Manual Handling Claims

Manual handling accidents and the resulting injuries are often caused by problems with your:

• Load: Injuries can be caused if loads are too heavy, too big, if an item is difficult to grasp, or if the load is unbalanced/unstable or difficult to reach.
• Task: When a task is too strenuous or involves lifting a load in an awkward posture, you should be advised against doing this work.
• Environment: Accidents are more likely if the surrounding area has slippery/unstable flooring, if you don’t have enough space, if conditions are too hot or too cold and if there isn’t a reasonable amount of light.
• Individual circumstances: If you don’t feel that you have adequate experience, training or good enough health to carry out a task, you should inform your employer so they can provide training, modify the task or allocate it to someone else.

Injuries caused by manual handling are classed as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), a term used to describe any injury, damage or disorder that causes harm to the joints or the tissue in your limbs or back.

MSDs account for more than a third of all work-related injuries (statistics include MSDs caused by manual handling) and can cause excruciating pain.

We have helped a number of people like you claim compensation after manual handling accidents, with injuries including:

• Back injuries
• Injuries to arms and legs (including fractures and breaks)
• Muscular injuries
• Worsening existing medical conditions.

By making a claim, you could get compensation to pay for rehabilitative treatment to make sure your injuries heal as well as possible. Our Support and Rehabilitation Coordinators can help you access this care and support using their contacts across the UK.

Any employer that knows its staff will be conducting manual handling as part of their role should follow the regulations set out as part of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992).

This piece of legislation provides advice for activities including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and carrying. Your employer should make sure that these rules are followed and provide guidance and training in order to prevent lifting items that are too heavy or lifting that’s performed with an awkward posture. They should also aim to stop existing injuries from worsening.

Before allowing you to complete manual handling at work, your employer should always:

• Consider the risks associated with the task
• Check if you have any specific requirement, such as injuries and disabilities
• Assess any potential injury risks
• Advise you on the correct processes for the task
• Check if the risk of injury can be controlled, such as using conveyors, pallet trucks, hoists and lift trucks
• Consider whether moving the object/materials is necessary
• Talk to you for your views on any potential hazards

Your employer should also regularly complete and update risk assessments to prove that the correct precautions are in place.

If you have been injured because health and safety regulations weren’t followed, we can help you make a claim.