Employers have a duty to provide machinery and equipment that's safe to use, properly maintained, and fitted with the guards and safety features it needs. Separately, manufacturers and suppliers have their own duties under product safety law if a defect existed in the equipment as supplied.
That means a defective machinery claim can sometimes involve more than one responsible party, and part of our job is working out who that actually is, rather than assuming it's always simply the employer.
What kinds of defective machinery claim do we handle?
Missing or bypassed safety guards
Including guards removed to keep production moving.
Poorly maintained machinery
Including worn or failed components.
Manufacturing defects
Where the equipment was unsafe as supplied.
Machinery without adequate emergency stops
Or with stops that were unreachable when they were needed.
Inadequate risk assessment
Where a known hazard wasn't addressed.
What if I was partly at fault?
Partial responsibility reduces compensation proportionally rather than removing the claim. Bypassing a guard yourself is different from a guard that was missing or broken through no fault of yours, and this is assessed on the actual evidence.
What you could receive
Defective machinery claims cover general damages for the injury and its effect on your life, and special damages for financial losses, including lost earnings and treatment costs.
We'll talk you through what's realistic for your situation once we've reviewed the details. We won't overpromise, and we won't quote a figure before we've properly understood your case.