Accidents at work > Manual handling claims

Manual Handling Injuries

As manual labour is fundamental to so many occupations, it is inevitable that injuries will happen frequently. Manual handling (transporting or supporting of a load including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof by hand or by bodily force) is the cause of 40% of accidents at work. Manual handling doesn’t just cause back injuries; it also is the cause of a variety of upper and lower limb and muscular injuries.

Though injuries are frequent, they can in many situations be avoided by employers and employees taking the necessary care. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002 specifies what an employer should do to prevent injury being caused by manual handling. The regulations concentrate on risk reduction and risk minimisation. Employers are obliged by law to consider the whole task required rather than just concentrating on the physical weight of an object.

It is possible that your employer has failed to provide suitable equipment, organise the work appropriately, provide adequate manpower, or failed to provide proper training.