Industrial Injury Claims

Factory accident claims: A guide to industrial injury

The manufacturing industry employs 10% of the British workforce but accounts for 25% of all fatal workplace accidents and 16% of reported accidents at work, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The factory can be a dangerous environment and whilst there have been improvements in worker safety over recent decades there is still room for improvement. The most common factory injuries include those caused by faulty machinery, slips and trips, and hazardous working conditions.

The main source of safety improvements has been the imposition of health and safety regulations, including European legislation over the last 20 years, which was built on the 1961 and 1974 Factories Acts. This legislation covers a wide area of activities in the workplace and ensures that risk assessments are at the centre of operations.

If you’ve been injured in a factory accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Making a factory accident compensation claim with Osbornes Law can help you recover damages and get the support you need.

What is a factory accident?

A factory accident is any unexpected incident that occurs within a manufacturing or industrial setting, resulting in injury or harm to an employee. These accidents can range from minor issues, such as cuts and bruises, to more serious injuries like crush incidents, amputations, or even fatalities.

Factory accidents often happen due to:

• Faulty or poorly maintained machinery
• Lack of proper health and safety protocols
• Inadequate staff training
• Unsafe or hazardous working conditions

Employers have a legal duty to provide a safe working environment and to implement effective safety measures. When they fail in this duty, injured workers may be entitled to pursue a factory accident compensation claim.

Whether the injury is minor or severe, prioritising workplace safety is essential, for both employers and employees, to help prevent accidents and protect everyone’s well-being.

What are common causes of industrial injuries?

Industrial injury claims typically arise when employers fail to uphold their legal responsibility to provide a safe working environment. Some of the most common causes include:

• Inadequate training on how to safely operate machinery and follow safety protocols (Can lead to crush injuries or broken bones)
• Hazardous working environments, such as poor lighting, wet or uneven floors, or obstructed walkways (Slips, trips and falls can result in fractures or head injuries)
• Faulty or poorly maintained equipment, or the misuse of tools and machinery (Often linked to crush injuries, amputations or broken bones)
• Exposure to harmful substances without proper protective measures (Risk of chemical burns or respiratory injuries)
• Manual handling risks, such as heavy lifting or repetitive strain tasks (Can cause musculoskeletal injuries or back pain)
• Lack of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) or failure to enforce its use (Leads to preventable injuries like burns, eye damage, or cuts)

Employers are legally required to carry out regular risk assessments and enforce proper safety regulations. When these responsibilities are neglected and an employee is injured as a result, they may have the right to make an industrial accident claim and seek compensation for their injuries and losses.

The process of making a claim can be complicated, particularly when it involves long-term health issues or proving employer negligence. That’s why it’s important to seek advice from specialist personal injury solicitors. The team at Osbornes Law can guide injured workers through the legal process, help gather the necessary evidence, and work to secure fair compensation for injuries sustained due to unsafe working conditions.

What is the law relating to industrial injuries?

In the UK, the legal framework for dealing with industrial injury claims is covered by:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)
• The Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

These regulations apply across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and Osbornes Law assists clients in all these regions.

How do you make an industrial injury claim?

• First and foremost, get medical treatment for your injury. This is crucial not only for your health but also because medical records will serve as important evidence for your accident compensation claim.
• Notify your employer about the injury as soon as possible. Most companies have a procedure in place for reporting workplace accidents. This report will act as an official record of the incident.
• Keep detailed records of all medical treatment related to your injury. Document the circumstances surrounding your injury including dates, times, location, how the injury occurred, and any witnesses. Keep records of any expenses incurred as a result of the injury, including travel costs to medical appointments, and any lost earnings.
• Call your our industrial injury lawyers on 020 7485 8811 or complete the enquiry form below. Once you contact us, we begin by sending a formal letter of claim to the defendant insurers.
• One of our lawyers will arrange a time to speak with you so we can find out all the details and understand exactly what has happened. Once we have this information, we’’ll be able to advise you on the best course of action. Our goal is securing compensation for injured workers, and we handle claims on a no win no fee basis, so you know you won’t pay unless your claim is successful.
• Contact us today for a free initial consultation with a qualified solicitor to discuss your factory accident claim.

Real-life factory accident claim

Osbornes made an Industrial Injury claim for Mrs V, a Bulgarian lady who worked in an industrial bakery in London and spoke little English. She was operating a machine on the production line, a machine she was trained on and had no problems with before, when suddenly and without warning part of the machine, a metal block, swung out and hit her on the head, throwing her across the factory floor and knocking her out. She was unable to say what the part was and how or why it ejected from the machine and she had no details of witnesses. Proving fault on the part of her employer would have been extremely difficult, but because the machine had malfunctioned the employers were strictly liable and so she was compensated for the head injury that interfered with her work for the next three years.

What types of industrial injuries can I claim for?

We have helped clients claim compensation for a wide range of industrial injuries including:

• Arm Injury Claims
• Back Injury Claims
• Elbow Injury Claims
• Face Injury Claims
• Finger Injury Claims
• Foot Injury Claims
• Hand Injury Claims
• Hip Injury Claims
• Knee Injury Claims
• Leg Injury Claims
• Neck Injury Claims
• Shoulder Injury Claims
• Wrist Injury Claims

How much compensation will I receive for my claim?

No two claims are the same so we can’t say how much compensation you will get for your claim. Compensation is split into two parts:

• General damages (based on the severity of injuries and the length of time it takes for you to recover)
• Special damages (covering current and predicted out of pocket expenses as a result of the injury – such as loss of property, medication, aids and equipment, treatment, travel and loss of income).

While we might not be able to say how much compensation you can expect to get, we are experienced in a wide range of industrial injury claims and should be able to give you an estimate, when we speak.

How our industrial injury lawyers can help

At Osbornes Law we have one of the largest industrial injury teams in London. Our solicitors have helped thousands of people make no win no fee claims to get their lives back on track following serious injuries. We have built up a strong reputation for representing clients with the following injuries:

• Head and Brain Injury
• Spinal Injuries
• Amputation and Limb Loss Claims
• Fatal Injuries

Osbornes Law is an active supporter and campaigner for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) – an organisation fighting for the rights of injured people. Other organisations supported by the team include Headway East London, Spinal Injuries Association and the Limbless Association.

To speak with one of our solicitors, contact us by:

• Filling in our online enquiry form; or
• Calling us on 020 7485 8811