Lifting Accident Claims

Lifting injuries are a common occurrence among the UK's workforce, but did you know that you could be entitled to a compensation payment if you have hurt yourself while lifting something. Read on to find out more...

Are lifting injuries common then?

Yes absolutely. Manual handling accidents are the most common causes of personal injuries at work. Recent research by the Health & Safety Executive shows that more than one in every three injuries suffered in the workplace [that require at least three days off work] are caused by lifting or manual handling accidents.

Am I only entitled to make a claim if I work in the construction industry?

No, you can make a claim no matter what industry you work in. As long as the accident was not your fault and you have suffered it within the past three years you can claim. While accidents on building sites are the most common in this sort of claim, they are by no means exclusive. Any employee that is required to lift something, whether it be on a building site, in a classroom or a restaurant, is at risk of suffering a lifting injury, and their employer should act accordingly by providing sufficient training and risk assessments - if they do not, they are liable.

What are my employer's health and safety obligations?

The main regulation relating to manual lifting in the workplace relates is the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. It requires employers to:

• Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable;
• Assess the risk of injury from the hazardous manual handling that can't be avoided;
• Reduce the risk of injury from manual handling to the lowest level reasonably practical

Remember, manual lifting injuries are always avoidable. If your employer has failed to made adequate provisions, such as re-designing the task or automating or mechanising the process, and you have injured yourself as a result, then you could be entitled to make a compensation claim.

What other factors can contribute to an unsafe lifting environment?

If your workplace has any of the following, then it is not meeting healthy and safety regulations and could be a high risk environment for a lifting accident.

• Restricted space
• Poor seating that prevents good posture
• Extremes of temperature or humidity
• Poor light
• Lots of steps and floor variants

If you think you have been injured as a result of your employer's (current or previous) negligence, then contact us immediately for first class advice. Lifting injury claims are often defended by employer's and their insurers, so it is essential you seek professional advice before proceeding with a claim.

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