Manual Handling Claims
If you’ve suffered a heavy lifting injury through no fault of your own, the team at Tylers Solicitors is here to guide you through the manual handling claims process. We’ll help you get the compensation you deserve following your injuries to help you move on with your life.
Heavy lifting claims
From moving boxes in warehouses to transporting goods on the road, many industries require manual handling.
Every employer has a duty of care and must provide you with the correct manual handling training and the equipment needed to carry out the task properly. If this duty of care has been breached, causing workplace injuries that were not your fault, you could be eligible to make a manual handling injury compensation claim.
Get the compensation award you deserve for your manual handling injury with support from our no-win, no-fee legal services.
Here at Tylers Solicitors, our experienced lawyers are ready to guide you every step of the way. Read on to learn more, and feel free to get in touch to discuss your case and start processing your manual handling claim.
What counts as manual handling?
Manual handling is a common occurrence in many workplaces, from factories to restaurants. It generally covers any task that involves moving or supporting a load by hand or using equipment. Examples include:
- Lifting and moving
- Lowering
- Carrying
- Pushing and pulling
What are the most common manual handling injuries?
Manual handling and heavy lifting jobs come with risks as they can put strain on your body. In our time supporting individuals with lifting accident compensation claims, we’ve found that common manual handling injuries include:
- Back and spine injuries
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Soft tissue injuries, like strains and sprains
- Hernias
- Limb and joint pain
- Injuries to the hands, feet, ankles and wrists, including bone fractures
- Cuts and lacerations
According to HSE statistics, handling, lifting, and carrying accounted for 17% of all non-fatal workplace injuries in 2023/34. This makes manual handling injuries the second most common across all accidents in the workplace.
Injuries caused by manual handling can vary in severity and often have long lasting effects that can impact your ability to work and perform everyday tasks.
If you’ve sustained any kind of minor or major manual handling injury and it wasn’t your fault, we are here for you. Get in touch with the experts here at Tylers Solicitors via our online contact form or call 0800 699 0079 today. We’ll work with you to help you claim the manual handling compensation you deserve.
What are the most common causes of manual handling injuries?
Manual handling injuries are some of the most common in the workplace, and they can be caused by a variety of factors.
- Inadequate training leading to poor carrying technique
- The size and weight of the package
- If the package or load cannot be grasped easily
- Unbalanced or unstable loads
- Loads that are difficult to reach
- Uneven flooring or other slip, trip, or fall hazards
- Insufficient space to lift correctly
- Obscured view
- Faulty carrying equipment or machinery
How much could I claim?
What is a manual handling claim?
While many roles involve heavy lifting and manual handling, this doesn’t mean every injury sustained results in a compensation claim.
A manual handling injury claim involves a worker who has suffered harm through heavy lifting due to another party’s negligence. This might be an employer, a colleague, or even a manufacturer (if faulty equipment caused the accident).
If a claim is successful, the injured employee could receive thousands of pounds in compensation. Unsure if you could be entitled to manual handling compensation? Our experienced personal injury solicitors will be able to advise you.
Read on for more details, and please feel free to contact us to discuss your case.
Heavy lifting at work: What is the law?
So, how can you tell if you can make a claim? It’s important to understand your employer’s responsibilities when it comes to manual handling.
If your work involves manually handling or lifting objects, then your employer is required to follow the guidelines set out in The Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992).
Included in these guidelines is advice on lowering, pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying. All employers have a duty of care towards their staff and must take all necessary steps to reduce the risk of injury.
This means that it is their responsibility to ensure that all rules are followed and employees have been provided with the training required to handle objects of all different shapes and sizes safely.
Before allowing anyone to do any manual handling, employers should take the following steps:
Avoidance
- Check whether the employee has any specific conditions, injuries, or disabilities that may prevent them from performing the task.
- Consider whether moving the component is necessary.
Assessment
- Consider all of the associated risks with the task at hand.
- Discuss those risks with the employee.
Risk Reduction
- Determine if the risk of injury can be minimised (for example, by using pallet trucks, conveyors, lift trucks, and hoists).
- Train the employee on the proper steps to take during the process.
It is also the responsibility of any employer to carry out regular workplace risk assessments to ensure adequate precautions have been taken. They must also provide full training so that every worker knows the safest techniques when carrying, lifting, and transporting goods.
As specialist personal injury solicitors, we can help you with your heavy lifting claim if you feel your employer has been negligent in any way. Whether that is by not giving you the necessary training or providing you with the correct equipment to allow you to complete the task safely.
Call our team today on 0800 699 0079 to discuss your case.
Are you eligible to make a heavy lifting injury compensation claim?
If your employer doesn’t carry out the required steps to keep you safe when carrying out manual handling tasks, then this counts as a breach of duty of care. In this situation, you may have grounds to claim heavy lifting compensation if you suffer an injury.
To be able to make a claim, you must be able to prove that the injuries you suffered came as a direct result of your employer’s negligence and that your injuries were directly caused by the manual handling task. You must also show that the accident caused pain and suffering that warrants compensation.
Evidence to support your case
You’ll need evidence to support your case. We recommend gathering as many of the following pieces of evidence to help prove there was negligence in the workplace.
- Medical reports – these might include a paramedic’s report from the day of the accident and follow up appointments with your GP or hospital.
- Photographic evidence of your injuries and the accident site, including any hazards.
- CCTV or video evidence of the incident.
- A record of the incident in your workplace accident book.
- Contact details of any witnesses (and written statements, if possible).
- Proof of financial loss, such as receipts from transport to get to medical appointments.
Don’t worry if you don’t have all of these evidence pieces right away. When you speak with our helpful solicitors, we’ll guide you through gathering what evidence you need.
What can you claim for following a manual handling injury in the workplace?
Any kind of manual handling injury can be extremely serious and result in long-term health concerns. Back injuries and damage to your musculoskeletal system can cause many years of pain and suffering. In many cases, these injuries can even prevent you from being able to work or engage in social activities.
As with other forms of personal injury, if you’ve been involved in a manual handling accident that wasn’t your fault, the final compensation you could be entitled to will take all of the following elements into account.
- Pain and suffering, be it physical, psychological, or emotional.
- Medical costs covering any diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation expenses.
- Loss of earnings if you have had to take time off work to recover. Any loss of future earnings will also be considered if your injuries cause long-term issues.
- Any other expenses, such as travel to appointments, home adaptations, or care costs associated with your injuries and recovery.
Contact Tylers Solicitors today for no-win, no-fee legal advice and support with heavy lifting compensation claims via our online contact form or call 0800 699 0079.
What to do if you suffer a manual handling injury at work
The first step you should take after being injured at work, especially while performing a job role that requires heavy lifting or excessive manual handling, is to report your accident. Make sure it goes in the workplace accident log. It’s also important to raise any safety concerns if you feel other workers may be at risk of accidents.
Next, make sure you receive a proper diagnosis from your doctor. This is very important as your medical records will form a big part of the evidence that supports your claim.
Your next step should be to contact a legal expert like Tylers Solicitors. After an initial consultation, our team will be able to assess the details of your case and help you collate the evidence you have to support the claim.
If we feel that your employer was negligent in effect, you will be able to begin the claims process. For this, we will:
- Establish that you have a valid claim and provide an estimate of how much we believe you are entitled to.
- Help make sure you have everything you need from the evidence list above.
- Identify a liable party.
- File your manual handling injury claim, handling all paperwork, negotiations, and other legal aspects.
- Represent you in court (in the case of disputed liability).
- Ensure you receive your compensation if your claim is successful.
Why choose Tylers Solicitors for support with manual handling claims?
Here at Tylers Solicitors, our team of no-win, no-fee legal experts can help you to get the compensation that you are entitled to.
The money that you get following our expert legal service could be essential when it comes to long-term physiotherapy, pain management, and other medical treatments. You could also spend the money on converting your home or vehicle to support your injury.
Our team of compassionate solicitors can provide a reliable and comprehensive service. And with our no-win, no-fee services, you can feel confident knowing you won’t pay us a penny unless your claim is successful — we’ll recoup our fee from your final settlement.
Whether you’ve suffered a minor or serious injury with long-term health effects, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our specialist team today.
Fill out our handy online contact form, or call us on 0800 699 0079.
How much compensation could I get for manual handling claims in the UK?
The level of compensation that you could receive will depend on the severity of your injuries. The more severe and long-lasting the injury, the higher the compensation amount.
If you’ve been unlucky enough to suffer from any kind of manual handling injury, get in touch with our experienced legal team for an accurate estimate. We’ve also put some figures together below as a guide.
Need more information? Don’t worry, one of our professional claims solicitors will advise you along the way
Contact us on 0800 699 0079 or via our online contact form to start your claim today!
Compensation for back injuries caused by heavy lifting
Back injuries are among the most common in workplace manual handling accidents. They may cause short-term or long-term pain and mobility.
You may be able to claim anywhere from £2,990 for injuries that heal within three months to £196,450 for severe back injuries.
Compensation for neck and shoulder injuries caused by heavy lifting
Temporary or permanent injury to the neck and shoulder muscles can be triggered by manual handling, potentially leading to maneuverability issues and chronic pain.
You may be entitled to anywhere from £2,990 to £181,020, depending on the severity of the neck or shoulder injury.
Compensation for lower limb injuries caused by manual handling
These can include severe and minor injuries to your lower limbs, including ankles, knees, feet and legs.
If you have suffered from these injuries through a heavy lifting accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim from £8,870 for a minor ankle turn to £109,290 for leg injuries leading to permanent mobility issues.
Compensation for upper limb injuries caused by heavy lifting
Pain or immobility, either in the short-term or long-term, to your arms, elbows, wrists, and fingers can result from manual handling accidents.
If you’ve been injured in this way, you may be entitled to up to £5,800 for minor hand injuries.
Table of Contents
Manual Handling Claims FAQs
How long do I have to make my lift injury compensation claim?
The time limit for claiming manual handling injury compensation is three years from the date of the injury or diagnosis of the problem. This is the period you have to submit your claim. As long as you make your claim within this period, there is no limit to the amount of time it takes to settle it.
How many manual handling injuries occur in UK workplaces each year?
Thousands of people suffer manual handling injuries in UK workplaces annually, with around 477,000 workers experiencing Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Not all of these lead to heavy lifting compensation claims.
What kinds of manual handling equipment is available?
There are all kinds of manual handling equipment available to suit a range of materials and loads, including:
- Wheelbarrows
- Trolleys
- Slings
- Hoists
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NO WIN - NO FEE
For any Accidents at Work Claims, call Tylers Solicitors today, a leading personal injury solicitor in Manchester providing no-win, no-fee legal services across the UK. Our experienced team will work with you to get the maximum amount of compensation you’re entitled to, following any kind of injury that isn’t your fault!