Throughout this guide, we will explore the effects of manual handling injuries, both physical and emotional. We also look at how an injury caused by a manual handling accident could result in financial loss, such as through time off work.
Later in our guide, we discuss the duty of care employers have to prevent the risk of injury posed by manual handling tasks.
Lastly, we provide guidance on when you could claim for an injury following a workplace accident caused by poor manual handling practices and how we could help you with seeking compensation.
For any further guidance as you read or after you have finished our guide, please get in touch with our helpful advisors. They can answer questions relating to manual handling accident claims. To reach out, you can:
- Call on 020 8050 2736
- Use the live chat function below.
- Fill out our ‘contact us’ form with your details to request a call-back.
Browse Our Guide
- What Is Manual Handling?
- What Are The Physical Effects Of Manual Handling Injuries On Workers?
- What Mental Health Injuries Could You Experience?
- What Is Your Employer’s Duty Of Care Regarding Manual Handling?
- How We Could Help With Claims For Manual Handling Injuries
- More Information About Claiming For The Effects Of Manual Handling Injuries On Workers
What Is Manual Handling?
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the independent regulator for workplace health and safety in Great Britain, manual handling means transporting or supporting a load either by hand or bodily force. The activity can include lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying, or moving loads.
There can be consequences of poor manual handling practices, such as a lack of manual handling training leading to physical and mental health issues.
Employers have a responsibility to protect workers from injury posed by hazardous manual handling activities carried out in the workplace. This can include implementing proper manual handling techniques to prevent workplace injuries.
We will provide further information regarding the effects of manual handling injuries at work in the following sections of our guide.
What Are The Physical Effects Of Manual Handling Injuries On Workers?
Manual handling injuries can vary in severity and type. They often affect the bones, joints, muscles and tendons and can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. The NHS states that over 20 million people in the UK suffer from this type of disorder, which is almost a third of the population. Over 30 million working days are lost due to workers suffering from a type of musculoskeletal condition. Sprains, strains, and fractures can all be caused by a manual handling incident and can lead to a musculoskeletal disorder such as arthritis, which can have long-term implications for people, causing a range of disabilities.
According to the HSE, parts of the body most likely affected by these disorders can include:
- The lower back and neck
- The upper limbs, including the shoulders, forearms, wrists and hands
- Hips, legs, knees, ankles, and feet
Statistics On Musculoskeletal Disorders From Accidents At Work
According to self-reports made by employees to the Labour Force Survey (LFS), there were 473,000 workers suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2022/23. This includes new and long-term musculoskeletal disorders. Of these:
- 82,000 affected the lower limbs
- 195,000 affected the back
- 196,000 affected the upper limbs or neck
Additionally, manual handling was cited as one of the main factors causing these disorders.
What Mental Health Injuries Could You Experience?
Manual handling injuries could have an impact on your mental health as they could cause chronic pain resulting in continuous low mood and prevent you from performing your role at work. As such, you may have to change jobs either permanently or temporarily which could cause a substantial amount of stress and anxiety.
Furthermore, you might be unable to enjoy certain hobbies causing an impact on your overall quality of life.
In some cases, you might be able to claim compensation for the physical and mental effects of manual handling injuries. You can call our team to find out more about starting a personal injury claim.
What Is Your Employer’s Duty Of Care Regarding Manual Handling?
Employers owe a duty of care to their employees to take reasonable and practicable steps in order to prevent accidents and injuries at work and as employees carry out their work-related duties. This duty is owed under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the central piece of workplace health and safety regulations.
Additionally, The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 was enacted to avoid, assess, and reduce the risk of injury from manual handling. It states that employers must avoid hazardous manual handling so far as is reasonably practicable. If they cannot avoid any hazardous manual handling activities, they must carry out a risk assessment to determine the risk of injury posed by these activities. They then must take steps to reduce the risk of injury posed. They must reduce this risk as low as they reasonably can.
Some ways they could reduce the risk of injury can include:
- Providing manual handling training to those tasked with carrying out manual handling work, including using the correct lifting techniques to lift as safely as possible.
- Making loads smaller or lighter so they are easier to hold.
- Improving the work environment, such as making more space, better flooring, and extra lighting which could help reduce slips, trips, and falls in the workplace.
- Modifying the workplace to reduce carrying distances and the need for employees to move in unnatural ways.
If your employer breaches their duty of care, and you are caused harm, you could claim for the effects of manual handling injuries. Read on to learn how we could help you claim personal injury compensation.
How We Could Help With Claims For Manual Handling Injuries
If you get in touch, our advisors can provide a free initial consultation to determine whether you’re eligible to start a personal injury claim for the effects of manual handling injuries. They could also connect you with an expert accident at work solicitor from our panel who can represent you under No Win No Fee terms.
When representing you on this basis, they can offer a Conditional Fee Agreement which means you can avoid paying upfront and ongoing fees for their helpful services. Furthermore, if your claim fails, there will be no fees to pay for their completed work.
Following a successful claim, you will be awarded a compensation payout. The solicitor will take a percentage of your compensation as their success fee. However, due to the legal cap, you can keep the majority of your settlement.
To find out more about how we can help with manual handling injury claims, please contact our team using the details below:
- Call 020 8050 2736
- Use the live chat function below
- Contact us online
More Information About Claiming For The Effects Of Manual Handling Injuries On Workers
We have other guides discussing accident at work claims:
- Find answers to frequently asked questions about manual handling injury claims with this helpful guide.
- A guide discussing common injuries to construction workers after an accident at work.
- Information on how to claim for a serious work injury caused by an employer breaching their duty of care.
You might also find the following external links helpful:
- An HSE guide discussing work-related ill health and occupational disease in Great Britain.
- Information on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from Gov.UK.
- Advice on what to do if you have back pain from the NHS.
For further information on claiming for the effects of manual handling injuries, please get in touch using the number at the top of the page.