Top 5 Risks of Lack of Maintenance at Work

• Lack of maintenance at work can cause serious injuries across UK workplaces, from faulty machinery to unsafe premises.
• Employers must carry out regular inspections, repairs, and servicing to prevent avoidable accidents and protect staff.
• Common injuries from poor maintenance include crush injuries, falls, electrical shocks, and manual handling harm.
• If you’re injured because your employer failed to maintain equipment or the workplace, you may be entitled to compensation.
• Report the accident, gather evidence, and speak to a personal injury lawyer under No Win No Fee.

About Our Legal Expert: This content is produced with oversight by Michael Jefferies, Managing Director who has more than 30 years’ legal experience.

Written by Tanya Waterworth, Digital Content Writer

When Poor Maintenance May Lead to Workplace Accidents

Maintenance of machinery and equipment at work is crucial in helping to keep employees safe in the workplace, so we take a look at the top 5 risks when it comes to a lack of maintenance at work. If an employer has not carried out essential maintenance, the chance of accidents escalates. So, if you’ve been injured in a workplace accident which involved a maintenance failure, you may be eligible to start a personal injury claim for compensation

1. Faulty Machinery and Equipment

Poorly maintained machinery is one of the biggest risks in industrial, manufacturing, and warehouse environments. Basically defective work equipment results when work equipment isn’t serviced or repaired, safety features don’t work properly and machinery is longer safe for use.

Real‑world example:

A maintenance worker was fatally injured while trying to repair an industrial overhead door at an advertising printing company in Cardiff. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out an investigation into the incident and their findings included the company had failed to maintain the electrically operated sectional overhead doors, despite two previous incidents.

As part of the victim personal statement as part of the HSE investigation, the worker’s wife described the impact of his death as “Every day when I wake up it is like a cloud hanging over me. Some days I cry without knowing I am going to”.

The HSE inspector Georgina Bennett described the accident as “This incident was entirely avoidable”.

What this shows: Regular maintenance is particularly important where equipment has already been involved in incidents. Previous problems may indicate that further checks or repairs are needed before the machinery is used again.

2. Missing or Damaged Safety Guards

Safety guards are vital for preventing contact with dangerous moving parts. Safety guards are a requirement under PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations). If an employer fails to maintain or replace guards, they may amount to a breach of their duty of care.

When guards are missing, loose, cracked, or poorly fitted, workers face a significantly higher risk of life‑changing injuries.

Real‑world example:

A baked goods manufacturer was fined over £300,000 after a worker suffered from multiple injuries when her arm got trapped in an unguarded conveyor machinery. The investigation which followed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the employer was cleaning a production line when she ‘put her hand through an unguarded conveyor roller’. Although the machine had been switched off, it started operating, pulling her arm into the roller.

The HSE found that the Kent based company had failed to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. Following the investigation, the HSE inspector said, “Too many workers are seriously injured every year as a result of contact with dangerous parts of machinery due to inadequate or absent guarding.”

What this shows: A damaged or missing guard can expose workers to dangerous moving parts. The case also highlights why employers need to act promptly when a safety feature is known to be defective.

3. Slips, Trips and Falls from Poor Premises Maintenance

Premises maintenance is just as important as machinery maintenance. When floors, stairways, lighting, and walkways are not properly maintained, slip and trip risks may end in injuries. If the hazard was known or should have been identified through proper maintenance, the employer may be found to be negligent.

Real‑world example:

Another Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation highlights the hazards of slippery floors. In what was described as a ‘wholly preventable’ accident, a kitchen worker slipped and fractured her skull on the slippery floor surface in a restaurant kitchen. While floor safety mats had been put down in some of the kitchen, for example near the dish washers, the HSE investigation found that the risk of slipping was ‘unacceptably high’ because the floor tiles and safety mats were not slip resistant. There had also been other slip incidents in the area.

The company had to replace the floor surface which was suitable for use in a kitchen.

What this shows: Workplace maintenance extends beyond machinery. Floors and other surfaces need to be suitable for the environment in which they are used, especially where workers may be exposed to slip hazards.

4.Electrical Hazards from Neglected Systems

Electrical systems require regular testing, PAT checks, and repairs. When employers cut corners, electrical faults can cause shocks, burns, fires, and explosions.

Real‑world example:

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) reported on another HSE investigation into the fatality of a worker involving a company’s electrical system which had ‘not been tested or visually inspected since installation’.

An employee of a warehouse management solutions company was carrying out pre-planned maintenance on an air compressor when he was electrocuted. He was not found for an hour. The subsequent HSE investigation found that poorly maintained electrical installations and faulty electrical appliances ‘can kill or severely injure people’.

What this shows: Electrical maintenance cannot be overlooked without potentially serious consequences. Regular inspection and testing can help identify faults before workers are exposed to dangerous electrical systems or equipment.

5. Vehicle and Plant Maintenance Failures

Workplace vehicles such as forklifts, diggers, vans, and agricultural machinery must be regularly inspected and serviced. Poor maintenance can lead to collisions, rollovers, and crush injuries. Such accidents may occur if an employer fails to follow proper servicing schedules or even ignore driver reports about faults.

Real‑world example:

A worker in Lerwick suffered severe injuries and had to be airlifted to hospital after being injured when a machine restarted while he was clearing a blockage, according to a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) media report. As he walked along a stationary conveyor, he triggered a sensor which restarted the machine. He suffered a fractured pelvis, 8 fractured ribs and fractured clavicle and scapula and two collapsed lungs.

The HSE investigation found that an interlocking safety gate had been damaged two years prior to the accident. Rather than using the gate which had become difficult to open, employees had taken to removing a panel to clear blockages. The HSE inspector, Matty Spiers said, “When that gate was damaged, it should have been repaired properly and its integrity restored immediately”.

What this shows:
This case demonstrates how a relatively long-standing defect can create a serious risk if it is not repaired. It also highlights the importance of taking reports of damaged safety equipment seriously rather than allowing workers to find alternative ways of carrying out a task.

When Could Poor Maintenance Amount to Employer Negligence?

Employers are required to adhere to strict health and safety regulations in England and Wales, including The Health and Safety Act 1974. Employer negligence may possibly apply if:

• The employer knew about a maintenance issue and had not fixed it.
• The hazard should have been identified through proper inspections.
• Equipment was not serviced according to legal or manufacturer requirements.
• Safety guards, PPE, or protective systems were missing or damaged.
• Staff reports about faults were ignored.
• The employer failed to follow UK workplace safety regulations.

Can You Claim Personal Injury Compensation for an Accident Due to Poor Maintenance at Work?

If your injury happened because your employer failed to maintain equipment, machinery, or the workplace, you may be entitled to claim personal injury compensation in England & Wales.

Employers are legally required to carry out regular inspections, servicing, and repairs to keep the working environment safe. So, if they’ve ignored risks, skipped maintenance schedules, or simply haven’t fixed known issues, they have breached their legal duty of care.

Compensation for lack‑of‑maintenance injuries generally covers two areas:

• General damages for the pain, suffering, and impact on your daily life
• Special damages for financial losses such as lost earnings, medical costs, travel expenses, and future losses if your injury affects your ability to work

You don’t need to prove that your employer intended to cause harm. You only need to be able to show that:

• A maintenance issue existed
• Your employer knew or should have known about it
• The hazard caused your accident and injury

What Evidence Could Show a Maintenance Failure?

A workplace maintenance claim might involve evidence such as:

• previous reports of faults;
• maintenance logs;
• inspection records;
• servicing schedules;
• repair requests;
• emails or messages reporting defects;
• accident book entries;
• photographs;
• CCTV footage;
• manufacturer’s maintenance instructions;
• risk assessments;
• witness statements.

Speak to a personal injury solicitor to find out if you may have a valid claim and request a No Win No Fee agreement, which means no upfront costs.

Get Started – Contact Our Team

If you’ve been injured at work which involved a maintenance failure, we partner with personal injury solicitors who are experienced in work injury claims. They offer a free, initial consultation to get started and will help you to gather the relevant evidence. They are also skilled at negotiation to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

Contact us today at 0333 358 3034 or complete our online contact form and we’ll call you right back.