Inadequate PPE Claims

If your employer failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and you suffered an injury or illness, you may be entitled to claim compensation. An inadequate PPE claim can be made by any worker who did not receive the correct equipment to keep them reasonably safe from harm.

A specialist PPE claim solicitor can help you seek compensation for your pain, suffering and related financial expenses resulting from your injury, on a no win no fee basis.

Call 0800 470 0474 for a free case assessment, where an experienced legal adviser will discuss the circumstances of your accident and advise you on your legal right to compensation. Alternatively, use our online claim form to request a call back.

Table of Contents

• What is personal protective equipment (PPE)?
• Am I eligible to make a personal injury claim for inadequate PPE?
• Who is responsible for providing PPE?
• What is the time limit to make a defective PPE claim?
• How much compensation for inadequate PPE claims?
• What is the process for making an inadequate PPE claim?
• Can I make a No Win No Fee PPE injury claim?
• What evidence do I need to make a PPE compensation claim?
• What accidents could inadequate personal protective equipment cause?
• Injuries resulting from insufficient or defective PPE
• Fatal work accidents caused by inadequate PPE
• How long will my PPE claim take?
• Will I have to go to court to make a claim?

What is personal protective equipment (PPE)?

PPE is defined by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 as all items of clothing and equipment designed to be held or worn while at work to help protect the user from health and safety risks. Some of the most common examples of PPE include:

• Safety helmets and hard hats
• Goggles, visors and face shields
• Safety boots
• Protective suits and overalls
• High visibility jackets
• Protective gloves
• Dust masks and respirators
• Hearing protection
• Safety harnesses
• Elbow and knee pads
• Life jackets

Personal protective equipment is necessary under many working conditions that pose a potential risk of injury. These could include the following:

• Dusty environments or processes.
• A risk of falling objects or flying debris.
• When working with hazardous substances.
• Where coming into contact with vapours or gases.
• Poor visibility environments.
• When working at a height.
• When employees work in extreme temperatures.
• When using power tools such as drills, chainsaws and angle grinders.

PPE is used for many different job roles and across many industries. In particular, you are likely to see the use of various protective equipment on building sites, factories, warehouses and laboratories.

Am I eligible to make a personal injury claim for inadequate PPE?

Yes. If you had an accident at work due to inadequate personal protective equipment, you may be eligible to pursue a claim. Before taking on your case, a personal injury solicitor will ask you a few questions to determine whether:

• Another party, such as your employer or a product manufacturer, owed you a duty of care.
• They breached their duty by acting negligently.
• You’ve been injured at work due to a lack of adequate PPE as a direct result.

If these are established, your solicitor will help you start the PPE claims process and will offer you empathetic support and advice every step of the way.

Who is responsible for providing PPE?

It is the duty of your employer to provide you with suitable PPE if risk assessments indicate that there is a need to protect your health and safety from potential hazards. This duty arises from several key laws:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
• The Work at Height Regulations 2005.

However, before resorting to PPE, an employer should first and foremost take all reasonable steps to remove or minimise these risks. If PPE is deemed necessary to carry out tasks safely and effectively, your employer must:

• Provide appropriate PPE at no cost to you.
• Ensure PPE is suitable and fits you correctly.
• Make sure the provided PPE offers adequate protection against the risks present.
• If more than one item of PPE needs to be used at the same time, make sure they are compatible.
• Provide training and instruction on how and when PPE should be used, including any limitations.
• Keep PPE in good condition to prevent damage that could reduce its effectiveness.

Health and safety laws place strict requirements on employers. However, employees must also share responsibility for their safety by ensuring they follow instructions, use PPE correctly, and report any defects to their employer.

For further information and advice on the use of PPE at work and the duties of employers, please consult the handy guide produced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

What is the time limit to make a defective PPE claim?

Generally, you have 3 years to start a claim if you have suffered an injury due to inadequate PPE at work. Under the Limitation Act 1980, the time limit will begin from the date of your accident or the date of knowledge of a condition caused by the lack of suitable PPE.

If the claimant is mentally incapacitated because of a severe brain injury or a pre-existing condition, the limitation period is suspended. The three years will begin to run if they recover and no claim has been made on their behalf in the meantime.

How much compensation for inadequate PPE claims?

The amount of compensation you could claim for inadequate PPE will depend on the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life. Your settlement will be based on two types of damages:

• Special damages are awarded for the specific financial losses incurred due to the inadequate PPE accident, such as lost earnings during recovery, treatment and care costs.
• General damages are awarded for intangible losses, including physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life.

According to our online compensation calculator, which is based on the latest figures from the Judicial College guidelines, you could receive the following awards for general damages:

What is the process for making an inadequate PPE claim?

If you want to make a PPE injury claim, the process begins with a free consultation with a personal injury solicitor. You can request this with no obligation to proceed by calling 0800 470 0474 or using our simple claim form to ask for a call back.

If you can proceed, your solicitor will guide you through the next steps of the claims process, which are:

• Gather evidence. After assessing liability, your injury lawyer will help you gather all the evidence you need to make a successful claim, such as medical records and witness statements.
• Submit your claim. Once they have all the details, your lawyer will send a letter of claim to the defendant informing them of the lack of PPE compensation you seek from them.
• Negotiations. If your employer and their insurer admit liability, you can start to negotiate your settlement.
• Court proceedings. If liability is denied or you cannot settle, your solicitor will be ready to take your case to court.
• Compensation. If you win the PPE claim against your employer, you will receive your compensation, typically as a lump sum payment.

Can I make a No Win No Fee PPE injury claim?

Yes. If you have a valid PPE claim for compensation, the solicitors we work with at InjuryClaims.co.uk will usually provide you with a no win no fee* service. This means you only pay a fee if your claim is successful.

It also enables you to get your claim underway without worrying about paying any upfront costs. You only pay a success fee of up to 25% of your settlement if and after you receive compensation.

What evidence do I need to make a PPE compensation claim?

Your solicitor will need as much evidence as possible to help you make a successful PPE compensation claim, which could include:

• Photographs of the accident scene and the faulty PPE.
• Any videos or CCTV footage that shows how the accident occurred.
• Medical records documenting your injuries and treatment.
• A specialist medical report confirming your injuries and long-term care needs.
• A copy of an accident report filed with your employer.
• Statements from witnesses or co-workers.
• Proof of all the losses you incurred, such as receipts, invoices and payslips.

If your claim goes to court, a judge will look at the available evidence and decide whether your employer was negligent and what compensation they should pay you for the inadequate PPE injury.

What accidents could inadequate personal protective equipment cause?

Inadequate personal protective equipment at work can lead to various accidents that may cause severe and even life-threatening injuries. These include:

• Slips, trips and falls – could be prevented with non-slip mats or slip-resistant shoes.
• Falls from heights– could be mitigated by using fall protection equipment, like harnesses and safety ropes.
• Exposure to hazardous substances – risks can be reduced by providing proper respiratory protection, gloves, and protective clothing.
• Electric shocks – can be prevented with insulated gloves and arc flash clothing.
• Crushes and impact trauma – could be mitigated by providing helmets or reinforced clothing.
• Exposure to unsafe noise levels – risks can be significantly reduced with adequate hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs.

Injuries resulting from insufficient or defective PPE

A lack of personal protective equipment can cause a wide range of injuries, some of which can be life-changing. These include, but are not limited to:

• Laceration injuries due to a lack of cut-resistant gloves.
• Burn and scald injuries due to a lack of heat-resistant gloves or clothing.
• Hearing loss from lack of hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs.
• Eye injuries due to inadequate safety glasses or goggles.
• Back injuries from falls where suitable fall protection was not provided.
• Head injuries due to a lack of helmets or hard hats.
• Respiratory diseases due to a lack of masks and respirators.
• Foot injuries due to a lack of steel-toe capped boots.

If you make a PPE claim, the type and severity of the injuries you suffered will play an essential role in determining how much compensation you may be entitled to claim.

Fatal work accidents caused by inadequate PPE

If you lost a loved one due to inadequate or defective PPE, such as a faulty harness or helmet, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. A fatal accident claim will cover:

• The financial benefits expected from them, which may include lost wages, bonuses, pensions, healthcare benefits and other sources of income.
• The services they can no longer provide, such as childcare, household chores, gardening and property maintenance.
• Reasonable funeral expenses that you paid for, like the headstone, embalming of the body or the cost of a memorial.
• You may also be able to claim a statutory bereavement award.

How long will my PPE claim take?

There is no single answer to how long your claim may take, but accident at work claims are typically settled within 6-12 months. The timeframe will depend on various factors, such as the severity of your injuries, any long-term disabilities and whether the defendant admits liability.

Read more: How long does a personal injury claim take?

Will I have to go to court to make a claim?

It is unlikely that your accident claim will end up in court. Settling out of court brings several advantages to both parties, which include fewer legal fees, a quicker resolution and less stress.

Read more: How many personal injury cases go to court?

If you would like to find out whether you are eligible to make a claim, please request a call back today or call 0800 470 0474. You will receive a free case review and legal advice from a specialist PPE lawyer with no obligation to proceed further.

Last edited on 23rd Apr 2026

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.