is the leading cause of occupational noise-induced hearing loss claims in England and Wales.
Following the extension of the PPE at Work Regulations in 2022, the following categories of worker are now entitled to have PPE provided by their employer:
You may still be entitled to claim even if PPE was available but you were not told you needed to wear it, were not trained to use it correctly, or were given PPE that was the wrong specification for the hazard you faced. The duty does not end at providing the equipment — employers must ensure it is used correctly and is fit for purpose.
You may still have a claim even if you were partly responsible — for example, if you chose not to wear PPE that was correctly provided. Your compensation may be 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?
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 a failure to provide adequate PPE:
Injury / Condition | Severity | Approximate Range |
Head / brain injury (no safety helmet) | Minor to severe | £2,690 – £379,100+ |
Eye injury — partial or serious loss (no goggles) | Serious | £49,270 – £66,920+ |
Noise-induced hearing loss (no ear protection) | Moderate to severe (one or both ears) | £14,900 – £45,890 |
Occupational asthma / respiratory disease (no RPE) | Moderate to severe | £18,980 – £100,670+ |
Occupational dermatitis / chemical skin burn (no gloves) | Mild to severe | £2,500 – £17,900+ |
Severe chemical burns to face / body (no protective clothing) | Severe | £49,270 – £100,670+ |
Foot / ankle fracture (no safety footwear) | Moderate to serious | £13,740 – £83,790+ |
Fall from height — fracture or serious injury (no harness) | Moderate to severe | £27,760 – £169,400+ |
Psychological injury / PTSD | Moderate to severe | £9,980 – £100,670+ |
In addition to compensation for your injury or illness, you can claim back all financial losses caused by the lack of PPE, including:
See: 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 or the onset of your condition to your employer as soon as possible and ensure it is recorded in the workplace accident book. If your condition developed gradually (such as hearing loss or a respiratory disease), report it as soon as you are aware of the link to your work. Ask for a copy of the accident book entry.
Visit your GP or A&E immediately. Describe how the accident happened and why you believe inadequate PPE was a factor. For occupational diseases, ask your GP to refer you to an occupational health specialist. Medical records are one of the most important pieces of evidence in a PPE claim.
If PPE was provided but was defective, keep it. If no PPE was provided at all, note the names of colleagues who can confirm this and any written risk assessments, method statements, or induction records that show PPE requirements were or were not set out. Photograph the workplace and the hazard that caused your injury.
Request any CCTV footage covering the accident location immediately. Most employers overwrite recordings within 30 days. This footage can confirm what PPE was or was not being worn and the conditions in the workplace at the time.
Speak to one of our specialist employer liability solicitors for a free, no-obligation assessment of your claim. We will advise on whether your employer breached their duties, identify the relevant regulations, and confirm whether your injury is linked to the failure to provide adequate PPE.
If we take on your case, we request all relevant documentation from your employer — including risk assessments, COSHH assessments, noise surveys, PPE purchase records, training records, and any prior complaints about inadequate PPE — and issue a formal Letter of Claim to your employer’s insurer.
You will be referred to an independent medical expert — and where appropriate, a specialist occupational physician, audiologist, or respiratory consultant — who will assess your condition, prognosis, and any ongoing treatment needs. This report is central to valuing your claim.
We present a full Schedule of Loss to the defendant’s insurer and negotiate the best possible settlement. Around 95% of claims settle without going to court. Once a settlement is agreed or judgment awarded, your compensation is paid. Your solicitor’s success fee 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.
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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.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is any equipment or clothing designed to be worn or held by a person at work to protect them from risks to their health or safety. It includes safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, safety harnesses, and respiratory protective equipment such as dust masks and respirators. It does not include ordinary working clothes, uniforms not specifically designed for health or safety, or sports equipment.
Yes. Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022, your employer must provide suitable PPE free of charge. They cannot ask you to pay for it, hire it, or contribute to the cost. Any employer who charges workers for PPE, or deducts the cost from wages, is acting unlawfully — and if you are injured because you could not afford PPE your employer should have provided free, this strengthens your claim.
Your claim is still valid. An employer’s duty does not end at making PPE available. They must ensure workers are told when PPE must be worn, trained in how to use it correctly, and supervised to ensure it is being used. If you were not briefed that PPE was required for the task you were performing, your employer has failed in their duty — even if the PPE existed somewhere on site.
Yes. Providing the wrong type of PPE is as much a breach of the Regulations as providing none at all. For example, providing a dust mask for work involving chemical vapours (which require a respirator), or non-chemical-resistant gloves for work with corrosive substances, is a breach of the employer’s duty to select PPE that is appropriate for the specific risk. Your solicitor will establish the correct PPE specification and demonstrate how the provision fell short.
Yes. Occupational diseases that develop gradually — including noise-induced hearing loss, occupational asthma, occupational dermatitis, and hand-arm vibration syndrome — are among the
most common and valuable lack of PPE claims. The three-year limitation period runs from your date of knowledge: when you first knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the condition was related to your work and your employer’s failure to protect you — not from when symptoms first appeared. Many people have valid claims even years after leaving a particular employer.
This is a common defence, but it rarely ends the claim. The key questions are: Was the PPE actually suitable and correctly specified for the hazard? Did your employer take reasonable steps to supervise its use? Was it properly maintained and available at the time? If the PPE was ill-fitting, uncomfortable because of a defect, or genuinely unsuitable for the task, your employer’s duty to address that failure may outweigh your individual choice. Where some contributory negligence is found, your compensation is reduced proportionally — you do not lose the right to claim.
A risk assessment is only valid if it is “suitable and sufficient.” If the assessment failed to properly identify the hazard that injured you, used incorrect assumptions, or was not reviewed when working conditions changed, it can be challenged. Your solicitor can obtain an independent health and safety expert’s report to demonstrate that the risk assessment was inadequate and that a proper assessment would have identified the need for PPE.
Yes. The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022 extended the duty to provide PPE to all workers — not just employees. This includes agency workers, zero-hours workers, and other limb (b) workers. If the site owner or principal contractor had control over your working conditions, they may also owe you a duty of care to provide appropriate PPE, regardless of who formally employed you.
Useful evidence includes: the accident book entry; photographs of the workplace and any PPE that was or was not provided; witness names and contact details (colleagues who can confirm PPE was not provided or was defective); any written risk assessments, COSHH assessments, or induction records you can access; your medical records from GP, hospital, and any occupational health provider; and payslips or employment records linking you to the employer. For occupational disease claims, medical records documenting the onset and progression of your condition are particularly important. Your solicitor will advise on all further evidence once they have reviewed your case.
For an acute injury (such as an eye injury or fall), you generally have three years from the date of your accident. For a gradually developing condition (such as hearing loss or respiratory disease), the
three years runs from your date of knowledge — when you first became aware, or ought reasonably to have become aware, that your condition was linked to a failure to provide adequate PPE at work. Do not assume you are out of time — speak to a solicitor before reaching that conclusion. For full details: Personal Injury Claim Time Limits
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.
