Manual handling claims

If you have suffered an injury at work, a manual handling claim could help you to secure compensation.

Manual handling is a term given to moving loads without using machinery. The term covers:

• Lifting
• Lowering
• Pushing
• Pulling
• Carrying

If these movements are not carried out correctly there is a risk of injury, including musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs can cause pain and injuries to:

• tissues in the limbs and back
• joint injuries
• repetitive strain injuries

Heavy manual labour, awkward postures and existing injuries are all risk factors in the development of MSDs. Your employer is legally responsible for implementing control measures to reduce the risk of manual handling injuries.

Our workplace injury team has represented many people after suffering injuries from manual handling. Get in touch with us as soon as possible to investigate a claim.

What are manual handling claims?

Manual handling claims can help you to secure compensation and support after suffering a manual handling injury at work.

Manual handling accidents cause more than a third of all work-related injuries and can lead to MSDs. This can put your daily life and ability to work under immense strain.

Manual handling can cause potentially long-term damage to existing medical conditions, muscles and areas such as a person’s:

• back
• neck
• arms
• legs
• feet

Manual handling injuries can occur if people are required to transport heavy or cumbersome items or have not received the proper training to move them safely.

Your employer’s responsibility

If you are asked to move equipment, loads or objects manually, your employer must take every precaution available to help you avoid injury. This includes providing the appropriate training and relevant equipment, and by avoiding hazardous manual handling wherever possible.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) makes a number of recommendations to avoid manual handling injuries in the workplace. These include:

• Reducing the amount of twisting, bending and reaching
• Avoiding lifting from the floor, or above shoulder height
• Adjusting storage areas to reduce the need for manual handling
• Reducing carrying distances
• Assessing the weight to be carried
• Considering using lifting aids such as forklift trucks

If lifting a heavy item cannot be avoided, employers should ensure that staff are trained in good handling techniques for lifting.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

This is the primary legislation protecting the health, safety and welfare of employees and the general public. Employers are responsible for performing a wide range of duties to provide a safe, competent and compliant working environment.

Employers must follow various health and safety regulations in the UK. The main set of regulations is often referred to as the Six Pack, which has supported the Health and Safety at Work Act since 1993. Whilst the Six Pack is no longer directly applicable as UK legislation, it is still used as an important yardstick of an employer’s negligence:

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations – providing further guidance on the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations – setting out clear measures to reduce the risk of manual handling injuries.
• Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Regulations – informing employers of how to safely use computer screens.
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations – covering safe working environments.
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations – ensuring equipment is suitable for work.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations – covering effective use of PPE.