There are a few practical steps to get a workplace injury claim underway. Report the accident to your employer and make sure it is entered into the accident book, write the entry yourself if you can, so it records what actually happened rather than someone else's version. See a doctor, even if the injury does not initially seem very serious. Keep photographs of the scene, take down witness names and contact details, and hold on to receipts for any expenses related to the injury.

You have a legal time limit and that is three years from the date of the accident to begin court proceedings. Under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, getting advice early can make a real difference to the strength of your case.

Your employer has a duty of care to provide a safe working environment, suitable training, properly maintained equipment, and thorough risk assessments. If they breach that duty and you are injured as a consequence, the law says you may have grounds for an accidents at work claim. 

We handle all workplace injury claims on a no win no fee basis.

Types of workplace injuries

The Health and Safety Executive's Labour Force Survey recorded 693,000 workplace injuries in 2019/2021. In the same period, RIDDOR figures show 142 people died as a result of accidents at work.

Those figures are stark, but they only tell part of the story. Behind each statistic is a person dealing with pain, lost income, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. If you or a family member have been injured at work, our injury lawyers can advise you on whether you are entitled to compensation, explain how a claim works, and give you an honest assessment of what you might receive based on the severity of your injury.

Burns and scald injuries

Burns and scalds occur in kitchens, factories, construction sites, and chemical handling environments, anywhere workers are exposed to flames, hot liquids, chemicals, electrical currents, or extreme cold. The effects are not always immediately apparent; what looks like a surface-level burn can lead to scarring, disfigurement, or the need for skin grafts months later.

A compensation claim for burns or scalds can cover your medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. PPE and proper training are supposed to prevent these accidents, and where your employer has failed to provide them, the responsibility sits with them.

Crush Injuries at Work

Crush injuries are among the most serious outcomes of a workplace accident. They occur when a worker becomes trapped between heavy objects such as machinery, vehicles, or collapsing structures, with consequences ranging from fractures and internal organ damage through to paralysis or amputation.

Construction, manufacturing, and transport are the industries where crush injuries appear most often, frequently involving heavy machinery. Compensation for these injuries typically covers surgery, long-term rehabilitation, ongoing care, and lost income. The amounts involved can be substantial, reflecting the scale of the impact on someone's life.

Cutting or Severing Injuries

Anyone working with machinery or sharp tools faces some degree of risk from cutting or severing injuries. Construction, agriculture, and manufacturing are the sectors where saws, knives, and metal shears cause the most harm, and these injuries range from minor lacerations to full amputations.

In serious cases, surgery, prosthetics, and months of rehabilitation may be required. If the equipment was not properly maintained or you were not given adequate training, you may be entitled to compensation for your treatment, your recovery, and the wages you have lost.

Electrical Injuries at Work

An electric shock at work can happen to anyone, whether you are working on a high-voltage power line or plugging in faulty office equipment. The shock disrupts your body's internal signals and can result in heart problems, muscle spasms, burns, and in the worst cases, death. Electrical burns can require surgery or months of hospital treatment.

Electrical injuries are most common in construction, forestry, and farming. Faulty equipment and unsafe working conditions are the usual causes, and they frequently lead to significant compensation claims.

Needlestick injuries

A needlestick injury, that is, being pricked by a syringe, scalpel, or piece of broken glass, carries risks well beyond the wound itself. Contamination with hepatitis or HIV is the real concern, and workers in healthcare, waste management, and laboratory settings face the greatest exposure.

The danger is not limited to hospitals, however. Sharp hazards can arise in manufacturing, fishing, and woodworking environments. If inadequate safety measures led to a needlestick injury, you could be eligible for compensation covering your medical costs and related damages.

High-pressure fluid injection injuries

These injuries occur when hydraulic fluid, grease, or paint pierces the skin at high speed from equipment like grease guns or pressure washers. The wound at the surface may appear minor but beneath it the damage spreads rapidly, destroying tissue and occasionally leading to amputation. Workers in construction, vehicle repair, and manufacturing are most at risk.

Asphyxiation and drowning at work

Asphyxiation in the workplace is uncommon, but when it happens the consequences can be fatal. Oxygen deprivation caused by dangerous gases in confined spaces, or low oxygen levels in silos, mines, and slurry pits, can result in brain damage or death within minutes. Farmworkers and those in agriculture, mining, and water treatment face the highest exposure.

Drowning at work is a serious risk in fishing, farming, and maritime industries. Even shallow water can prove lethal when hypothermia sets in. If your employer's negligence contributed to either type of incident, you may be entitled to compensation.

Frequently asked questions