Manual Handling

Employers are under a duty to report all accidents which involve an injured person being absent from work for more than 3 days, to the Health and Safety Executive. The Health and Safety Executive’s records indicate that more than 25% of all accidents reported involve injuries caused by manual handling.

Manual handling involves not only lifting and carrying, but also raising and lowering, and pulling and pushing.

Employees in all types of employment are at risk from manual handling injuries including those employees working:-

* In offices and shops;

* On building sites;

* Carrying out deliveries;

* In factories and warehouses.

Employers are responsible for their employees’ health and safety while they are at work. Regulations relating to manual handling were introduced in 1992, in an attempt to reduce the number of manual handling accidents at work.

These regulations place a duty on employers to avoid manual handling operations which could involve a risk of injury to employees, so far as this is reasonably practicable.

Where it is not reasonably practicable to avoid the need for employees to undertake manual handling operations, which involve a risk of injury, an employer must:-

* Carry out a risk assessment of the manual handling operation to be undertaken; and

* Take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of injury to those employees as much as possible; and

* Provide employees with as much information as possible about the weight of each load and the heaviest side of any load whose centre of gravity is not positioned centrally.

If a manual handling operation cannot be avoided, the employer should consider whether the task can be carried out with the use of mechanical assistance, for example, lifting equipment. Employers should also ensure that their employees are given appropriate training in relation to any manual handling tasks they are required to carry out.

Employees also have responsibility for health and safety at work. They must:-

* Take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others who may be affected by what they are doing; and

* Cooperate with their employers to enable them to comply with their health and safety duties.

Therefore, if equipment is provided to assist an employee in the manual handling operation, the employee should use it. Similarly, an employee should work in accordance with instructions and training given by the employer.

If you, a friend or relative has had an accident at work and has suffered an injury, our experienced Solicitors may be able to help you.

For free initial advice, contact Caroline Christopher, Head of our Personal Injury Department and a Member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, on 01476 591711 or freephone 0800 389 4832. Alternatively, e-mail details of your accident to Caroline Christopher.

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