Head injuries at work range from a bump or cut, through concussion, to traumatic brain injury with lifelong effects — and eye injuries from debris, chemicals or welding can be just as life-changing. Symptoms of a head injury are not always obvious at first, so getting checked promptly protects both your health and your claim.
Common Causes
- Falls from height — the leading cause of fatal head injury in construction
- Falling objects from racking, scaffolding or overhead work
- Machinery strikes and low fixtures or overhead obstructions
- Vehicle and forklift collisions
- Slips on industrial floors
- No hard hats provided, or their use not enforced
Employers’ duties come from the Work at Height Regulations 2005, PUWER 1998, and the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, which have covered head protection on construction sites since 2013. If you were not wearing a hard hat, you may still claim: where your employer failed to provide one, enforce its use or train you, most of the liability stays with them, although your award may be reduced for contributory negligence.
Symptoms to Watch For
Some symptoms develop or worsen hours or days later, and serious complications such as bleeding inside the skull need monitoring. Seek medical advice after any knock to the head at work, even if you feel fine, and watch for:
- A headache that persists or gets worse
- Confusion, poor concentration, or memory gaps — including about the accident
- Nausea, vomiting, dizziness or balance problems
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Mood changes, irritability or unusual drowsiness
- Any loss of consciousness, however brief
You do not need to have lost consciousness for a head injury to be compensable, and symptoms that appear later do not prevent a claim if the link to the accident can be shown. Make sure the accident is in the accident book, note what struck you, collect witness details, and keep a note of symptoms as they develop.
Head Injury Compensation
The Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, April 2026) set seven brackets for brain and head injuries:
- Minor head injury (little or no brain damage): £2,920 – £16,870
- Less severe brain damage (good recovery, but lasting problems with concentration, memory or mood): £20,240 – £56,890
- Moderate brain damage (three brackets, from reduced ability to work to no prospect of work): £56,890 – £289,420
- Moderately severe brain damage (substantial dependence on others): £289,420 – £372,570
- Very severe brain damage (full-time nursing care): £372,570 – £533,720
In moderate and severe cases the special damages often far exceed the general damages: lifetime loss of earnings, care and case management, neuro-rehabilitation, aids and equipment, adapted accommodation, and Court of Protection costs where the injured person lacks capacity. These claims often take several years because the prognosis has to stabilise, but interim payments can be requested in the meantime.
Eye Injuries
Eye injuries at work usually come from flying debris, chemical splashes, and welding. The most common failures are no suitable eye protection, inadequate machine guarding, weak COSHH controls on hazardous substances, and unsafe welding practices. Injuries range from foreign-body scratches and lacerations to chemical burns, welder’s flash (arc eye) and permanent loss of sight. Where standard safety glasses cannot be worn over your own spectacles, your employer must provide a suitable alternative. Even if your vision recovered fully, you can claim for the period of suffering and any losses during recovery. An injury likely to cause permanent loss of sight must be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR.
Evidence That Helps
- Accident book entry and any RIDDOR report
- Ambulance, A&E and GP records
- CT or MRI scans, and neurology or neuropsychology reports (almost always needed in moderate to severe cases)
- Ophthalmology reports for eye injuries
- Witness statements — especially if you cannot remember the accident
- Photographs of the scene and equipment, and what PPE was or wasn’t provided
Frequently Asked Questions
I felt fine straight after my accident but developed symptoms later — can I still claim?
Yes. Delayed symptoms are a recognised pattern with head injuries and don't prevent a claim, provided the connection to your workplace accident can be evidenced. Seek medical advice as soon as symptoms appear.
Do I need to have lost consciousness for my head injury to count?
No. Concussion and other head injuries can happen without any loss of consciousness and are still a genuine, compensable injury.
Can I claim if I recovered physically but still have memory problems?
Yes. Cognitive problems — memory, concentration, mood, sleep — are recognised in the award even where physical recovery has been good. A neuropsychologist can assess and document them.
What if I was not wearing a hard hat?
You may still claim. If your employer failed to provide one, enforce its use or train you, most of the liability remains with them, though your award may be reduced for contributory negligence.
Does my employer have to provide prescription safety glasses?
Where standard eye protection will not work over normal spectacles, employers must provide a suitable alternative.
What if my vision recovered fully after an eye injury?
You can still claim for the period of suffering and any losses incurred during recovery.
Primary legal and safety sources
This guide is checked against official sources. The applicable law and limitation rules depend on where in the UK the accident happened.