Industrial Injury Claims
Hurt at work in a factory, warehouse or on site
If you were injured at work because your employer did not keep you safe, you may be able to make an industrial injury claim. We will explain your options clearly, deal with your employer’s insurer for you, and never pressure you.
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Can you make an industrial injury claim?
You may be able to make an industrial injury claim if you were hurt in an accident at work, within the last three years, and the accident was caused at least in part by your employer’s negligence. Your employer has a legal duty to keep you reasonably safe under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. When that duty is not met and you are injured, you have a right to seek compensation.
The claim is made against your employer’s insurance, not against your employer personally, and you are protected by law from being dismissed for making one. If you are not sure whether you can claim, our industrial injury solicitors can look into it for you, with no obligation.
Common causes of industrial accidents
Most industrial injuries are not really accidents; they are preventable safety failures. An industrial injury claim often follows one of these.
Faulty or unguarded machinery
Conveyors, presses or other equipment that was known to be faulty, poorly maintained, or missing guards, contrary to PUWER.
Inadequate training
Being asked to use dangerous equipment, or work in a high-risk area, without the proper training or instruction.
Missing or wrong PPE
Not being given the protective equipment the job needed, such as gloves, eye protection, a hard hat or safety footwear.
Slips, trips and falls
Spills, trailing cables or blocked walkways left unaddressed, causing a fall on the same level.
Falls from height
Injuries from unsafe ladders, scaffolding or platforms, where work at height was not planned or protected properly.
Falling or moving objects
Being struck by poorly stacked stock, falling materials, or a vehicle such as a forklift moving around the site.
These are common events. In manufacturing alone, the Health and Safety Executive has reported an annual average of around 46,000 non-fatal injuries to workers (three-year average to 2022/23). Behind each one is a person dealing with time off, lost income and recovery.
Industrial injury or industrial disease?
An industrial injury claim is usually about a one-off accident, a machine, a fall, a lifting injury, that caused harm on a particular day. That is what this page covers.
If your health problem built up over months or years of exposure at work, such as a lung condition, occupational asthma, hand-arm vibration, or hearing loss, that is usually an industrial disease claim, and the time limits work differently. If you are not sure which applies, we will help you work it out.
- Hurt in a single accident at work: industrial injury claim
- Illness from long-term exposure: industrial disease claim
- Not sure? Ask us and we will point you the right way
How much compensation can you claim?
Every industrial injury claim is different, so it is not possible to promise a figure or a meaningful average. What matters is the injury itself, how it has affected your life and work, and the financial losses it has caused.
For the injury, the courts use the Judicial College Guidelines, which set out bracket ranges by severity as guidance, not a promise. The right figure depends on an independent medical assessment of your injury and recovery.
- The pain, suffering and effect on your daily life
- Lost earnings, now and in the future
- Treatment, rehabilitation and travel costs
- Care and help at home while you recover
Industrial injury compensation is usually made up of general damages, for the injury and its impact, and special damages, for your financial losses. Your solicitor will explain what your industrial injury claim may be worth once the medical evidence is in.
What to do after an industrial accident
Your health comes first. Beyond that, a few simple steps protect your position, and we can help with the rest, so do not worry if you could not do all of them.
You do not need everything to start. If you have some of this, keep it safe. If you have none of it, we can still look into your claim and help gather what is needed.
Claiming against your employer
Many people worry about making a claim against an employer they still work for. In practice, the claim is handled by the employer’s insurer, which the law requires them to have. The compensation does not come out of your employer’s own pocket.
You are also protected. Dismissing or treating you unfairly because you made a genuine injury claim can itself be unlawful. Our industrial injury solicitors deal with the insurer for you, so you can focus on your recovery.
- Employers must carry employers' liability insurance by law
- Contractors and agency staff may also be able to claim
- You can still claim if you have since left the job
No Win No Fee industrial injury claims
Where a claim can be taken on this basis, you can start without paying anything upfront. If the claim is not successful, you will not pay a fee for our work, subject to the terms of your agreement.
If the claim succeeds, an agreed success fee is deducted from your compensation, and insurance is usually put in place to cover the other side’s costs. Your industrial injury solicitors will explain all of this clearly, in plain English, before you commit to anything.
You will see the full terms in writing before your claim begins.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most, answered plainly.
Will I be sacked for making a claim against my employer?
You should not be. Dismissing you or treating you unfairly because you brought a genuine injury claim can itself be unlawful. The claim is dealt with by your employer’s insurer, not paid by your employer personally, which is why most claims are handled without affecting your job.
What is classed as an industrial injury?
It is an injury from an accident at work, such as a machinery injury, a fall, a lifting injury, or being struck by an object. An illness that built up over time from exposure at work, like a lung condition or hearing loss, is usually an industrial disease claim instead. If you are not sure which yours is, we will help you work it out.
I'm a contractor or agency worker. Can I still claim?
Often, yes. Whoever was responsible for your safety on site owes a duty of care, whether you are an employee, an agency worker or a contractor. The right party to claim against can depend on the arrangement, and we will identify it for you.
What if I wasn't given the right PPE or training?
Providing suitable protective equipment and proper training is your employer’s responsibility, not yours. If you were hurt because that did not happen, it tends to support a claim rather than count against you. Bring what you remember and we will look into it.
How long after an injury at work can I claim?
Usually three years from the date of the accident. There are important exceptions: for someone under 18 the three years runs from their 18th birthday, and where a person lacks the mental capacity to claim there may be no time limit. It is always worth asking us early, as evidence is easier to gather sooner.
Is an industrial injury claim the same as Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit?
No. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) is a state benefit you apply for through the government. An industrial injury claim is a separate civil claim for compensation against whoever was at fault. You can often pursue both, and one does not stop the other. We can explain how they fit together.
Find out where you stand
Tell us what happened and how you have been since. We will explain which route applies to you, what it would involve, and whether it is worth pursuing. If it is not, we will say so.
- Free, confidential and without obligation
- No Win No Fee available
- SRA-regulated solicitors
Check if you can make a claim
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Other claims we handle
Start your industrial injury claim
If you were injured at work in a factory, warehouse or on site, you have every right to ask whether you can claim. A first conversation is free, confidential and without any obligation.
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