Manual Handling Injuries

Low back pain is an extremely common complaint in our society today with up to 80% of the population suffering some form of lower back pain in their lifetime. A high percentage of these complaints are caused by lifting something incorrectly, repetitively or underestimating its weight.

Many of us may have heard of the ‘correct way’ to lift and will endeavour to do so when we are working at home or in the garden.  If you are unsure see our top 10 tips for preventing lifting injury.

However, the majority of lifting injuries occur in the workplace and while you are in your workplace your employer is responsible for your overall health and safety.

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 place specific duties on both employers and employees. The Regulations require employers to avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable.

They also require employers to assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that can't be avoided.

Undertaking a risk assessment, removing unnecessary lifting and giving training will usually mean an employer has met their statutory duty and fulfilled their obligations to an employee.

In reality however and under the time pressures of the modern workplace, an employee may be asked to do a manual job ‘in the quickest way possible’ or by a certain time.  In times like this the health and safety rulebook is often thrown out the window as business finance becomes the sole focus and workers dare not disobey.

This is when accidents happen.

If you injure yourself at work you may be entitled to compensation even if you have been given manual handling or other training.  This will only apply if you were told to do a job in an unsafe manner or given an unrealistic timescale.  The advice in these circumstances would be to always put your own health first; but in practice, and in an effort to keep your job safe, this is not always possible.

If you have been injured at work contact our specialist lawyers on 0800 0891331 and we will help you claim maximum compensation.  Our advice is free and we will pursue your compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis.

Compensation Claim Form