The UK’s manufacturing sector appears to be booming, currently at 11th place on the global manufacturing rankings (UK Manufacturing: The Facts 2025). While this is great news for our economy and for the jobs market, the need for health and safety compliance is more important than ever.
Manufacturing depends heavily on plant and machinery, and on workers who are trained and supervised to operate vehicles and machinery safely. Even so, workplace accidents involving machinery and equipment are increasing, causing potentially serious injuries and long-lasting harm. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 55,000 non-fatal workplace accidents over the three years to 2025 – almost half involving machinery.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident, you may be able to claim compensation. Contact the specialist personal injury team at mfg Solicitors as early as you can.
Machinery injuries
Wherever there is machinery, there is a risk of injury to those working with or near them. Injuries can be caused by:
- Moving parts of machinery
- Parts of a machine detaching and flying off
- Clothing, belts, hair and limbs being pulled into moving machinery
- Hot machine parts and surfaces
- Dangerous or exposed wiring
- Poor maintenance and repair
- Misuse of machinery as a result of poor training and supervision
The range of injuries caused by machinery range from lacerations and bruising, to factures, significant crush injuries and even amputation. Machinery can also cause burns and electric shock injuries, head injuries, permanent scarring and psychological harm.
To compound matters, it is common for workers to believe they are to blame for machine accidents. However, in most cases this is not the case – it is the employer who is ultimately responsible.
Employers’ responsibilities
Employers have general responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, including making sure machinery and vehicles used by workers are appropriately maintained; and all necessary measures put in place to protect employees from injury.
Where machinery is being used, employers must also comply with:
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) which places specific duties on employers. Machinery must be suitable for the intended use; regularly maintained and inspected; and only used only by adequately trained workers
- The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) which applies when lifting equipment is used
If you have been injured in a machinery accident, it is highly likely the direct result of a safety breach; in which case you could make a compensation claim. In the vast majority of cases, machine accidents would not have occurred if the employer had properly complied with all their statutory duties.
How can I claim compensation?
Talk things through with our team as early as possible. We will endeavour to put your mind at rest and hold the employer solely responsible for your injuries.
We will ask you for details about what happened and any witnesses. We will also ask for any photographs and sketches of the accident site and the machinery involved, CCTV, witness contact details and the employer’s accident log book entry. Please don’t worry, if you do not have these details as we seek to obtain these from your employer.
If your claim progresses, we will arrange for expert medical evidence which will be needed. In the event you were involved in an workplace accident involving machinery or a vehicle, please contact us and we will provide you with expert advice in relation to your claim under a no win no fee.
How we can help
Please contact us and we will provide you with expert advice in relation to your claim under a no win no fee. Contact David Lydon at david.lydon@mfgsolicitors.com, or on telephone number 0121 2367388.