Back strain lifting at work?
November 16, 2018
If you’ve been injured while lifting or moving something heavy at work, our personal injury solicitors can help.
Your employers should reduce the need for “manual handling” to a minimum by, for example, using lifting equipment, forklifts or pallet trucks. If items can only be moved by human beings, they have to assess the risk of injury and provide enough people to do the job. They also have to make sure that anyone involved in manual handling tasks is adequately trained to do the job safely.
The Health & Safety Executive issues guidelines about safe weights for lifting by men and women. A man shouldn’t be required to lift weights in excess of 25kg if held close to his body – the further away from your body, the lower the acceptable weight. If you have to twist your spine while lifting or if you have to lift items repeatedly, this lowers the safe weight. Weights for women are less anyway. Have a look at the guidance on the HDE’s website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg143.pdf .
If you suffer an injury while lifting, make a note of the weight of the item. This is one of the first things our personal injury solicitors will need to know.
If possible, take a photo of the item and where you were moving it to and from. Include a photo of any label showing the weight or any warnings about it needing 2 or more people to lift it. (The weight should always be on a label on any items you may have to lift).
Make sure an accurate description of the accident is put in the Accident Book and that you keep a copy of what is written. And, if it hurts, don’t soldier on or pretend you’re fine – go to your GP or the local hospital and get checked.
Even if you think the accident may have been partly your own fault, you may still be able to claim so don’t just suffer in silence. Making a claim may help ensure it doesn’t happen to someone else.
If you have been involved in an accident at work or in a public place that wasn’t your fault, contact our Personal Injury solicitors would be happy to help. The more information you can give us, the more likely it is that we can make a successful claim for you.
The information contained in this article is intended for general guidance only. It provides useful information but it is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice as the articles do not take into account specific circumstances. So do please Contact US for legal advice on the issues raised.
