The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 place specific duties on both employers and employees.
As an employee you must follow appropriate systems of work laid down for your own safety. If there is a system of lifting with a partner then you should not try and undertake to lift the items yourself. If nobody else is available to assist, you should wait until they are available.
You are also under a duty to make proper use of equipment provided for your safety. If there is a system of lifting using a hoist, you should not try and lift the object manually. If there are lifting aids available, they should be used, even it means that the job will take longer.
You must also co-operate with your employer on health and safety matters.
Whilst attending to your duties and you come across a situation where you have to lift something in an unsafe manner you must let your employer know. You must inform your employer if you identify any hazardous lifting activities.
Whilst engaging in lifting activities you must take care to ensure that your activities do not put others at risk.
If you do not comply with these duties and you have an accident, then it may mean that you will receive a lot less compensation or even no compensation at all. A court could find that you are partly or even worse, wholly to blame for your accident.