I Stood On A Nail At Work – When Could You Claim Compensation?

I Stood On A Nail At Work - When Could You Claim Compensation

I Stood On A Nail At Work – When Could You Claim Compensation

Have you suffered an injury because you stood on a nail at work? Was the nail exposed because of unsafe workplace practices? The Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974 requires employers to apply a common duty of care and ensure (as far as reasonably practicable) that hazards are reduced or removed as much as possible in workplaces.

Failure to apply correct health and safety procedures could mean the employer is liable to compensate for any avoidable injuries caused to you. This guide explains what you need to start a claim for compensation after an accident caused by a nail at work through no fault of your own.

You can speak to our advisors right now when you :

Select A Section

  1. A Guide To Nail Injury At Work Claims
  2. What Injuries Could Standing On A Nail Cause?
  3. How To Treat Your Injuries
  4. What Should I Do If I Stood On A Nail At Work?
  5. What Could You Claim If You Stood On A Nail At Work?
  6. Talk To Us About Making No Win No Fee Claims

A Guide To Nail Injury At Work Claims

Workplace health and safety is something that employers must take very seriously. The Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974 is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the UK government agency responsible for governing health and safety in the workplace.

A breach of their lawful duty to apply certain measures for staff safety can result in an employer being liable to compensate you for injury. One example could be a failure to provide personal protective equipment (PPE). The legislation called the Personal Protective Equipment At Work Regulations 1992 clearly explains what is legally necessary for employers to do. Injury may also result from other negligence, such as a lack of training and supervision.

Other requirements may include:

  • Running a safe and fit-for-purpose workplace at all times
  • Conducting risk assessments to identify potential issues
  • Meeting with safety representatives and responding to employee concerns about safety
  • Providing adequate training and clear advice on health and safety.

Under Section 7 of the HASAWA, employees also have a duty to safeguard their health and well-being in the workplace as much as possible. But if you stood on a nail at work that should have been counter-sunk or more clearly indicated as a risk, you may have an eligible claim for accident at work damages for the injury caused. Our team are available to offer free immediate guidance on the number above.

What Injuries Could Standing On A Nail Cause?

If you stood on a nail at work, it can be possible to suffer a wide range of injuries. Nails come in varying lengths and thicknesses, but even the smallest masonry nail can cause significant damage when trodden on. Some examples include:

  • Puncturing the sole of the foot, causing tissue damage
  • Piercing the foot and causing nerve damage
  • Hitting a metatarsal bone in the foot
  • Stabbing the heel and becoming embedded in the foot
  • Other lacerations and tears.

What Are Tetanus Injuries?

Any of these injury types could then go on to cause tetanus or even septicemia, which has the potential to be life-threatening. Nerve damage can potentially cause permanent injury, impacting the way the person walks and their future mobility. These injuries can be complex and long-lasting. This may, in turn, impact their ability to work at their chosen occupation and create economic issues for them.

How To Treat Your Injuries

If you stood on a nail at work, there are some immediate steps that you can take to treat the injury. Please note that professional medical advice should always be sought after any type of injury that could result in an infection.

Getting medical care after an injury at work will not only ensure that you get the treatment and care needed to make a full recovery, but it will also mean that your injury and any subsequent treatment are documented in your medical records. Your medical records can then go on to be used as evidence should you have a valid personal injury claim.

What Should I Do If I Stood On A Nail At Work?

You can take practical steps to report injuries after standing on a nail at work. Also, to strengthen any intention, you may have to launch a claim for personal injury. These are actions that you can take yourself or with the assistance of a personal injury solicitor, such as:

At this point, you may wish to consider working with a personal injury solicitor to help. If so, please get in touch with our team. We can offer a free eligibility assessment and connect you with a lawyer to help.

What Could You Claim If You Stood On A Nail At Work?

With this in mind, a personal injury solicitor could help you calculate two potential compensation areas. Solicitors use a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines to see what general damage amounts could be awarded. These award bracket amounts are not guarantees, merely guideline figures, as the excerpt shows:

Area of InjuryAward BracketDescription
Amputation of One Foot (b) £83,960 to £109,650Similar to a below knee amputation
Foot - Very Severe (c) £83,960 to £109,650Permanent and severe pain and disability caused
Foot - Severe(d) £41,970 to £70,030


Severe injury that causes degloving and requires surgery
Foot - Serious(e) £24,990 to £39,200Continuous pain and a risk of future traumatic arthritis, prolonged treatment and risk of fusion surgery
Foot - Moderate (f) £13,740 to £24,990Displaced metatarsal, permanent deformity and continuing symptoms
Foot - Modest(g) Up to £13,740Puncture wounds, fractures and other issues that cause a permanent limp, pain or aching
Toe - Severe(c) £13,740 to 21,070


Bursting and crush wounds that cause severe damage and create permanent injury
Toe - Serious(d) £9,600 to £13,740


Pain, discomfort and sensitive scarring, stabbing pains and impaired gait
Toe - Moderate(e) Up to £9,600Straight-forward fractures.

These amounts aim to address the impact on quality of life and the consequences of the injury. A solicitor can arrange an assessment of the injuries for you.

As well as this, an amount can be calculated for financial loss. Special damages need documented proof of financial harm caused as a direct result of workplace negligence. This can be receipts, bills or statements that show how you needed to meet expenses created by the injury.

Our team offers guidance to ensure all eligible amounts are acknowledged.

Talk To Us About Making No Win No Fee Claims

Therefore, if you stood on a nail at work and suffered a foot injury due to negligence, a personal injury solicitor could help. At Advice, we can connect you with No Win No Fee solicitors offering to represent you under Conditional Fee Agreements.

The advantages of working this way include no upfront fees while the solicitors work on your behalf. Successful claims require a small amount to be deducted from the payout as a success fee for your solicitors. Furthermore, claims that are unsuccessful do not require a success fee at all. 

Learn how a No Win No Fee agreement could help you after you stood on a nail at work by:

Read More About Accidents At Work Claims

In conclusion, if you stood on a nail at work and want to make an accident at work claim, the resources below offer further general reading on the subject of claiming compensation: