Can I claim if I removed a guard to clear a jam?

Usually yes. Removing a guard to keep production running is foreseeable behaviour. PUWER 1998 requires guards to be designed so they cannot be easily defeated — and a safe system of work for clearing blockages with the machine isolated. Contributory negligence may reduce the award but rarely defeats it.

What about repetitive strain or hand-arm vibration injuries?

Long-tail industrial-disease claims are subject to the same three-year limitation but the clock starts on your 'date of knowledge' — usually when a doctor first connects the symptoms to your work. HAVS, carpal tunnel and noise-induced hearing loss are all routinely claimed.

I'm a temporary worker — does PUWER still cover me?

Yes. PUWER applies to every person at work on the premises, regardless of contract type. The factory occupier owes you a duty as 'controller of the work equipment'.

Factory machinery accident claims in the UK.

A safety helmet and PPE on a workshop bench by a window — UK manufacturing context — UK manufacturing PPE · 2025

The seven most-claimed factory injuries

Crush and amputation injuries from unguarded blades and rollers — bandsaws, guillotines, presses, conveyors, calenders.
Eye injuries — flying swarf from lathes and grinders, chemical splashes, welding flash without correct PPE.
Burns and scalds — molten material, steam, hot pipework, hydraulic oil under pressure.
Chemical exposure injuries — dermatitis from cutting fluids and solvents, occupational asthma from isocyanates and flour dust, COSHH-controlled substances handled without RPE.
Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and carpal tunnel syndrome — sustained use of grinders, breakers, riveters and impact tools.
Noise-induced hearing loss — long-term exposure above the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 action levels without hearing protection.
Slips, trips and falls on contaminated floors — oil, swarf, off-cuts, poor housekeeping.

The regulations you can rely on

PUWER 1998 — every piece of work equipment must be suitable, maintained, guarded, inspected and operated only by competent people. The HSE-approved guidance L22 spells out what guarding is required.
COSHH 2002 — substances hazardous to health must be assessed and controlled, with monitoring, health surveillance and RPE provided where exposure cannot be eliminated.
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 — at the lower exposure action value of 80 dB(A) the employer must assess the risk and make hearing protection available; at the upper action value of 85 dB(A) the employer must reduce exposure and ensure hearing protection is worn in designated zones.
Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 — for hand-arm vibration the exposure action value is 2.5 m/s² A(8) (employer must take technical and organisational measures) and the exposure limit value is 5.0 m/s² A(8), which must not be exceeded.
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended 2022) — suitable PPE provided free of charge.
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 — floors, lighting, ventilation, traffic routes.

Realistic payout ranges

Injury	General-damages range
Loss of one fingertip	£4,810 – £9,330
Loss of one finger	£12,170 – £18,740
Loss of thumb	£40,540 – £62,560
Loss of hand	£117,360 – £133,810
Moderate HAVS (Stockholm 2V)	£8,640 – £18,930
Severe HAVS or carpal tunnel	£18,930 – £40,490
Noise-induced hearing loss (moderate)	£8,640 – £17,290
Severe burns over > 40% of body	£127,930+
Occupational asthma — severe	£52,550 – £80,240

Industrial disease — date of knowledge

Long-tail conditions like HAVS, asbestosis, occupational asthma and noise-induced hearing loss have a special rule. The three-year limitation period runs not from when you started the job, but from the date you first knew (or should reasonably have known) that your symptoms were caused by your work. In practice, that's usually the date a GP or occupational health doctor first wrote it down. Don't assume an old exposure is out of time — get advice.

Evidence that wins factory machinery claims

Photographs of the machine — particularly the missing or modified guard.
The PUWER inspection records (a competent person's written report).
Your training and competency records — or proof that none were given.
Risk assessments and safe-systems-of-work for the task you were doing.
RIDDOR report reference for any reportable injury (over 7 days off, dangerous occurrence, amputation, fracture).
Health-surveillance records (audiometry, HAVS assessments, lung function).

What to do if you've been injured

Get yourself to A&E — even crush injuries that don't break the skin can damage tendons and nerves.
Insist the incident is logged in the accident book today.
Photograph the machine and the guard before maintenance "fixes" it.
Ask in writing for a copy of the relevant PUWER inspection record.
Get the personal numbers of any colleague who saw the accident.
Speak to a regulated personal-injury solicitor — most offer a free, no-obligation case assessment.

FAQs

Can I claim if I removed a guard to clear a jam?: Usually yes. Removing a guard to keep production running is foreseeable behaviour. PUWER 1998 requires guards to be designed so they cannot be easily defeated — and a safe system of work for clearing blockages with the machine isolated. Contributory negligence may reduce the award but rarely defeats it.
What about repetitive strain or hand-arm vibration injuries?: Long-tail industrial-disease claims are subject to the same three-year limitation but the clock starts on your 'date of knowledge' — usually when a doctor first connects the symptoms to your work. HAVS, carpal tunnel and noise-induced hearing loss are all routinely claimed.
I'm a temporary worker — does PUWER still cover me?: Yes. PUWER applies to every person at work on the premises, regardless of contract type. The factory occupier owes you a duty as 'controller of the work equipment'.