At Atha & Co we specialise in helping individuals make personal injury claims following workplace accidents, particularly those caused by manual handling. One of the most common causes of workplace injuries is improper manual handling, which occurs when employees are required to lift, move or carrying heavy items without the correct training or equipment.
According to data collected between 2020 and 2022, 1 in 3 workplace injuries are the result of manual handling. This is a significant figure highlighting how the big the issue is. Unfortunately, many of these injuries are preventable, often resulting from employers failing to provide adequate training and equipment to their staff.
Manual handling injuries can cause serious and long term damage. In the UK alone, 300,000 currently suffer from back pain as a direct result of manual handling incidents. This type of injury can range from minor sprains to severe musculoskeletal disorders that impacts a person’s ability to work and enjoy life.
Why Do Manual Handling Injuries Occur?
Manual handling injuries are commonly associated with certain conditions and tasks in the workplace. Key risk factors include:
Lack of proper training – When employees are not trained to lift or handle items safely, the risk of injury dramatically increases.
Repetitive tasks – Regularly lifting, carrying, or pushing heavy objects without breaks can lead to chronic strain and injury.
Excessive weight – Lifting items that are too heavy without the assistance of proper equipment.
Unbalanced or awkward loads – Handling irregularly shaped or unstable objects increases the likelihood of an accident.
Pre-existing conditions – If an individual has a prior injury, they may be more susceptible to further harm in a manual handling role.
In many cases, manual handling accidents are directly tied to employer negligence. Employers have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of their workers by carrying out risk assessments for all manual handling tasks and removing unnecessary tasks that may cause harm.
If you’ve been injured at work due to manual handling, it’s crucial to follow the appropriate steps to safeguard your health and your legal rights. At Atha & Co, we recommend taking the following steps:
Report the accident: Log the accident in the company’s Accident Book, ensuring that there is a formal record of the injury
Collect Evidence: If possible gather CCTV footage and take photographs of the scene including any contributing factors such as poorly stacked materials or defective equipment.
Seek first aid: Make sure to receive immediate medical attention not only for your health but also to create a medical record of your injury
Take witness statements: Get the contact details of any coworkers who witnessed the incident, as their testimony could support your claim.
Cooperate with a workplace investigations: Work with your employer if they conduct a workplace investigation, ensuring transparency throughout the process.
Our team at Atha & Co are experts in manual handling injuries and accident at work claims. The team will listen to your claim, understand exactly what has happened and work with you to ensure that you get the compensation you are owed by your employer.
It is the responsibility of your employer to ensure that a risk assessment is carried out on all manual handling tasks so that injuries do not occur. Any unnecessary manual handling tasks also need to be removed to ensure the safety of employees in the workplace.
At Atha & Co we have over 50 years of experience helping people make a personal injury claim in the Middlesbrough and North East area. We know the situation of making a claim may seem stressful so we are here to help make your life easier.
Contact us today to find out more about making a claim involving an accident at work and how we can help you. You can fill in our contact form or alternatively give us a call on 01642 222 575.