What should I do if my PPE is damaged?
If you're required to wear PPE because of dangerous working conditions, your employer has a duty of care to ensure that their staff have the appropriate equipment to carry out their jobs safely. However, if you've been wearing damaged PPE, you may have sustained an injury while working.
If your employer has failed to supply appropriate PPE and you suffer an accident as a result, you should consider making a defective PPE claim. National Accident Law can help you, no matter the severity of your injury.
We understand that making a claim can be daunting, which is why our expert team of defective PPE solicitors are always on hand to guide you through the entire claims process. We'll arrange an initial chat, completely free of charge, with no obligations attached and no pressure to pursue a claim if you decide not to do so.
If you'd like to find out how we can help, don't hesitate to get in touch with us on or request a call back, where a member of our team will get back to you.
Examples of PPE
All employees who primarily work in the construction, manual labour or healthcare industries must be provided with adequate PPE by law. Examples of this equipment include:
- Gloves
- Safety goggles
- Masks and respirators
- Hard hats
- Ear plugs or defenders
- Steel toe cap boots
- Overalls or protective suits
However, if you've received inadequate PPE, or none at all, you could claim for lack of PPE compensation. Your employer will have shown negligence and, therefore, a failure to keep you safe in hazardous conditions.
What are the most common injuries from poor quality PPE?
The severity of your injury will vary depending on the accident in which you were involved. Each working condition is different − whatever hazards you have to face, wearing damaged PPE while on the job can potentially have life-changing effects.
Some of the most common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Cuts, bruises and scarring
- Hearing loss
- Eye injuries
- Respiratory illnesses
How much lack of PPE compensation could I receive?
We treat every claim on an individual basis, so it's difficult to provide an exact figure of how much you could be awarded for your PPE claim. The severity of your injury and the lasting impact that it has had on your quality of life will determine the final amount.
To get an idea of how much you could receive, take a look at our compensation figures table below. All figures have been calculated using the Judicial College guidelines.
Injury | Guide amount |
Head injury | £1,760 - £322,060 |
Facial injury | £1,360 - £322,060 |
Mild tinnitus to total deafness | £10,040 - £87,410 |
Whiplash | £300 - £6,290 (with recovery in 1-2years) |
Moderate shoulder injury | £6,290 - £10,180 |
Back injury causing permanent symptoms | £9,970 - £22,130 |
Hip or pelvis injury | £3,150 - £104,370 |
Fractured forearm | £5,280 - £15,300 |
Wrist injury | £2,810 - £47,720 |
Hernia | £2,710 - £19,260 |
Ankle injury | £10,960 - £55,560 |
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | £3,150 - £80,250 |
How long do I have to start my inadequate PPE claim?
Generally speaking, the time limit for starting a personal injury claim is 3 years. In most instances, this 3 year period begins from the day your accident occurred. However, there are circumstances where this can differ, for example if the severity of your injury meant you were unable to begin the claims process from the day of your accident. If you are unsure or would like to discuss your personal circumstances, feel free to speak to our team.
Can I make a no win no fee PPE claim?
The majority of our cases operate on a no win no fee basis. This means that you'll never have to pay us a penny if your claim is unsuccessful.
To proceed with this type of claim, you'll need to have the correct insurance in place beforehand. Your solicitor will arrange this with you so that all the necessary costs are covered, should you lose your case.
If your PPE claim is successful, a pre-agreed success fee will be deducted from the final amount awarded. As this is discussed early on in the claims process, you won't receive any nasty surprises at the end. We will handle your case on a No Win No Fee basis, with no up-front costs to pay. So, if your claim fails and we don't manage to recover compensation for you, you won't be charged. If your claim succeeds, we guarantee that we'll never deduct more than 35% of your compensation. Other firms, which may quote less than 35% initially, may charge VAT on top of their rate, and charge for legal insurance in addition to charges for their time and the work involved, even after stating that their fees will be capped at 25%. So, it is worth bearing in mind that quotes which may seem lower initially will in fact be higher than the fixed 35% fee we work with and quote up-front.
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Why should I make a damaged PPE claim?
You should never feel unsafe in the workplace. The last thing that you expect is to be involved in an accident at work because of negligence when it comes to your employer's duty of care.
We understand that receiving compensation certainly can't change what happened but getting the amount that you deserve can help you to move forward. If you're stuck in a tricky financial situation as a result, whether you're unable to work or struggling to pay medical bills, compensation can provide monetary support to make things that little bit easier.
Your pursuit of a defective PPE claim could also lead to change. By making a claim, you could potentially encourage the implementation of stricter safety measures when providing PPE in the workplace, reducing the likelihood that other people might suffer the same injuries.
How do I make a damaged PPE claim?
- To start your claims process, simply call us on or request a call back and one of our friendly advisors will get back to you.
- During a free, no-obligation chat, you can discuss in detail exactly what happened leading up to your accident. We'll let you know instantly whether we think that you have the grounds to make a PPE claim.
- It's entirely up to you whether you decide to pursue your claim − we'll never put any pressure on you. If you do decide to go ahead, we'll put you in touch with one of our expert poor-quality PPE solicitors.
- Your solicitor will gather all the relevant evidence needed to support your case, plus they'll inform the third party that you intend to make a claim.
- Once all the evidence has been retrieved, your solicitor will submit your claim to the court.
- If your claim is successful, you'll receive your lack of PPE compensation and your solicitor will take a pre-agreed percentage of the awarded amount. If you made your claim on a no win no fee basis and you find that you were unsuccessful, you won't have to pay a thing.
Meet the team
Matt Hector
Operational Change Delivery Manager
An experienced manager, Matt manages the external partner and supplier relationships that keep our firm ticking smoothly.
View profileMeet the teamWhy choose National Accident Law?
We pride ourselves in delivering first-class legal advice to our clients in a clear and professional manner. We have various inadequate PPE lawyers around the UK, so there's no need to worry about travelling too far to seek help.
We have many years experience of handling personal injury claims, so there's no doubt that we'll be able to professionally approach a claim like yours.
We aim to put you in control of the entire claims process, ensuring that it's as smooth as it can be. We'll always handle your case with compassion and sensitivity, offering a helping hand throughout your claim journey.
Frequently asked questions...
If you have been injured in the last three years and it wasn't your fault, it is highly likely that you are eligible to make a compensation claim.
There are some cases where the eligibility criteria may differ. If you are unsure whether you have a claim, contact our friendly legal team today.
In general, no one person is responsible for paying for your compensation. Typically, it will be awarded via insurance.
For example, if you were injured at work, your employer's liability insurance would cover the compensation cost.
When you talk to our solicitors, we can help assess who was to blame for your accident and advise how your compensation award may be paid.
Contact us today about your defective PPE claim
If you've suffered an injury as a result of poor-quality PPE provided by your employer, you may be entitled to claim compensation. We'll take you through every step of the process during the initial free, no-obligation chat and discuss the appropriate next steps.
If you'd like to make a claim, simply give us a call on or request a call back using the form below.