We've been featured in:

  • bbc logo
  • daily mail logo
  • itv logo
  • skynews logo

Inadequate Training At Work – Am I Eligible To Claim?

Last Updated 08/07/2025

‘I was injured as a result of inadequate training at work – am I able to claim compensation?’ – If you’re thinking about this frequently asked question, then this guide could help you.

While you would expect to be given training to help you do your job safely, if it isn’t delivered or delivered properly, and you are still not sure of how to work safely, this could lead to you suffering injuries at work.

This guide offers a wealth of information about making an inadequate training at work injury claim. In the sections below, we look at the sort of training your employer should offer you and what responsibilities they have towards your safety and health at work.

We also look at the accidents that a lack of training or inadequate training in the workplace could lead to, and how much compensation could be paid for specific injuries you could suffer. In addition to this, we show you how Legal Expert could help you get the compensation you deserve if you’ve been injured at work due to a lack of training.

If you are ready to begin a claim right away or you would like to ask us anything about claiming, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team by:

An employee holds their back after being injured due to inadequate training at work

Select A Section

A Guide To Claims For Inadequate Training At Work Causing Injury

This guide has been created to answer the question, ‘I was hurt due to inadequate training at work – am I eligible to claim?’

In the sections below, we provide some insight into an employer’s responsibilities towards you, what kind of training could be useful, and how compensation can be calculated. We also discuss the benefits of using a solicitor to help you make a claim.

Can You Sue For Improper Training?

To claim compensation for a workplace accident, you would have to prove that:

  1. Your employer had a duty of care to look after your health and safety
  2. They were in breach of their duty
  3. You suffered injury because of their breach

There are many different ways your employer could breach a duty of care towards you. One of these could be if there was an identified need for you to receive training. Therefore, if you were injured at work due to a lack of training, you could make a claim for compensation.

What Is An Inadequate Training At Work Accident?

If you are injured at work due to a lack of training, you could make a claim for compensation against your employer if they have failed to give you the training you need to perform workplace tasks safely.

You could also claim against them if they have not given you basic induction training on how to move around the workplace safely, or what to do in the case of an emergency at work. This is because they have a legal duty to look after your health and safety while you are at work.

Inadequate training in the workplace could lead to a variety of accidents and injuries, including:

  • Falls from height
  • Manual handling injuries
  • Musculoskeletal injuries
  • Burns
  • Exposure to chemicals

In the sections below, we discuss why your employer should train you, what their legal responsibilities are and how you could take action against them if you’ve been injured at work due to a lack of training.

Health And Safety In The Workplace

Employers are required by law to take all reasonable actions to protect the safety, wellbeing, and health of staff at work. This requirement is set by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and can include the following steps:

  • Appoint someone competent to manage health and safety
  • Prepare a health and safety policy
  • Risk assess the workplace, workers and job roles
  • Consult workers on health and safety
  • Provide information and training
  • Have the correct workplace facilities
  • Have employers’ liability insurance
  • Report accidents and injuries in the workplace where it is their responsibility to do so

If your employer fails in their responsibilities towards you, and you are injured at work due to a lack of training, risk assessments, or PPE where it was required, for example, you may be able to claim compensation.

How Employers Could Provide Proper Workplace Training?

It is a legal requirement for employers to conduct workplace risk assessments and to act on their findings. Sometimes the findings of a risk assessment lead to an identified need for training. If this is the case, employers have a legal responsibility to provide employees with the necessary training to safely perform their work without risking harm to themselves or other people.

Training might involve:

  • How to operate workplace equipment and machinery properly
  • How to lift, carry, or move loads safely
  • How to use electrical equipment properly
  • How to use protective equipment
  • What to do if there is a workplace fire
  • What to do in a workplace emergency

It is also vital for risk assessments to be conducted regularly and for any new or updated needs to be addressed. Refresher training may also be required to remind workers of safe working practices.

Types Of Accidents And Injuries Caused By Inadequate Training

Below, we provide information on specific risks to certain types of workers, but there are some common ways that people could be injured at work due to a lack of training. For example:

  • Lack of induction training – Lack of training in a new job as to health and safety in a new workplace could lead to a new starter being injured. Whether they suffer injuries due to not being able to operate fire doors in an emergency, or are injured because they are not told to use a specific walkway in a warehouse, they may be able to claim compensation if it can be proven that they had not received adequate induction training.
  • Lack of manual handling training – Many people move loads as part of their job. While you may not realise it, manual handling could form part of your role if you have to lift photocopier paper, take in parcels and perform other menial tasks. If you are not given adequate manual handling training, this could lead to a raft of musculoskeletal injuries.
  • Lack of work at height training – Working at height is common in a few industries. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers to provide staff with some form of training for all work at height activities. This can range from showing them how to use ladders to more formal training for more complex or longer-term tasks.
  • Lack of PPE training – In cases where personal protective equipment is required to do a job safely, it is important that there is adequate training in how to use the equipment properly. A lack of training on how to use PPE could render it useless, leading to injuries ranging from burns to electric shocks.

Job Roles Which Have A Higher Risk Of Injury If Adequately Trained

A lack of training in the workplace could lead to an injury in a variety of roles, but there are some that come with a higher risk of injury than others. These could include:

  • Electricians – Could be in danger of shocks/burns if they are not trained properly to handle electrical equipment
  • Warehouse/factory workers – Can be at risk of lifting/manual handling injuries due to inadequate training in the workplace, or injuries relating to equipment/machinery
  • Construction workers – May be injured at work due to a lack of training in working safely at height/handling
  • Kitchen workers – Risk of burns, electric shocks and lacerations if they receive inadequate training in the workplace
  • Mechanics – Might suffer musculoskeletal injuries from working in uncomfortable positions without breaks, or using certain tools incorrectly
  • Shipping workers – May sustain manual handling injuries from improper use of lifting equipment
  • Refuse workers – Could be injured at work due to a lack of training in manual handling/hoisting procedures
  • Lab workers – Inadequate training in the workplace may lead to unsafe exposure to chemicals

These are just a few examples, so please reach out to our advisory team to discuss your own situation.

What Is The Time Limit For Inadequate Training At Work Claims?

The time limit for starting inadequate training at work claims is typically 3 years. This period generally commences on the date you sustained your workplace injury, as outlined by the Limitation Act 1980.

However, to ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to start the claims process, there are some circumstances when it may not be in place. For example, the time limit may be paused if:

  • The claimant is a minor. In such claims, the time limit for pursuing inadequate training compensation begins when the claimant turns 18 and ends on their 21st birthday.
  • The claimant does not have sufficient mental capacity. Under such circumstances, the time limit is indefinitely paused for as long as they cannot manage their own affairs. If their mental capacity returns, then the standard 3 years apply from the date of recovery.

If the time limit is paused, a litigation friend may begin the process of pursuing compensation on behalf of the claimant. In doing so, it is their responsibility to handle various duties related to the inadequate training claim:

  • Make decisions on behalf of the claimant 
  • Sign legal documents for the claimant 
  • Consult with the solicitor working on the claim
  • Keep the claimant informed about the case as much as possible

If you have any questions regarding the claims time limit or about who can become a litigation friend, please contact our friendly advisors for assistance. They can also provide you with tailored guidance concerning questions like, ‘Can you sue an employer for lack of training?’

How To Prove That You Were Not Provided With The Correct Workplace Training

In order to prove you were injured at work due to a lack of training or inadequate training, you would need to demonstrate that there was a risk of injury to you without the relevant training you received, and your employer breached their duty of care towards you by either not risk assessing your job, or by not acting on the finding of a risk assessment by providing you with relevant training.

This can be challenging, which is why many claimants turn to a personal injury solicitor for assistance with such claims. They can help build a case against your employer if you:

  • Did not receive basic induction training
  • Did not receive basic safety training vital to your role
  • Were not trained in how to use PPE properly
  • Were not shown how to operate the safety features of machinery you used as part of your job

While in some cases, your lawyer may be able to request evidence of records to demonstrate the workplace training you received, they may also examine industry health and safety requirements and the basic health and safety responsibilities your employer had towards you. If they had breached their duty of care due to a lack of training at work, and you were injured as a result, your solicitor could fight for compensation on your behalf.

Inadequate Training At Work Injury Claim Calculator

We have provided a table detailing some of the brackets published by the Judicial College Guidelines. Our solicitors often use this document to assess the potential value of injuries (covered under general damages) because it compiles suggested compensation brackets for many types of harm.

Please use this table as guidance only, and note that the top figure was not sourced from the JCG.

Injury SustainedCompensation
Multiple Very Severe Injuries and Financial Losses (e.g. Care Costs)Up to £1 million plus
Very Severe Brain Damage£344,150 to £493,000
Paraplegia£267,340 to £346,890
Total BlindnessIn the Region of £327,940
Severe (i) Neck InjuriesIn the Region of £181,020
Total Deafness£110,750 to £133,810
Burns Covering 40% of the Body or MoreLikely to Exceed £127,930
Severe Foot Injuries£51,220 to £85,460
Severe (iii) Serious Leg Injuries£47,840 to £66,920
Less Severe Arm Injury£23,430 to £47,810

If you’ve been injured at work due to a lack of training and suffered an injury that isn’t in this table, please call us. We’re here to listen and assess your specific circumstances.

Special Workplace Injury Damages

Workplace claims can also compensate you for the expenses you’ve suffered as a direct result of your injuries. These expenses can be claimed for as special damages and can include costs related to:

  • Care – Some injuries may require care at home, which may include assistance with tasks such as washing, dressing, or feeding.
  • Medical – You may require medicines, counselling or physiotherapy.
  • Travel – You may have to pay to travel to medical appointments or to visit your lawyer’s offices.
  • Income – You may have sustained a drop in income if you cannot work due to your injuries.

You would be required to submit evidence of such incurred expenses in order to claim for them. It would, therefore, be wise to keep all relevant documents, such as payslips and bank statements.

How To Claim For A Work Injury Due To Lack Of Training

Whether you are intending to make an inadequate training at work injury claim or not, it would be wise to take the following steps to ensure that your accident is reported properly, and you receive all the support you need.

  • Report the accident via the proper channels. While in some cases, the first aider on the scene would fill in the accident book at work, in other cases you should report your workplace accident to your employer yourself. This may mean reporting it to your manager or the person responsible for health and safety in your workplace. If there is no accident book, then you could write a letter or send an e-mail to your employer with details of the accident.
  • Get medical attention – if your injuries seem minor at first, it may still be a good idea to seek medical advice. Not only could this ensure you do all the right things to aid your recovery, but it could also serve as a record that you’ve been injured.
  • Gather evidence – whether you take photos of the scene or your injuries, or you obtain contact details of witnesses so they could be approached to provide a statement later on, any evidence you could gather could help you if you intend on making a claim.
  • Get legal advice – we could provide advice and guidance for free; including advising you on any action you could take if you’ve been injured at work due to a lack of training.

No Win No Fee Inadequate Training At Work Injury Claims

If you’re looking to make a claim for being injured at work due to a lack of training, you may wish to benefit from having a personal injury solicitor to help you. Here at Legal Expert, we’d be delighted to help you get the legal assistance you’re looking for, without asking you to pay any upfront fees.

All Legal Expert lawyers work under No Win No Fee terms, which means you’d only pay them a pre-agreed success fee if they achieved a compensation payout for you. You’d only pay this once the compensation payout had been made, as the success fee will be taken from your payout.

To begin a No Win No Fee claim, your lawyer would send you a Conditional Fee Agreement, which you’d need to sign and send back to them. This agreement would detail the level of success fee you’d pay once your compensation settlement had been agreed. This fee is legally capped, and only represents a small proportion of your payout, so you would not have to fear that there’d be no compensation left once the fee had been taken.

One of the biggest benefits of making a claim under No Win No Fee terms is that your lawyer would not take any money from you in legal fees or costs that they’d incurred if your case doesn’t result in compensation.

If you’d like to make a claim under No Win No Fee terms, why not call our team? We’d be happy to provide you with a solicitor who could help you get the compensation you deserve.

Start Your Claim

If the answer to your question, ‘I was injured due to inadequate training at work – am I eligible to claim?’ is yes, then you may be wondering what to do next. Or, you may still be in a position where you’re unsure of your eligibility.

Whatever you need help with, we’d be delighted to assist. We could check whether you could be eligible to claim compensation if you’re injured at work due to a lack of training, and connect you to one of our personal injury solicitors.

You can reach us by:

Essential Work Injury Claim References

Continue reading with these work injury claim references:

Some helpful external resources:

Thank you for taking the time to read this article on claiming for an injury caused by inadequate training at work.

Guide by Jeffries

Edited by Billing