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Workplace Manual Handling Compensation Claim

Introduction to Manual Handling Accidents
What is a Manual Handling Accident?
Am I at risk from having a Manual Handling Injury?
Workers at risk from Manual Handling Accidents
Who is responsible for my safety at work?
Duties of employers and employees connected to Manual Handling
News Stories about Manual Handling Compensation Claims
Manual Handling Compensation Claims we have dealt with
Clients helped by Thompsons Solicitors with Manual Handling Compensation Claims
Examples of Manual Handing Compensation Claims we have dealt with
How to start a Manual Handling Compensation Claim
Manual Handling Compensation Claim Advice
Helpful Links
Links to other organisations for more information about Manual Handling

Introduction to Manual Handling Accidents

What is a Manual Handling Accident?

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (amended in 2002) are designed to protect employees from injuries caused by Manual Handling at work. Contrary to popular belief manual handling is not just lifting and carrying but also lowering, pushing and pulling.

According to records kept by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), more than a third of all accidents reported to them which result in the injured person being absent from work for more than 3 days are related to manual handling at work.

The most common injury sustained by people carrying out manual handling at work is a back injury, although injuries to arms and feet are also fairly common.

If you are injured at work in this way through no fault of your own, you may be able to make a manual handling compensation claim.

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Am I at risk from having a Manual Handling Injury?

Workers at risk from Manual Handling Accidents

Regardless of where you work, you could be at risk of having a manual handling accident. It is not just workers employed at building sites, farms, factories and warehouses who are at risk, you can also be injured as a result of a manual handling accident if you work in a shop, an office, a hospital or as a delivery driver.

In just about every working environment there will be a risk of injury from manual handling.

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer an accident and injury at work, which was not your fault, you may be able to make a personal injury claim for compensation.

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Who is responsible for my safety at work?

Duties of employers and employees connected to Manual Handling

Employers and employees are both responsible for health and safety in the workplace. With regards to manual handling:

Employers should:

Review the working practice and eliminate any manual handling which is not absolutely necessary.
Carry out a risk assessment of all of the manual handling which cannot be eliminated and which may cause an injury.
Try to reduce the risk of injury from all essential manual handling as much as possible.

Employees should:

Co-operate fully with their employer on all matters relating to Health and Safety
Follow all health and safety guidelines provided by their employer
Notify their employer of any dangerous manual handling practices they notice
Pay attention to what effect their actions could have on themselves or others
Use all safety equipment provided by their employer

If you are injured at work as a result of a manual handling accident, you may be able to make a manual handling compensation claim.

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News Stories about Manual Handling Compensation Claims

Manual Handling Compensation Claims we have dealt with

In the past we have published news stories on our website about manual handling compensation claims we have dealt with. Follow the links below to read a selection or visit our News Desk to read all of our news stories.

25th January 2012 - Back injury caused by faulty working system at car parts manufacturer

4th January 2012 - Nuclear worker injured after bosses ignored her warnings

15th December 2011 - Amusement arcade pays compensation after failing to train staff

30th November 2011 - Man receives damages after suffering hernia after moving a 10 tonne structure

23rd November 2011 - Lorry driver whose career was ended by workplace accident receives compensation

26th September 2011 - Southern Cross pays compensation to injured carer

9th September 2011 - Tetley pays compensation to worker injured in manual handling accident

25th August 2011 - Council employee of 26 years compensated for back injury

18th August 2011 - Manual handling training reminder after garden centre accident

26th July 2011 - Trainee furnace man compensated after being injured twice in a fortnight at workplace

28th April 2011 - Training prison pays out damages to officer injured due to lack of coaching

13th January 2011 - Lack of risk assessment caused hernia injury

11th January 2011 - Damages for warehouse worker hurt in manual handling accident

30th November 2010 - North East Woman receives substantial damages following office injury

27th September 2010 - Beer delivery man wins compensation for crushed finger

26th May 2010 - Caterpillar pays damages for faulty work equipment

20th May 2010 - Unite member compensated for shoulder injury

5th March 2010 - Bakery driver compensated for back injury

5th February 2010 - Cooker manufacturer pays compensation for unsafe practices

27th January 2010 - Apprentice sparky forced to give up dream job after accident

20th January 2010 - Firefighter warns colleagues to log accidents

1st December 2009 - Constant lifting causes back injury

6th November 2009 - School assistant suffers slipped disc in lifting accident

29th October 2009 - Lorry driver compensated for severe back injuries

19th October 2009 - Delivery driver receives 22,000 for back injury

17th September 2009 - Injured fitter forced to retire early

18th August 2009 - UNISON calls for an end to back-breaking work as lifeguard forced to retire receives 50,000 in compensation

17th August 2009 - School Caretaker receives compensation for hernia

3rd July 2009 - Welder forced to retire early

29th June 2009 - Radiographer compensated for broken ankle

28th May 2009 - Employer rapped for ignoring workers’ concerns

5th February 2009 - Driver injured unloading lorry

4th February 2009 - Caretaker tore tendons as he lifted heavy sofa

26th December 2008 - Quality auditor receives compensation for bad back

3rd December 2008 - GMB secures £10,000 for branch secretary

22nd August 2008 - Injured Darlington Care Assistant wins compensation

6th May 2008 - Back Injury sparks UNISON call for better training as Suffolk Care Trust found negligent

4th April 2008 - Carlisle stores worker wins compensation after MoD ignored her injury

18th April 2007 - Social worker receives £90,000 damages from Worcestershire County Council following accident in a residential home

27 February 2006 - Youth centre worker wins £33,750 for bouncy castle back injury

If you have suffered an injury after being involved in a manual handling accident at work, you may be able to make an accident compensation claim.

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Clients helped by Thompsons Solicitors with Manual Handling Compensation Claims

Examples of Manual Handing Compensation Claims we have dealt with

Manually Operated Hoist caused injury

Our client was a Nurse who had been employed by the same hospital for a number of years and worked on a ward which cared primarily for elderly patients.

The patients were highly dependant and as the job entailed a lot of lifting, hoists were provided.

Unfortunately, the hoist in the bathroom area was manual meaning that once the patient had been assisted into the hoist the handle had to be turned manually to raise and lower the hoist which was a very strenuous task. Once the hoist had been raised it then needed to be physically manoeuvred into the correct position which was also a very heavy manual task.

The client had received no training on how to use this particular hoist and it was not covered in the Moving and Handling Courses she attended.

She injured her neck and shoulder badly and required surgery. With help from Thompsons' specialist personal injury solicitors she was awarded £22,000 Manual Handling Compensation.

If you have suffered an injury after being involved in a manual handling accident at work, you may be able to make a manual handling compensation claim.

Nursery Nurse injured after lifting child

Ms Joy was a nursery nurse employed at a school for deaf children. During her employment a pupil was admitted to the school who was not only deaf but also severely physically disabled meaning that she could not sit or stand by herself.

Ms Joy had not been given any training on how to lift and carry disabled children as all of the other pupils were able-bodied. There were also no hoists or lifts provided in the nursery; therefore Ms Joy had to lift and carry the pupil for a large part of the day.
Whilst lifting the pupil she injured the left side of her neck and shoulder and decided to make a claim for compensation against her employers. With help from Thompsons Solicitors, Ms Joy received £15,000 compensation.

An extract from her thank you letter read "In response to your letter I would like to thank you for all the hard work you did on my behalf ... I was kept informed of developments and any queries / worries I had were dealt with quickly and in a very friendly manner. I am very satisfied with the outcome and it enables me to move forward and enjoy my retirement. Thank you once again".

Injured Lifting Heavy Object with no Training

Mr Wilks worked for the council collecting glass from members of the public's houses for recycling. He had never received any training in collecting bulkier heavier items but on the day of his accident was sent out on the "bulky collection" round.

He was trying to lift a wardrobe which had been left in a person's back garden up some stairs when it collapsed onto his neck. Thompsons Solicitors recovered £2,400 for Mr Wilks and his thank you letter read "Thank you for all your hard work with my case. You are a credit to your company".

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How to start a Manual Handling Compensation Claim

Manual Handling Compensation Claim Advice

If you or anyone you know has suffered a personal injury at work after lifting a heavy object, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.

There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.

As with all personal injury compensation claims, you would need to prove that your manual handling injury was caused as a result of the negligence of another party (in this case your employer) and once you appoint a personal injury compensation solicitor, they will assist you in compiling your evidence and presenting it to the employers liability insurers.

Every personal injury compensation claim is very different and while some are settled within a matter of months, others can take years. Most cases are settled out of Court; however, some will need to progress this far.

Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for manual handling compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a manual handling claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.

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