Induction and training duties
Regulation 13 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires every employer to provide adequate health and safety training on recruitment and on exposure to new or increased risks. The training must take account of the worker's existing knowledge and experience, be repeated as appropriate, and be given during working hours.
Why first-day claims succeed
Most first-day accidents trace back to a missing or inadequate induction. The risk assessment may exist but never been communicated; the safe system of work may be documented but never demonstrated; PPE may be available in a cupboard but never issued. Each is a clear regulatory breach.
Probation does not affect a claim
Your contractual probation period is irrelevant to a personal injury claim. The duty under HSWA 1974 and the six-pack regulations attaches from your first hour at work. Length of service is also irrelevant to a section 100 ERA 1996 unfair dismissal claim if you are dismissed for raising a safety concern.
Evidence you need
Your offer letter and start date confirmation; any induction paperwork (including the absence of any); the job description; the accident book entry; CCTV; and witness statements from colleagues. Where you were told to 'shadow' someone, the colleague's job description and competence become relevant.
How much is a first-day claim worth?
The same as any other claim — valuation depends on injury severity, not length of service. See our compensation amounts guide for the Judicial College brackets and our guide to accident-at-work compensation examples.
Can I claim if I had no contract yet signed?
Yes. Health and safety duties apply from the start of the working relationship, regardless of whether paperwork has been finalised.
What if I was still 'in training'?
Trainees are owed the same duty of care plus higher duties of supervision. The fact that you were under training strengthens the claim — the employer was on notice that close supervision was needed.
Am I covered if I was an apprentice?
Yes. Apprentices are employees with full health and safety protection under HSWA 1974.
Browse every plain-English guide in the work accident guides hub, or read the main guide to how a claim works.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every claim turns on its own facts. For advice about your specific situation, speak to a regulated solicitor. You can find one through the Find a Solicitor service (Law Society) or through APIL.