Injured by Dangerous Machinery at Work? You May Be Entitled to Compensation

Health and safety regulations in the UK are designed to protect employees but unfortunately, accidents involving dangerous machinery still occur far too often. Whether you're working in a factory, on a construction site, or in a warehouse, employers have a legal duty to make sure machinery is properly maintained, regularly serviced, and, crucially, correctly guarded.

At Marsons Solicitors, we’ve helped many clients who’ve suffered life-changing injuries due to unsafe machinery at work. If this has happened to you, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

When Is Machinery Considered Dangerous?

Machinery is considered dangerous when it poses a risk to the operator or others nearby particularly if moving parts are unguarded or the equipment is defective. Even simple machines can become hazardous if they're not properly maintained or if guards have been removed.

 Employers have a legal duty under UK law to:

●  Provide safe, well-maintained equipment

●  Ensure all machinery is fitted with suitable guards to prevent contact with moving parts

●  Train staff to use machinery safely

●  Prevent short cuts that put safety at risk

Common Causes of Injury Involving Machinery

●  Missing or inadequate guards: Machines should be designed or retrofitted with safety guards to prevent fingers, hands, or clothing from being caught.

●  Lack of maintenance: If machines aren’t regularly serviced or repaired, they can malfunction and cause serious harm.

●  Pressure to cut corners: In some workplaces, staff are encouraged to remove guards (or at least not actively stopped from removing them) to speed up the process — often at the expense of safety.

Even if a machine was manufactured without a guard, your employer can still be held liable if you’re injured using it.

Who’s Responsible?

In most cases, your employer is legally responsible for ensuring that machinery is safe to use. If they’ve failed in that duty, and you’ve been injured as a result, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim.

Importantly, you may still be able to claim compensation even if you were partly at fault. For example, if you removed a safety guard under pressure from your employer, weren’t stopped from doing it or simply weren't given proper training, your claim may still succeed although the amount awarded could be reduced.

What Can You Claim For?

A successful personal injury claim could provide compensation for:

●  Pain, suffering, and loss of amenity

●  Loss of earnings, including future loss if you're unable to return to work

●  Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs

●  Travel expenses and care costs

●  Adaptations to your home or transport, if needed

We’re Here to Help

If you’ve been injured at work due to dangerous or defective machinery, our experienced personal injury lawyers can advise you on your next steps. We’ll guide you through the claims process, explain your rights, and work to secure the compensation you need to recover and move forward.

 Contact us today to speak to one of our friendly team.

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