Manual handling is the term used to cover lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling and even lowering at work. It is most common in labour intensive jobs such as in a warehouse or on a building site, but can apply to all workplaces. Many injuries happen every year in the UK due to manual handling. Despite what you may have been told, it is not your fault if you have suffered injury this way, as your employer has a duty to protect you from harm. If they have failed in this duty, you may be able to make a manual handling compensation claim.
Why not Contact Us and learn more about how we can help you claim compensation on a no win no fee basis.
How common are manual handling injuries?
According to statistics from the Health and Safety Executive, up to two fifths of injuries that keep workers off for more than three days in the UK are caused through manual handling. That's nearly 45,000 serious injuries a year. The most common injuries caused to workers this way, include back injuries and frozen shoulders (a condition where the tissue inflames and restricts movement). Both injuries can require months off work to aid recovery. Making a manual handling claim can provide compensation for the pain and suffering, as well as reimburse any expenses and lost earnings caused by the injury.
Employer's responsibilities
Employers have a legal duty to protect their staff from manual handling injuries. This includes eliminating the need to perform the task where possible, training staff on the correct techniques, providing lifting equipment where appropriate, and running risk assessments. These are set out in the Manual Handling Regulations 1992 law. Even if your job does not regularly involve lifting (for example in an office), the regulations still apply.
The Health and Safety Executive has published figures on what people should be asked to lift at work at most. Although these are just guidelines and not law, they are useful nonetheless.
| Women | Men | |
| Lifting from the floor | 7kg | 10kg |
| Lifting from the waist | 16kg | 25kg |
| Lifting above the shoulder | 7kg | 10kg |
Making a manual handling claim
Call 08000 93 33 93 or Contact Us now and talk to one of our team about your injury.
If you have suffered an accident at work through manual handling, then one of our team here at Ashley Ainsworth will be able to discuss with you if it is possible to make a claim for compensation. We have over a decades experience of fighting for people just like you. We understand some people's reluctance to claim against an employer, but the money is claimed from their insurance company not from them directly. Also you are legally protected from being discriminated against by your employer for making a claim.
We accept cases on a no win no fee basis, meaning claiming with us is stress-free and does not cost you a penny. What is more, we ensure that you keep 100% of the compensation awarded to you.
