The legal duties
Three sets of regulations matter most. PUWER 1998 (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) requires machinery to be suitable, maintained, and properly guarded. The PPE at Work Regulations 1992 require employers to supply gloves where there is a residual risk of cuts, abrasion, burns or chemical contact. Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 underpins both, requiring a safe system of work.
How much is a hand injury claim worth?
Under the Judicial College Guidelines 17th edition: minor hand or finger injury £1,070 – £4,840; moderate hand injury £5,720 – £13,280; serious hand injury £29,000 – £61,910; severe fractures with reduced function £29,000 – £61,910; serious hand injury reducing capacity by 50%+ £61,910 – £132,040; total or effective loss of one hand £96,160 – £109,650; loss of both hands £140,660 – £201,490, rising to £262,260 in the most catastrophic cases.
Special damages
Hand injuries often have an outsized loss of earnings impact for skilled trades — bricklayers, electricians, surgeons, musicians. The schedule of loss should capture not just current earnings but the loss of trade skills, retraining costs, and any reduction in residual earning capacity (a Smith v Manchester award).
Common defences and rebuttals
Employers often allege the worker removed a guard or ignored a PPE rule. The case law is clear that an employer must monitor, supervise, and enforce — issuing PPE once at induction is not enough. A culture of non-use that the employer tolerated is treated as a system failure.
Evidence checklist
Photograph the hand and the equipment. Get the machine's CE/UKCA conformity documentation, maintenance log, and PUWER risk assessment. Obtain the PPE issue record. Ensure RIDDOR reporting for any amputation, crush injury, or fracture beyond a finger or thumb.
Can I claim if I lost only the tip of a finger?
Yes. Even partial finger amputation falls within the JCG brackets and may justify a serious claim depending on dominance, function loss, and impact on work.
Do I have to keep the same job to claim future loss?
No. The court compares your earning capacity before and after the injury. Loss of dominant hand function in a manual trade can produce six-figure future-loss awards.
What if I wasn't wearing my gloves?
Failure to wear gloves is not a complete defence. The court will ask whether the employer enforced PPE use, monitored compliance, and provided gloves suited to the task.
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.