If you are wondering, “what types of personal protective equipment can be used during manual handling?” this guide could assist you. We will explore the duty of care that employers owe their employees and how personal protective equipment (PPE) can keep employers safe in the workplace. 

What types of personal protective equipment can be used during manual handling?

We’ll also look at different factors relating to the claims process; for instance, we’ll look at the amount of time you have to start your claim, what evidence can be acquired to potentially strengthen your case and how much compensation you could be awarded in the event that you’re successful. 

Furthermore, we seek to address any queries you may have about No Win No Fee agreements as well as inform you of how a solicitor from our panel could help you. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak with an advisor from our team. They are available around the clock to provide you with a free consultation. To get in touch: 

• Fill out our online enquiry form
• Call us on 0333 000 0729
• Use our live chat feature at the bottom of the page

Select A Section

1. What Types Of Personal Protective Equipment Can Be Used During Manual Handling?
2. Who Could Claim For Manual Handling Injuries Caused By A Lack Of PPE?
3. How To Prove That Your Employer Was Negligent
4. Estimating Payouts For Workplace Manual Handling Injuries Caused By A Lack Of PPE
5. No Win No Fee Manual Handling Accident At Work Claims
6. Learn More About Injuries Caused By Inadequate PPE

What Types Of Personal Protective Equipment Can Be Used During Manual Handling?

There are multiple forms of personal protective equipment (PPE) that you could require when carrying out work tasks. PPE aims to control your exposure to hazards and prevent harm from occurring. Examples of this could include: 

• Protective footwear such as steel toe cap boots to prevent a foot injury or a toe injury if materials are dropped. 
• A lifting belt to support your core and prevent a back injury 
• Gloves to prevent burns on hands or other hand injuries. 
• Eye protection, for example, goggles. This could protect your eyes if handling something fragile that could smash if dropped. 

If you are still wondering, “what types of personal protective equipment can be used during manual handling?”, please get in touch with our advisors. 

Who Could Claim For Manual Handling Injuries Caused By A Lack Of PPE?

Employers owe their employees a duty of care which is established in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). This legislation states that your employer must take all reasonable steps to stop you from being injured at work or whilst conducting work tasks. 

Therefore, to be entitled to seek accident at work compensation, you must be able to show that: 

• You were owed a duty of care 
• It was breached 
• You were injured due to this 

Moreover, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 sets out the need for an employer to protect workers carrying out manual handling tasks from being injured, and how this can be done. For example, they could do this by avoiding manual handling tasks that can be carried out in another way that poses less risk, as well as assessing potential hazards involved in manual handling activities that cannot be avoided and acting accordingly. 

If you believe yourself to have a valid manual handling claim, please contact an advisor from our team who can evaluate your case. 

How Long Do You Have To Claim Compensation?

As set out by the Limitation Act 1980, you generally have three years to start the personal injury claims process. However, there are certain circumstances that could see this time limit extended. For instance, if the injured party is below the age of 18 when they were injured, the time limit is suspended.

In these cases, the time limitation would begin from their 18th birthday, at which point they have 3 years in which to make their own claim. Moreover, they could have a litigation friend claim for them. This could be any loved one over the aged of 18 but they must be approved by the court. 

If you would like more information on time limits or litigation friends, please get in touch with an advisor from our team. 

How To Prove That Your Employer Was Negligent

It is necessary to prove that you were injured due to employer negligence as well as the extent to which your injuries impacted you when making a personal injury claim. Here are some examples of how you can do this: 

• Filling out the accident at work book if applicable 
• Taking pictures of your injuries and the accident scene 
• Seeking medical attention and keeping records produced 
• Gathering CCTV footage of the incident 
• Gathering witnesses’ contact details to allow statements to be taken at a later date
• Proving any financial losses that have been incurred through receipts, invoices or bank statements

If you would like any assistance with this process, please get in touch with our advisors, who can assist you. Furthermore, they could put you in contact with a solicitor from our panel who can help you with the process of claiming. 

Estimating Payouts For Workplace Manual Handling Injuries Caused By A Lack Of PPE

The compensation that will be awarded for a successful claim could be made up of two heads. General damages aim to reimburse you for any physical or psychological pain and suffering that is caused by your injuries.

We have included a table of potential compensation amounts that have been taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document that is used by legal professionals when valuing claims. However, these amounts should only be used as a guide due to each personal injury claim being unique. 

Compensation Amounts

 What Are Special Damages In A Workplace Accident Claim?

Special damages could also be included as part of your payout and can be used to reimburse for any financial losses. This could take into account areas such as: 

• Home renovations that you need to cope with your injuries (for example, widening doorframes to assist a wheelchair user getting around their home) 
• Care costs
• Medical expenses 
• Travel costs to and from medical appointments
• Loss of earnings

If you would like a personalised estimate in terms of how much compensation you could be owed, please get in touch with an advisor from our team. 

No Win No Fee Manual Handling Accident At Work Claims

You might find it beneficial to be represented by a No Win No Fee solicitor. They could offer their services via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). If you enter a CFA, you only have to pay for the services provided by your solicitor if your claim is successful. This means that if your claim is lost, you won’t be charged for the work they’ve done. Furthermore, there won’t be any upfront or ongoing fees for you to pay them as they work on your claim.  

If your accident at work claim is successful and you’re awarded compensation, you will owe your solicitor a percentage of your award which will be subtracted from your settlement. However, this will be capped by law, which ensures that you receive the majority of your compensation. 

If you would like to discover whether you are eligible to be represented by a No Win No Fee solicitor, please get in touch with our team. 

Speak To An Expert

You can speak with one of the advisors from our team about your potential claim. They are happy to offer you a free consultation at a time that suits you best, and they could set you up with a solicitor from our panel if you have a valid claim. 

To get in touch: 

• Fill out our online enquiry form
• Call us on 0333 000 0729
• Use our live chat feature at the bottom of the page

Learn More About Injuries Caused By Inadequate PPE

Here are some more of our guides that could be of use to you when claiming for a manual handling injury at work:

• What could a personal injury claim interim payment compensate you for?
• I had an accident at work – could I claim after leaving the company? 
• Does my employer pay my work-related injury claim? 

We have also included further guides that could be helpful for you when making an accident at work claim: 

• NHS – When to call 999
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – Manual Handling At Work

Thank you for reading this guide. If you are still wondering, “what types of personal protective equipment can be used during manual handling?”, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our advisors. They could also offer you free advice about making a potential claim. 

Written by BP

Edited by FS

This is a guide on the whether you could seek compensation for injuries sustained while manual handling and the claims process involved in doing so. It will discuss the criteria for making a personal injury claim, the time limits for starting legal proceedings and the evidence that could be used to strengthen your case. 

A guide on the manual handling claims process

Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) showed that handling, lifting or carrying comprised 18% of non-fatal injuries to employees. This is the second most common type of workplace injury behind slips, trips or falls on the same level. We will provide examples of how a manual handling accident could occur and the injuries that could be sustained as a result later on in our guide.

Additionally, we will discuss the compensation you could be awarded for your injuries if you make a successful claim as well as how it aims to address the different ways you have been impacted. 

For more information, you can speak with an advisor from our team. They can assess whether you have valid grounds to seek personal injury compensation. If you do, they may assign a solicitor from our panel to represent your case on a No Win No Fee basis. To get in touch, you can:

• Speak to an advisor over the phone on 0333 000 0729.
• Contact us using our online claim form.
• Message us on our live chat feature below.

Select A Section

1. What Is The Manual Handling Claims Process In The UK?
2. Who Could Make A Manual Handling Claim?
3. How Could Your Employer Be Liable For A Manual Handling Accident?
4. How Are Settlements Calculated In Accident At Work Claims?
5. Make A Manual Handling Claim Today With No Win No Fee Solicitors
6. Learn More About The Manual Handling Claims Process In The UK

What Is The Manual Handling Claims Process In The UK?

When seeking compensation for injuries sustained after manual handling, the claims process can involve gathering evidence to support your case. There are several steps you can take to gather evidence, such as:

• Seeking medical attention for your injuries and requesting a copy of your medical records.
• Making a request for CCTV footage of the accident.
• Taking pictures of your injuries as well as the accident scene.
• Collecting the contact information of any potential witnesses as they could provide a statement at a later date.
• Filling out the workplace accident book and getting a copy of the incident report.

Additionally, you may wish to seek legal representation from a solicitor experienced in handling claims for manual handling accidents. If this is the case, you can get in touch with an advisor to discuss whether you’re eligible to work with a solicitor from our panel.

Who Could Make A Manual Handling Claim?

In order to have a valid grounds to pursue a personal injury claim, you must be able to demonstrate negligence. This constitutes the following:

• Firstly, you were owed a duty of care.
• Secondly, this duty was breached.
• Thirdly, this breach resulted in your injuries.

An employer’s duty of care is outlined under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA), which states that employers must take reasonable and practicable steps to provide a safe workplace and prevent injuries to employees. 

Additionally, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 outlines the more specific responsibilities employers have with regard to manual handling in the workplace. It dictates that employers must avoid, so far as is reasonably possible, manual handling activities that pose a risk of harm to their employees. Where this is not possible, risk assessments should be carried out to identify and reduce the risks.

A failure to do so is a breach of their duty of care. If this leads to you sustaining an injury, you may be eligible to claim compensation for the ways it has affected your life.

Time Limits To Claim

In addition to ensuring your case meets the criteria laid out above, you need to ensure you start your claim within the limitation period set out in the Limitation Act 1980. Generally, the time limit is three years from the date of the injury. However, exceptions can be made in some situations.

To find out how long you have to claim for an accident at work, get in touch on the number above.

How Could Your Employer Be Liable For A Manual Handling Accident?

There are several ways a manual handling accident could occur in the workplace. For example:

• Inadequate training: Your employer may have failed to provide you with adequate manual handling training before assigning you with the task of moving objects around a warehouse. As a result, you use an incorrect lifting technique and sustain a soft tissue injury to your back.
• Failure to assess the risks: Your employer may have failed to carry out a risk assessment before assigning you a manual handling task. As a result, you strain your wrist, neck and shoulder after lifting and pulling stock over the maximum weight for your height around a factory.
• Failure to reduce the risks: Your employer may have been aware of slip and trip hazards that posed a risk to employees moving objects around an office but failed to adapt the working environment to reduce these risks. As a result, you may have tripped over and sustained an arm injury and elbow injury.

It’s important to be aware that employers may not always be liable for the accident in which you sustain harm. In these cases, you would be able to make a personal injury claim.

To discuss when you could be eligible to seek compensation for harm you have experienced while manual handling and the claims process involved in doing so, get in touch on the number above.

How Are Settlements Calculated In Accident At Work Claims?

Following a successful claim, compensation can be awarded from up to two heads of claim. One of the heads is known as general damages; this accounts for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.

Below is a table of guideline compensation brackets collated from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a tool used by solicitors to value general damages.

Compensation Table

Please note that each claim is unique, with different factors affecting the award’s outcome. They should not be taken as guaranteed amounts and you should only use them as a guide.

Calculating Special Damages In Workplace Accident Claims

The other head of claim is known as special damages, which accounts for the monetary losses incurred from an injury. For example, you could claim back the cost of:

• Lost earnings
• Medical expenses
• Travel costs

Evidence can help to prove these losses, including payslips, travel tickets and receipts.

For a personalised estimate of how much you could be owed following a successful claim, get in touch using the number above.

Make A Manual Handling Claim Today With No Win No Fee Solicitors

Our panel of personal injury solicitors can offer their services under a type of No Win No Fee agreement. There are different types including a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is the type of contract the solicitors from our panel could offer. 

Under a CFA, there will generally be no upfront or ongoing fees to pay for your solicitor’s services. Also, if your claim has an unsuccessful outcome, there will be no fee to pay for the work they have completed on your case.

In the event of a successful claim, your solicitor will deduct a minor success fee from your compensation. This is taken as a small percentage. However, the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 restricts how much they can take.

If you are interested in making a claim with a solicitor from our panel, you should contact our advisors for free. They can also provide further guidance on the manual handling claims process. To get in touch, you can:

• Speak to an advisor over the phone on 0333 000 0729
• Contact us using our online claim form
• Message us on our live chat feature below

Learn More About The Manual Handling Claims Process In The UK

For more of our guides:

• How to claim compensation for a forklift truck accident
• Conveyor belt accident claims
• How much could I claim for a construction accident?

For more external resources:

• GOV.UK – Request CCTV footage of yourself
• NHS – How to get your medical records
• HSE – Accident book at work

Thank you for reading this guide on when you could be eligible to seek compensation for injuries sustained after manual handling and the claims process involved in doing so. For more information, you can get in touch using the details provided above.

Written by MWH

Edited by MMI

This is our guide on whether you could claim if there was no manual handling risk assessment in the workplace and this caused you to be injured. 

No Manual Handling Risk Assessment In The Workplace – Can I Claim?

In order to make an accident at work claim, you must be able to prove that your injuries were caused due to your employer’s negligence. We will explain the criteria that you must satisfy to make a personal injury claim. In addition, we will discuss the legislation in place to protect employees at work when manually handling heavy loads.

This guide will also offer some examples of evidence that can be used to support different aspects of your claim. We will also look at the different kinds of damages that could be awarded. 

If you are interested in making a manual handling claim for an accident that occurred after a lack of risk assessments, please continue reading. You can also contact us for free; after a free consultation, our advisors may connect you to a solicitor from our panel. Contact us by:

Contact Details

• Speak to an advisor over the phone; call us on 0333 000 0729.
• Contact us online.
• Message us using our live chat feature below.

Select A Section

1. Can I Claim If There Was No Manual Handling Risk Assessment In The Workplace?
2. How Do I Show My Employer Was At Fault?
3. What Manual Handling Accidents At Work Could I Claim For?
4. Estimating Settlements In Workplace Manual Handling Accident Claims
5. How Do No Win No Fee Accident Claims Work?
6. Find Out More About Manual Handling Accidents And Injuries

Can I Claim If There Was No Manual Handling Risk Assessment In The Workplace?

You may be eligible to claim if you were injured in an accident at work because there was no manual handling risk assessment in the workplace. This involves proving the following:

• Firstly, you were owed a duty of care.
• Secondly, there was a breach of duty.
• Thirdly, this breach caused your injuries.

Employers have a duty of care placed on them by The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA); this means that they must take reasonable and practicable steps to maintain a safe workplace and prevent injuries to their employees.

One of the steps that an employer is expected to carry out is carrying out risk assessments. Therefore, if no risk assessment was done, and you were injured as a result, you may be able to claim.

What Are Manual Handling Risk Assessments?

As outlined in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers need to carry out risk assessments before a manual handling task is undertaken. If the task can be avoided altogether, then this should be done. 

Employers can follow the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) managing health and safety approach, ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’, to reduce the risk of injury when carrying out this kind of task:

• Plan what you need.
• Do the right things to install your plan.
• Check your control measures.
• Act if your measures aren’t working.

If you’re unsure whether negligence was the cause of your injury, why not speak with a member of our team today? They could offer you a free, no-obligation assessment of your claim. However, if your case is valid and you’d like to proceed, they could connect you with a No Win No Fee lawyer.

How Do I Show My Employer Was At Fault?

Evidence is an important component in a successful claim and can be used to prove liability. It can also be used to highlight the extent of the harm you were caused, illustrate any psychological injury and prove any financial losses. 

Here are some examples of evidence you could collect for your claim and how it could be utilised:

• CCTV footage of the accident – can be used to show how exactly the accident happened. 
• A diary of your recovery – an account of your treatment and symptoms can illustrate any psychological injury and physical symptoms.
• Records of expenses – receipts and payslips may be used to show financial losses.
• Contact details of eyewitnesses – eyewitnesses can give an account of the accident at a later date. 
• Photographs – these can be used to highlight the extent of the damage.
• Reporting an injury in the accident book – provide a contemporaneous account of how the incident occurred. 

One of the services our panel of solicitors provide is helping clients collect evidence for their cases. Contact our friendly advisors today if you want some help collecting evidence. They will be happy to help and may connect you with a solicitor from our panel.

What Manual Handling Accidents At Work Could I Claim For?

Manual handling injuries usually consist of musculoskeletal injuries. According to the HSE workplace injury statistics, of all employer-reported musculoskeletal injuries in 2021/22, back injuries comprised 42%, lower limbs 21% and upper limbs or neck 37%. 

Here are some examples of injuries that could be caused, but aren’t limited to, manual handling injuries:

• Lower back injuries from heavy lifting may cause damage to the lumbar spine.
• Leg injuries may be due to a lack of manual handling training which means you fall backwards when you lift the load, and it lands on your torso and legs.
• Shoulder injuries may be due to an unnatural posture while handling the load.
• Neck injuries due to a twisting motion whilst handling the load.

Estimating Settlements In Workplace Manual Handling Accident Claims

In the event of a successful claim, your settlement may be made up of up to two heads. Taking into account the pain and suffering caused by your injuries, general damages is the first of these heads. It will always be awarded in successful personal injury claims. 

Below is a table of compensation brackets for example injuries taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a publication that solicitors use to help them value general damages.

Compensation Table

Please note that the figures in this table are not guaranteed sums for successful claims; they are only guidelines. Each claim is unique and will attract different awards depending on the facts and circumstances of the case.

Could You be Awarded Special Damages?

The other potential head of claim is special damages; this accounts for the past and future financial losses incurred from the injury. Here are some examples of costs that  special damages you can claim for:

• Loss of earnings.
• Travel expenses.
• Medical costs.
• Renovations to home and vehicle.

Once again, you should provide evidence such as payslips and receipts to support this head of claim.

How Do No Win No Fee Accident Claims Work?

You could make a personal injury claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor. They may offer to work with you under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means there will be no upfront costs, and you will not be charged any ongoing bills for your solicitor’s services.

Usually, you will only be charged if your claim is successful. In the event of a successful claim, your solicitor will deduct a small success fee. This will be made up of a legally-capped percentage of your compensation.

You can begin your claim today by contacting one of our advisors for free. After your consultation, they may connect you to a manual handling solicitor from our panel with experience dealing in similar claims. Contact us by:

Contact Details

• Speak to an advisor over the phone; call us on 0333 000 0729.
• Contact us online.
• Message us using our live chat feature below.

Find Out More About Manual Handling Accidents And Injuries 

You can find more links that may be relevant to claims where there was no manual handling risk assessment in the workplace.

Internal links:

• Our guide on forklift truck accident claims.
• Information on conveyor belt claims.
• Find out how to claim a back injury from lifting. 

External links:

• GOV.UK – Request CCTV footage of yourself.
• NHS – Get your medical records.
• HSE – Accident book.

Writer MWH

Publisher FS

If you are wondering what the most common manual handling injuries you can claim for are, this guide may be able to help you. It’s not always possible to claim for injuries sustained in the workplace. However, your employer owes you a duty of care to prevent you from becoming harmed at work or while carrying out work duties. If this is not fulfilled and you are injured as a result, this amounts to negligence, and you could start a personal injury claim. 

What Are The Most Common Manual Handling Injuries You Can Claim For In The UK?

This guide will cover the accident at work claims eligibility criteria in more detail later on. Furthermore, key areas of the claims process will be explored, such as time limitations, the evidence you can gather to support your case and how compensation is valued for successful claims.

Additionally, the ways in which your employer could breach their duty of care and what injuries you could suffer as a result will also be examined. 

Lastly, we will look at how a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel could help you with your case.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with our advisors. They can offer free advice pertaining to your potential claim. Also, if they find you have valid grounds to seek personal injury compensation, they could assign your case to a solicitor from our panel.

For more information, you can:

• Fill out our online enquiry form
• Call us on 0333 000 0729
• Use our live chat feature at the bottom of the page

Select A Section

• What Are The Most Common Manual Handling Injuries You Can Claim For In The UK?
• Who Could Claim For Manual Handling Injuries At Work?
• Causes Of Manual Handling Injuries At Work
• Estimating Payouts For Common Manual Handling Injuries
• Make A Manual Handling Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
• Further Manual Handling Injury Claim Resources

What Are The Most Common Manual Handling Injuries You Can Claim For In The UK?

There are several injuries that you could sustain when carrying out manual handling tasks in the workplace. For example:

• Strains and sprains, including soft tissue damage
• Lower back injuries
• Upper back injuries
• Hernias
• Hand, wrist or elbow injuries
• Foot injuries

However, it is not always possible to claim for an injury sustained in the workplace. If you would like to see whether you can claim after suffering a manual handling injury at work, please get in touch with an advisor from our team. 

Who Could Claim For Manual Handling Injuries At Work?

The duty of care employers owe is established in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). It states that employers need to take reasonable and practicable steps to ensure the safety of the workplace, environment, equipment, and facilities to prevent employees from being injured. 

Additionally, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 sets out an employer’s specific responsibilities with regard to manual handling activities in the workplace.

In order to begin a personal injury claim for manual handling injuries, you need to prove that your employer breached their duty of care and caused you harm as a result. This is negligence.

Limitation Periods On Manual Handling Accident Claims

As set out by the Limitation Act 1980, you typically have 3 years to start your personal injury claim from the date of your injury. There are some exceptions that could apply to this time limit for certain scenarios. If this is applicable to you, you may be afforded more time to start your claim. 

If you would like more details regarding the time limits and eligibility criteria, get in touch with an advisor on the number above.

Causes Of Manual Handling Injuries At Work

There are many ways in which you could suffer a manual handling injury at work. Here are some examples: 

• Your employer does not provide you with manual handling training when you start a job. Due to this, when you are asked to carry heavy materials, you use the improper technique and suffer a back injury. 
• A risk assessment is not carried out when you are tasked with carrying objects across the office. Consequently, trip hazards are left unattended causing you to slip on a wet floor and sustain a wrist and head injury. 
• Your employer asks you to lift materials that are too heavy. Due to this, you suffer a hand injury and a shoulder injury. 
• You aren’t provided personal protective equipment, such as steel-toe boots. As a result, when moving heavy boxes that are difficult to hold, you sustain a broken foot after dropping the boxes.

To discuss your specific situation, please get in touch with an advisor from our team to learn whether you could claim. They can also discuss the most common manual handling injuries you can claim for, provided the eligibility criteria laid out above is met.

Estimating Payouts For Common Manual Handling Injuries

If your claim for an accident at work is successful, the payout you are awarded can comprise compensation from two seperate heads. Firstly, you will receive compensation for any pain and suffering that is caused by your injuries under general damages. This applies to both physical and mental injuries. 

We have included a table of compensation amounts that have been taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a document that is used by legal professionals when valuing claims. However, all cases are unique, which means these figures are not guaranteed. 

Compensation Brackets

How Are Special Damages Calculated?

If you also encounter financial losses due to your injuries, you could receive compensation for these under special damages. This head of claim seeks to reimburse you for costs such as: 

• Loss of earnings 
• Care costs 
• Medical expenses 
• Travel costs 
• Home adaptation costs 

Evidence such as payslips and invoices can help prove these losses when you claim them back.

If you would like a personal estimate of how much compensation you could be entitled to, please contact our advisors. 

Make A Manual Handling Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

If you are eligible to make an accident at work claim, you may consider entering into a type of No Win No Fee agreement with a solicitor from our panel. The kind of contract they can offer is known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This negates any payment for the services your solicitor provides upfront, throughout the duration of your claim or if your claim fails. 

In cases where your claim is successful, you will pay a capped by law success fee that will be subtracted from the compensation you are awarded. 

Ways To Contact Our Team

The advisors from our team can offer you a free consultation to determine whether or not you have a valid claim. If you do, they can set you up with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel. To get in touch: 

• Fill out our online enquiry form
• Call us on 0333 000 0729
• Use our live chat feature at the bottom of the page

Further Manual Handling Injury Claim Resources

Here are some more of our own guides relating to accident at work claims:

• I got hurt at work – Do I need a lawyer? 
• Office accident at work compensation claim
• Can I claim for an injury after receiving no workplace training?

We have also provided you with further reading, which may be beneficial: 

• NHS- First Aid
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)- Employer Responsibilities
• GOV- Statutory Sick Pay

Thank you for reading this guide on the most common manual handling injuries you can claim for. If you have any other questions, please get in touch using the contact details provided above.

Written by BP

Edited by MMI

This guide aims to answer the question, ‘what are the best manual handling and lifting techniques?’. It is important to use the correct lifting techniques when carrying out a manual handling task, as failure to do so could result in you sustaining an injury. If your injuries are caused by failings on the part of your employer to uphold the duty of care they owed to you, you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim.

What are the best manual handling and lifting techniques?

As we move through this guide, we will examine which lifting techniques are recommended when carrying out manual handling tasks at work. What’s more, we will explain the duty of care that employers owe to their employees, and discuss the steps you could take if this is breached, causing you to sustain an injury. Then, we will look at how compensation could be calculated in a successful manual handling accident at work claim.  

If you have any questions that you would like to ask, you can get in touch with a member of our friendly team at any time. They are available 24/7 to provide free advice on making a personal injury claim following a manual handling accident at work. There is no obligation to further your claim with us. 

You can:

• Call our team on 0333 000 0729
• Contact us via our online form
• Use the live chat feature on this page

Select A Section

1. What Are The Best Manual Handling And Lifting Techniques?
2. Who Could Claim For A Manual Handling And Lifting Injury At Work?
3. Examples Of Workplace Manual Handling Injury Payouts
4. Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help You?
5. Learn More About Safe Manual Handling At Work

What Are The Best Manual Handling And Lifting Techniques?

Manual handling at work is sometimes necessary to transport goods from one place to another using bodily force. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the regulator of workplace health and safety in Britain, provides advice on good manual handling techniques. They state that it is the responsibility of employers to protect their employees from the risk of sustaining manual handling injuries at work.

In the following sections, we will discuss the HSE’s advice regarding good handling techniques.

Good Lifting And Handling Techniques

The HSE outlines some steps that you can take to ensure you are using good lifting and handling techniques. These are as follows: 

• Plan the activity
• Ensure you keep the load close to your waist
• Get into a stable position with your feet apart
• Get a good hold on the load
• Slightly bend at the start of the lift
• Do not flex your back any more when lifting
• Do not twist your back

In the following section, we will explain the techniques you can use to help you safely carry a load. 

How To Carry The Load

The HSE also provides further guidance on carrying a load in the workplace. This is as follows:

• Don’t lift or handle more than you can manage
• Keep your head up
• Move smoothly
• Place the load down and then adjust

You may wonder, ‘what if I am pushing or pulling a load in the workplace?’. We will provide advice on this in the next section, so continue reading. 

Safely Pushing And Pulling Loads In The Workplace

Pushing and pulling loads via a trolley or pallet truck is a way of moving a higher volume and weight of goods whilst also reducing the necessary amount of manual lifting and carrying. It is still important that health and safety procedures are put in place, to ensure that the employees carrying out pushing and pulling operations are safe, as far as is reasonably practicable.

We hope this has helped to answer the question, ‘what are the best manual handling and lifting techniques?’. Please continue reading to find out whether you could make an accident at work claim for a manual handling injury.

Who Could Claim For A Manual Handling And Lifting Injury At Work?

You could be eligible to make a personal injury claim for a manual handling and lifting injury at work on the basis of employer negligence. Negligence means that: 

• Firstly, your employer owed you, their employee, a duty of care at the time and location of your accident.
• Secondly, your employer breached this duty of care. 
• Finally, as a consequence of this breach of duty, you sustain physical injuries and/or mental harm. 

You may wonder, ‘what is the duty of care that employers owe to their employees?’. As laid out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA), employers must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure their employee’s safety and welfare at work. This includes performing risk assessments and providing adequate manual handling training.  

Also, as per The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, employers must avoid a manual handling task, as much as is reasonably practicable, if it presents the risk of their employees being injured. However, where it cannot be avoided, an employer must assess the risk and reduce it to the lowest level reasonably possible.

Manual Handling Accident Claim Limitation Periods

The Limitation Act 1980 sets out the applicable time limits to personal injury claims. It states that legal proceedings must be started within three years of the date that your manual handling accident took place. Although some exceptions can apply in certain circumstances. 

Please speak to a member of our team to learn whether you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim against your employer. They can provide insight into the limitation period for your claim. 

Examples Of Workplace Manual Handling Injury Payouts

A successful manual handling injury payout could comprise up to two different types of damages. These are called general damages and special damages. 

Firstly, general damages account for the pain and suffering caused by your physical injuries and/or any mental harm sustained. This also considers the impact of your injuries on your quality of life. 

As an aid when valuing general damages, personal injury solicitors can use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Therefore, we have used this document to create the following table containing guideline compensation brackets for various injuries that could be sustained in a manual handling accident.

Guideline Compensation Table 

This table is a guide, as each manual handling accident case is unique. 

How To Calculate Special Damages

The second head of claim that you could receive is special damages. This reimburses for the monetary losses stemming from your injuries, both past and future. 

This could include:

• Loss of earnings
• Travel expenses
• The cost of care
• Housing adaptations

It is important to note that you would require evidence of these losses, such as payslips, travel tickets and invoices. 

Would you like a member of our team to provide you with a compensation estimate personalised to you and your case? If so, get in touch today.

Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help You?

It can be beneficial to use a solicitor to make a manual handling injury claim, as they can help guide you through the claims process. What’s more, under a type of No Win No Fee agreement, known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you can access their services without being required to pay any upfront or ongoing fees for these services. 

What’s more, you also usually will not pay for the services of your solicitor in the event your claim is unsuccessful. 

Although, No Win No Fee solicitors can, in the event of a successful personal injury claim, take a small percentage of the compensation. The relevant legislation caps this success fee, however. Therefore, you know you will not be overcharged. 

Speak to one of our team members for an assessment of your manual handling accident claim. If they find that you could have valid grounds to pursue compensation, they may place you in contact with one of our No Win No Fee personal injury solicitors. 

Get In Touch With Our Team

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team and ask questions relating to this guide on, ‘What are the best manual handling and lifting techniques?’. They can provide advice on making a manual handling injury at work claim. 

You can:

• Call our team on 0333 000 0729
• Contact us via our online form
• Use the live chat feature on this page

Learn More About Safe Manual Handling At Work

Firstly, take a look at more of the guides on our website:

• How Can Manual Handling Claims Solicitors Help Me?
• How To Claim For A Back Injury At Work From Lifting
• Could I Claim Compensation For A Part Time Staff Accident At Work?

Then, explore the external links below for further support and information: 

• HSE: Manual Handling – Reduce the risk of injury
• HSE: Back pain
• GOV.UK: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Thank you for reading this guide, we hope to have answered the question, ‘what are the best manual handling and lifting techniques?’.

Written by JO

Edited by FS

You may be wondering ‘how can manual handling cause slip, trip and fall injuries?’. If so, this guide could help. It will explore what manual handling is and how you could sustain harm when carrying out manual handling activities in the workplace. We will also discuss the duty of care your employer owes you and how a breach of this could lead to you becoming injured at work.

How Can Manual Handling Cause Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries?

Additionally, we will discuss when you could be eligible to begin a personal injury claim for injuries sustained at work as well as the time limits you have to do so and the evidence you could gather in support of your case.

This guide also features a compensation section that addresses what your settlement could consist of and how it might be calculated.

If you want more information on claiming for manual handling injuries, you can speak to one of our advisors for free. They may connect you to a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel if they believe you have valid grounds to make a claim. To get in touch, you can:

• Call us on 0333 000 0729
• Contact us online
• Message us on our live chat below

Select A Section

1. How Can Manual Handling Cause Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries?
2. Who Could Claim For Manual Handling Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries?
3. How To Prevent Manual Handling Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries At Work
4. Examples Of Payouts For Manual Handling Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries 
5. No Win No Fee Workplace Manual Handling Slip And Fall Injury Claims
6. Learn More About Slips, trips And Falls At Work

How Can Manual Handling Cause Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries?

Manual handling can involve the action of pulling, pushing, lifting, carrying or moving loads. In some cases, it can lead to slip, trip and fall injuries. 

Slip, trip, fall workplace accidents when manual handling could be caused by poor environments, such as trip hazards being left unattended and spaces being untidy. Some examples include:

• Debris.
• Trailing wires or cables.
• Wet floor surfaces.
• Poor lighting.
• Restricted walkways.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) workplace injury statistics, slips, trips, and falls make up the largest percentage (30%) of non-fatal injuries and handling, lifting or carrying makes up the second largest (18%).

However, it is not always possible to make a claim for injuries sustained when manual handling or those caused by a slip, trip or fall in the workplace. You can find more information on the eligibility requirements for making a claim in the following section.

Who Could Claim For Manual Handling Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries?

In order to be eligible to begin a personal injury claim, you must be able to prove that your injuries were due to an employer’s negligence. This involves proving:

• Firstly, you were owed a duty of care by your employer at the time and date of the accident.
• Secondly, there was a breach of duty.
• Thirdly, this breach resulted in your injuries.

Employers owe their employees a duty of care as outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). The act states that an employer must take reasonable steps to maintain a safe working environment and prevent employee injuries.

Furthermore, The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 sets out the specific responsibilities employers have in relation to managing manual handling operations.

If your employer fails to uphold their duty of care and causes you to sustain harm as a result, you could be eligible to make a claim against them.

How Long Do You Have To Claim?

Generally, the limitation period to start a personal injury claim is three years from the date of the accident, outlined in the Limitation Act 1980. However, there are certain exceptions that could apply to your specific circumstances. 

To discuss these exceptions in more detail, get in touch using the number above. An advisor can also discuss eligibility in more detail.

How To Prevent Manual Handling Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries At Work

As well as wondering ‘how can manual handling cause slip, trip and fall injuries?’, you may also want to know how these types of accidents could be prevented.

Before a manual handling task is carried out, employers should undertake a risk assessment so that they are able to identify and manage the potential risks involved.

Some of the steps an employer could take after identifying the risk are:

• Ensuring floors are clear and free from spillages to prevent a slip on a wet floor while manual handling.
• Ensure there is sufficient lighting; for example, no stairwell lighting could cause a fall injury while moving loads up and down the stairs.
• Make sure the employees do not lack manual handling training so they can carry out their duties as safely as possible.

Examples Of Payouts For Manual Handling Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries

Following a successful personal injury claim, you could receive a settlement comprising of two heads of claim. One of the heads is known as general damages; this compensates for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.

Below, a table of guideline compensation brackets has been provided using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a tool solicitors can use to help them value general damages.

Compensation Table

As every claim is unique, you should not take these figures as guaranteed payouts for your injury. There are many parts of a claim that need to be factored in. As such, you should only use the figures as a guide.

What Are Special Damages Payments?

The other head of claim is referred to as special damages and will compensate any past or future financial losses caused by your injuries. Here are some examples of the costs you could claim back:

• Loss of earnings.
• Travel expenses.
• Medical costs.
• The cost of adaptations to your home and vehicle.

You would need to support these losses with evidence such as, payslips and receipts.

To receive an estimate of how much your claim could be worth, get in touch using the number above.

No Win No Fee Workplace Manual Handling Slip And Fall Injury Claims

Our panel of experienced manual handling solicitors could offer to represent your personal injury claim for manual handling injuries under a specific No Win No Fee contract. They offer their services under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement. This typically means:

• You will not be charged any ongoing or upfront fees for your solicitor’s services.
• There is no fee to pay your solicitor if the claim is unsuccessful.

In the event of a successful claim, your solicitor will charge a success fee that is a small percentage of your compensation. The amount they can take is restricted by the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.

If you would like to work with a solicitor from our panel on this basis, you can get in touch with one of our advisors. They may connect you to a solicitor from our panel if they believe you have a valid claim. To get in touch:

• Call us on 0333 000 0729.
• Contact us online.
• Message us on our live chat below.

Learn More About Slips, Trips And Falls At Work

For more of our guides relating to accident at work claims:

• More information on claims if you have slipped at work and hurt your back.
• A guide for claiming for a back injury at work from lifting.
• Learn about claiming compensation for slip, trip and fall injuries.

For more of our external resources:

• GOV.UK – Request CCTV footage of yourself.
• NHS – Get your medical records.
• HSE – Risk assessments.

We hope this guide has helped to answer the question ‘how can manual handling cause slip, trip and fall injuries?’. If you have any other questions, please get in touch on the number above.

Written by MWH

Edited by MMI

In this guide, we will explore when you could be eligible to begin a personal injury claim for injuries sustained in an accident involving manual handling. A claim can only be made if the eligibility requirements are met. We will explore these in further detail throughout our guide, as well as the time limits in place for starting legal proceedings and the evidence that can be used to support your case. 

How To Make A No Win No Fee Manual Handling Claim

Employers owe a duty of care to their employees. If this is breached, it could lead to you experiencing harm in the workplace. We will provide examples of how a breach of this duty could lead to manual handling accidents and injuries.

Furthermore, we will discuss the settlement you could be awarded if your accident at work claim were to succeed.

Finally, we will explore the benefits of working with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel and the services they could offer.

For more information, you can get in touch with an advisor from our team. They can offer free advice in relation to your potential claim and answer any questions you might have regarding the claims process. To get in touch, you can:

• Discuss your claim over the phone on 0333 000 0729
• Contact us by completing our online form. 
• Message an advisor on the live chat function below.

Select A Section

1. The Criteria For Making A Manual Handling Claim
2. Types Of Manual Handling Injuries You Can Claim For
3. How Do I Prove Liability In An Accident At Work Claim?
4. Compensation Payouts In A Manual Handling Claim
5. Funding A No Win No Fee Solicitor For Your Workplace Accident Claim
6. Read More About A Manual Handling Claim

The Criteria For Making A Manual Handling Claim

You may be wondering whether you can begin a personal injury claim for injuries sustained in an accident involving manual handling. For a claim to be made, you need to establish negligence. This involves proving:

• Firstly, you were owed a duty of care by your employer at the time and place of the accident.
• Secondly, this duty was breached.
• Thirdly, this breach caused your injuries.

An employer’s duty of care is defined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). The act requires that an employer takes reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their employees and prevent injury in the workplace or while work-related duties are being carried out. 

Additionally, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 sets out the specific responsibilities employers have in connection with manual handling activities. It states they must avoid the need for activities involving manual handling where there is a risk of employees becoming injured. If this is not possible, they must take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of injury. There are several ways they can do this, including:

• Making any loads smaller, lighter, or easier to hold
• Adapting the workplace to reduce the distances for carrying and avoiding employees having to use unnatural and unsafe lifting techniques
• Ensuring employees have had sufficient training on how to carry out manual handling activities as safely as possible

A failure on your employer’s part to uphold their duty of care could lead to a manual handling accident in which you sustain an injury.

Time Limits On Manual Handling Claims

In general, there is a limitation period of three years to start a personal injury claim from the date of the accident. This is outlined in the Limitation Act 1980. However, how long you have to claim for an accident at work may differ in some circumstances.

To find out more about the time limit and it’s exceptions or to discuss whether you could be eligible to begin a claim for manual handling injuries, get in touch on the number above.

Types Of Manual Handling Injuries You Can Claim For

There are several types of injuries that could be sustained as a result of a manual handling accident. For example:

• Back injuries and neck injuries – An employee might have used an unsafe lifting technique due to receiving inadequate manual handling training in the workplace causing them to sustain soft tissue damage in the back.
• Shoulder injuries, hand injuries, and arm injuries – An employer may have failed to carry out a risk assessment before instructing employees to carry out manual handling tasks. As a result, they might have sustained soft tissue damage to their arm and shoulder as a result of carrying a load that was too heavy for their height.
• Foot injuries – An employer might have failed to ensure the loads they asked an employee to carry were light enough and small enough to carry safely. As a result, the employee might have sustained a crush injury to their foot after dropping a heavy load.

To discuss the specific injuries you sustained while manual handling and if a claim could be made, get in touch on the number above.

How Do I Prove Liability In An Accident At Work Claim?

Evidence can help to support a claim for manual handling. It can be used to prove negligence as well as give details on the extent of the physical or psychological impact caused by your injury. Additionally, it can help prove any financial losses. 

Examples of the evidence you could collect include:

• CCTV footage of the accident.
• A diary of your symptoms and injuries.
• Records of financial expenses, such as receipts and payslips.
• A copy of your medical records.
• Contact details of witnesses.

One of the services a solicitor from our panel can provide is helping you collect evidence for your case. If you would like to find out more about how they can help and whether they could represent your accident at work claim, get in touch on the number above.

Compensation Payouts In A Manual Handling Claim

Personal injury settlements following a successful claim will consist of compensation for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries. This is awarded under general damages. 

Below is a table containing guideline award brackets taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a tool solicitors use to help them value general damages. Please only use the figures as a guide.

Compensation Table

Are There Other Forms Of Compensation Available?

Your settlement could also consist of compensation for the financial losses incurred due to your injuries. This is awarded under special damages. Examples of the costs you could claim back include:

• Travel costs.
• Medical expenses.
• Loss of earnings.

For an accurate estimate of how much compensation you could be awarded should you make a successful claim, get in touch on the number above.

Funding A No Win No Fee Solicitor For Your Workplace Accident Claim

The accident at work solicitors from our panel could help you through the different stages of the claims process. Additionally, they can represent your claim through a No Win No Fee contract. There are many types, but the one they can offer is called a Conditional Fee Agreement.

As per the terms of this arrangement, you will not be charged for your solicitor’s services upfront or whilst the claim is in progress. Furthermore, you won’t be charged for their work if your claim completes unsuccessfully.

If your claim has a successful outcome, you will pay your solicitor a percentage of your compensation. However, the amount they can take is capped by the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.

For more information on working with a solicitor from our panel, get in touch with an advisor. They can assess whether you have valid grounds to seek personal injury compensation. If you do, they could assign a solicitor to your case. To reach them, you can:

• Discuss your claim over the phone on 0333 000 0729
• Contact us by completing our online form. 
• Message an advisor on the live chat function below.

Read More About A Manual Handling Claim

For more of our guides relating to personal injury claims for an accident at work:

• How to claim compensation for fatigue and tiredness from an accident at work 
• How to make a defective work equipment accident claim
• What could I claim for a construction accident?

For more external resources:

• GOV.UK – Learn how to request CCTV footage of yourself
• NHS – How to get your medical records
• Health and Safety Executive – Assess manual handling that can’t be avoided

Thank you for reading this guide on accidents involving manual handling and when a claim could be made. If you have any other questions, please get in touch using the details provided above.

Written by MWH

Edited by MMI

If you work in a job that involves lifting and moving heavy loads, you may wonder, how can manual handling cause back injuries? In this guide, we will look at the different industries in which manual handling can occur and the responsibilities owed by employers. 

How can manual handling cause back injuries?

To begin, we will provide some examples of how back injuries might occur due to manual handling at work. Next, we will establish when a claim could be made.

You can supply evidence supporting a claim to add strength to your claim. Evidence is an important factor and we will look at the kinds of proof you can provide. 

This guide will then move on to compensation you may be entitled to. Our guide will provide a section addressing the two heads of claim you can potentially claim for and a table of compensation figures for relevant injuries. 

If you would like more information regarding claiming for a manual handling injury at work, please continue reading. You can also contact us for free with the details below; after speaking with an advisor, they may connect you to a solicitor from our panel if they believe you have a valid claim. 

Contact Us

• Contact us online.
• Speak to an advisor over the phone on 0333 000 0729.
• Message us using our live chat below.

Select A Section

1. How Can Manual Handling Cause Back Injuries At Work?
2. Can You Claim For Manual Handling Back Injuries At Work? 
3. How To Prove Workplace Manual Handling Injury Claims
4. Compensation Settlements For Manual Handling Back Injuries
5. Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Handle My Claim?
6. Find Out More About Manual Handling Claims

How Can Manual Handling Cause Back Injuries At Work?

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) workplace injury statistics, handling, lifting or carrying injuries make up 18% of all non-fatal workplace injuries reported by employers to the Health and Safety Executive, the second most common. In addition, back injuries consist of 42% of all reported musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace. 

However, workplace injuries do not automatically entitle the injured party to claim. There are certain requirements that must be met to submit a valid claim. These will be discussed in the next section.

Employers must take reasonable and practicable steps to ensure their employees’ safety. Failure to do so may result in a back injury from lifting at work. 

When planning manual handling at work, employers should consider TILE: 

• Task- An employer must consider the nature of the task, assess what is involved, and identify the level of risk. Employers are advised to reduce the risk factors as much as possible or find alternative ways of completing the task.
• Individual- Employers should assess the ability of each individual and whether they’re suited to the task at hand. 
• Load- Employers should consider the loads’ size, shape and weight, as well as whether the load contains any hazardous substances. Once the load has been assessed, employers should take the necessary precautions, such as providing adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to assist in handling the load.
• Environment- The area the load is being manoeuvred through and towards should be considered. Factors such as flooring, lighting, and trip hazards can cause risks of further injury. It may be that the environment needs to be altered before the task can begin; for example, you might need to change where the load is stored.

Can You Claim For Manual Handling Back Injuries At Work?

You may be entitled to claim if you have suffered a manual handling injury at work. In order to establish eligibility to claim, it is vital that you can prove negligence was the cause of your injuries.

Employer negligence is simply a breach of a duty of care that results in an injury and consists of you proving that:

• Firstly, you were owed a duty of care.
• Secondly, there was a breach of this duty.
• Thirdly, this breach caused your injury.

An employer’s duty of care is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; this states that an employer should take reasonable steps to prevent injury to their employees. Furthermore, employers must follow the guidance set out in the Manual Handling Operation Regulations 1992.

Manual Handling Claim Time Limits

You must also generally begin your manual handling claim within three years of the accident; this is outlined in The Limitation Act 1980. However, this is only the standard claim time limit and how long you have to claim may differ in exceptional circumstances. 

If you’d like to find out whether these exceptions apply in your circumstances, speak with a member of our team today.

How To Prove Manual Handling Injury Claims

Evidence is an important tool used to support your claim. Evidence can be used to prove the extent of your injury (including psychological injury), show that negligence occurred and prove any financial losses.

Here are some examples of evidence you could collect in support of your claim:

• CCTV footage of the accident.
• Training records.
• A diary of your recovery.
• Medical records.
• Contact details of eyewitnesses so they can be approached for a statement.
• Reporting an accident at work in the accident book.

One of the services our panel of solicitors provide is helping clients collect evidence for their claim. If you feel like you could benefit from their support, contact one of our friendly advisors for free. They may connect you to a solicitor from our panel.

Compensation Settlements For Manual Handling Back Injuries

Following a successful claim, compensation settlements may be made up of up to two heads of claim. One of the heads is general damages; this accounts for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.

Below, you will find a table of guideline compensation brackets for general damages. These figures are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a tool used to help solicitors value claims. 

Compensation Table

Please note that the figures in this table are guidelines. You are not guaranteed the amounts within this table because each claim is unique and will have factors that affect the compensation award.

Can I Claim For Financial Losses?

The other potential head of claim is special damages; this accounts for the financial losses incurred due to your injury. Here are some examples of special damages you could claim for:

• Loss of earnings.
• Future loss of earnings.
• Travel costs.
• Medical expenses.

You can provide evidence, such as payslips and receipts, to support a claim for special damages. 

Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Handle My Claim?

No Win No Fee solicitors can offer representation under Conditional Fee Agreements that offer claimants a range of benefits.

For instance, there will be no upfront costs to begin your claim, and you will usually not be charged for any of your solicitor’s services whilst the claim is in process.

Usually, you will only be charged if your claim is successful; this will be a minor success fee that’s made up of a small percentage of your compensation award. The success fee is legally capped by the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, so you won’t be overcharged.

If you want to start a manual handling claim for a back injury, contact one of our advisors for free today. They may connect you to a manual handling claims solicitor from our panel.

Contact Details

• Contact us online.
• Speak to an advisor over the phone on 0333 000 0729.
• Message us using our live chat below.

Find Out More About Manual Handling Claims

If you still have questions, such as how can manual handling cause back injuries? These further resources may help with your manual handling claim.

Internal links:

• More information on forklift accident claims.
• Our guide on claiming due to inadequate training at work.
• Learn more about making a factory accident claim.
• Our guide on conveyor belt accident claims.

External resources:

• GOV.UK – Find out how to request CCTV footage of yourself.
• NHS – Learn how to get your medical records.
• HSE – Accident book.

Written by MWH

Edited by FS

This guide will provide information on workplace manual handling compensation claims. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) workplace injury statistics, lifting, handling, and carrying made up 18% of all non-fatal injuries in the workplace. However, not all injuries sustained at work will lead to a claim. There are certain requirements that must be met in order to put forward a personal injury claim for an accident at work. We will discuss these in more detail throughout our guide.

A guide on workplace manual handling compensation claims

Additionally, we will explore the different stages of the claims process, including the evidence you can gather to support your case and the benefits of seeking legal advice from a No Win No Fee solicitor. 

Furthermore, the guide will discuss the settlement you could be awarded following a successful personal injury claim and how your potential payout can be calculated.

For more information on starting a claim following a manual handling accident at work, please get in touch with an advisor. They can provide further guidance relating to your potential claim. To get in touch:

• Contact us by completing our online form.
• Telephone 0333 000 0729
• Talk to an advisor using the live chat feature below.

Select A Section

1. Who Could Make Workplace Manual Handling Compensation Claims?
2. Examples Of Manual Handling Accidents
3. Proving Liability For Workplace Manual Handling Compensation Claims
4. Examples Of Manual Handling Compensation Payouts
5. Funding A Solicitor With A No Win No Fee Agreement
6. Read More About Manual Handling Accidents And Injuries

Who Could Make Workplace Manual Handling Compensation Claims?

In order to establish whether you can make a personal injury claim for a manual handling injury, you must demonstrate that negligence has occurred. This involves satisfying these criteria:

• Firstly, you were owed a duty of care.
• Secondly, there was a breach of duty.
• Thirdly, this breach caused your injuries.

Employers owe their employees a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). This means they have to take reasonable steps to ensure the workplace is safe to prevent injuries to employees. Section 2 of HASAWA provides more details on the steps they need to take. It states they need to provide training to employees so they are able to carry out their work-related duties safely. A failure to do so could see you injured while carrying out manual handling tasks.

In addition to proving negligence, you also need to start your claim within the relevant limitation period set out in the Limitation Act 1980. This is generally three years from the accident date, but exceptions can be made in certain circumstances.

For more information on when you could be eligible to make a manual handling claim and how long you have to seek compensation, get in touch on the number above. 

Examples Of Manual Handling Accidents

Below, we have provided some examples of how manual handling accidents and injuries could occur:

• Improper lifting techniques due to the lack of manual handling training may result in back injury.
• Lifting equipment isn’t provided despite a risk assessment showing it was necessary. As a result, an employee sustains a neck injury and shoulder injury.
• An employee lifts a heavier weight than they should for their height causing neck and back sprains.

What Should Employers Do To Prevent Accidents When Manual Handling?

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 states that employers must avoid manual handling activities that pose a risk of injury to employees, so far as is reasonably practicable for them to do so. Where they cannot avoid these tasks, they need to carry out risk assessments so that they can identify, manage and reduce any risks posed.

Some examples of what employers can do to reduce the risk of injury are:

• Change work routine to avoid excessive work rates.
• Make the load smaller, lighter, and easier to grasp.
• Make modifications to reduce carrying distances and any unnatural carrying positions.
• Ensure the people lifting have been trained to lift as safely as possible.

Failure to do so could lead to you sustaining harm while performing a manual handling task. To find out when you could be eligible to seek personal injury compensation following an accident at work, get in touch. An advisor can discuss workplace manual handling compensation claims in more detail.

Proving Liability For Workplace Manual Handling Compensation Claims

Evidence can help to prove liability in a personal injury claim. It can demonstrate employer negligence and provide details on the ways your injuries have impacted your life physically, psychologically, and financially. Examples of the evidence you could gather to support your case include:

• CCTV footage of the accident.
• Medical records.
• A diary containing details of your injuries, the symptoms you experienced, and any treatment you received.
• Contact details of witnesses.
• A copy of the incident report from the workplace accident book.
• Receipts, payslips, travel tickets, and invoices to help prove any financial losses.

One of the services a solicitor from our panel could offer is helping you gather evidence and build your claim. They can also ensure your case is presented in full within the relevant time limit. You can enquire more about the services they offer by getting in touch on the number above.

Examples Of Manual Handling Compensation Payouts

Compensation for a successful personal injury claim can be awarded from up to two heads of claim. General damages account for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.

Below is a table of guideline compensation brackets taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a tool legal professionals can use to value help them value injuries.

Compensation Table

Please note these figures are guidelines.

Are There Other Forms Of Compensation Available?

The other head of claim is known as special damages. This accounts for the past and future financial losses caused by injuries. Some examples of the costs you might be able to claim back under special damages include:

• Travel expenses.
• Medical costs.
• Loss of earnings.

As mentioned, evidence can help to prove these losses so you should keep documentation of any money spent as a result of your injuries.

For an accurate estimate of how much your potential settlement could be worth, get in touch on the number above. Our advisors have experience in providing free valuations of workplace manual handling compensation claims.

Funding A Solicitor With A No Win No Fee Agreement

The solicitors from our panel can offer their services under a No Win No Fee agreement. Whilst there are many types, they tend to offer contracts known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. This usually means there will be no upfront cost to start a claim, and you will not be charged for your solicitor’s services whilst the claim is in process. 

Additionally, you will be charged a percentage of your compensation if your claim is successful; this is known as a success fee. However, the percentage solicitors can take is legally capped by The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, so you can’t be overcharged.

For more information on working with a solicitor from our panel on this basis, please get in touch with an advisor. They can assess your case and if you have the basis of a valid claim that has a chance of being successful, they could connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor. To find out more:

• Contact us by completing our online form.
• Telephone 0333 000 0729
• Talk to an advisor using the live chat feature below.

Read More About Manual Handling Accidents And Injuries

For more of our guides:

• How to claim for a back injury at work from lifting
• How to claim for an accident with a pallet truck
• I had an accident at work – Could I claim after leaving the company?

For more external resources:

• GOV.UK – Request CCTV footage of yourself.
• NHS – How to get your medical records.
• HSE – Accident book.

Thank you for reading our guide on workplace manual handling compensation claims. If you have any other questions, please get in touch with an advisor via the contact details above.

Written by MWH

Edited by MMI

This is an informative guide on how compensation amounts for manual handling claims in the UK can be calculated. All employers owe their employees a duty of care, which we will explain in this article. If your employer should breach this duty of care, it could cause you to sustain workplace injuries. This would be negligence, for which you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim. 

Examples Of Compensation Amounts For Manual Handling Claims In The UK

As we move through this guide, we will explain the way in which legal professionals can calculate a personal injury settlement for manual handling workplace injuries. Also, we will provide a guideline compensation table and include a list of the different types of injuries you could sustain in an accident of this type. 

What’s more, we will outline the criteria of eligibility that your case must meet for you to have valid grounds to potentially go on to make a personal injury claim for an accident at work. 

Lastly, we will define the term No Win No Fee agreement and explain how entering into one of these types of arrangements can mean you will not pay for the services your solicitor provides upfront or whilst your claim is ongoing. 

If you would like to make an enquiry into potentially making a personal injury claim for manual handling injuries sustained at work, you can contact a member of our team at any time. Our advisors can provide guidance and insight into your eligibility to claim compensation and the potential settlement value of your case.

To get in touch, you can:

• Call our helpline on 0333 000 0729
• Follow the steps on our online enquiry page
• Chat to an advisor via the live chat window on this page

Select A Section

1. Examples Of Compensation Amounts For Manual Handling Claims In The UK
2. When Could You Claim For Manual Handling Injuries At Work?
3. What Workplace Injuries Could You Claim For?
4. Was My Employer Liable For My Manual Handling Injuries?
5. Check If You Could Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
6. Find Out More About Compensation Amounts For Manual Handling Claims In The UK

Examples Of Compensation Amounts For Manual Handling Claims In The UK

In this section, we will explain how compensation amounts for manual handling claims can be calculated for a successful personal injury case. You could be eligible to receive an award consisting of up to two types of damages: general and special damages. 

Firstly, general damages can compensate you for any mental health damage and/or any physical pain and suffering you have sustained as a result of your injuries.  

As a guide to the general damages part of an accident at work settlement, we have created the following table. This uses the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which accident at work solicitors and other legal professionals can use to aid them when valuing this aspect of a personal injury claim. The JCG only applies to claims made in England and Wales, however.

Table of Guideline Compensation Brackets

Please consider this table as a guide. 

How We Calculate Compensation For Special Damages

A personal injury settlement can also include special damages, which can compensate for the financial losses you suffered due to your injuries. 

This could include:

• A payment for loss of earnings
• Reimbursement for any care costs
• Compensation for travel expenses

To support your potential claim for special damages you must provide evidence of your financial losses, this may involve keeping travel tickets, invoices, receipt and payslips. 

If you would like a personalised estimate of the accident at work compensation that you could receive, speak to a member of our team today. They are available 24/7 to provide you with a free consultation. 

When Could You Claim For Manual Handling Injuries At Work?

To make a personal injury claim for manual handling injuries at work, your case must meet the following criteria: 

• Firstly, you are owed a duty of care by your employer at the location and time of your accident.
• Secondly, your employer breached this duty of care owed to you.
• Lastly, this breach caused you to sustain mental harm and/or physical injuries.

Employer duty of care is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). This states that all employers must take reasonable practicable steps to ensure the safety of their employees. These steps can include providing proper manual handling training and carrying out risk assessments. 

If your employer fails to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure your safety, and as a result you sustain a manual handling injury at work, you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim.

Manual Handling Accident Claims Limitation Periods

For manual handling claims and other personal injury cases, the Limitation Act 1980 outlines the applicable time limits. This states that you have a limitation period of three years from the date that the accident occurred to begin legal proceedings. However, there can be exceptions to this in certain circumstances.  

To learn more about these potential exceptions in connection with your claim or to enquire about your eligibility to bring forward a personal injury case, please contact a member of our team.  

What Workplace Injuries Could You Claim For?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the workplace health and safety regulator for Britain, provides guidance on manual handling risks at work, which they state cause more than a third of all workplace injuries. Some examples of how lifting and carrying in the workplace can put you at risk of injury include awkward posture, incorrect lifting techniques and having pre-existing injuries.

Some injuries you could sustain include:

• Sprains and strains
• Soft tissue injuries
• Fractures
• Hernias
• Exacerbation or acceleration of pre-existing conditions
• A shoulder, wrist, foot or back injury

If you would like to learn more about potential compensation amounts for manual handling claims in the UK in connection with the injury you have sustained, speak to one of our advisors. 

Was My Employer Liable For My Manual Handling Injuries?

Alongside HASAWA, employer duty of care in relation to manual handling is also outlined by The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. Under this legislation, so far as is reasonably practicable, employers must avoid the need for their employees to perform manual handling tasks that involve the risk of them being injured, or where this cannot be avoided, they should assess the risk, and reduce it to the lowest level reasonably possible.

A failure to do so could mean your employer was liable for manual handling injuries. You could gather evidence to prove liability in a personal injury claim, such as:

• CCTV footage of the accident
• Pictures of your injuries
• Medical records
• Witness contact information

If you would like further insight into the steps you could take to prove your employer breaching their duty of care caused your manual handling injuries, contact one of our advisors today. 

Check If You Could Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis

You may wonder, ‘What benefits are involved in entering into a No Win No Fee agreement?’. A popular form of this type of agreement is a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This can generally provide the following benefits for you and your claim:

• No upfront or ongoing payments for the services provided by your personal injury solicitor. 
• No payments to be made at any time for the solicitor’s work if your case is unsuccessful.
• Your solicitor can receive a small percentage of the compensation if your claim succeeds. The legislation outlining this form of agreement caps this success fee. Therefore, a No Win No Fee solicitor cannot charge a success fee that exceeds this cap. 

Please contact one of our advisors for a free assessment of your personal injury claim’s eligibility. If they find you may have legitimate grounds to pursue a manual handling claim, they could connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel. 

Connect With Specialist Manual Handling Solicitors

Our team at Legal Helpline are available 24/7 to provide free and confidential advice related to your compensation claim. Also, they may be able to provide you with further insight into how compensation amounts for manual handling claims may be calculated.

To get in touch, you can:

• Call our helpline on 0333 000 0729
• Contact us online
• Speak to an advisor via the live chat window on this page

Find Out More About Compensation Amounts For Manual Handling Claims In The UK

Please learn more about manual handling claims via the resources on our website:

• Lack Of Manual Handling Training At Work Caused An Accident – Can I Claim?
• What Are Your Employers’ Responsibilities After An Accident At Work?
• Could I Be Sacked If I Claim For An Accident At Work?

Also, explore the following external links for further support and guidance:

• GOV.UK – Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
• NHS – Back Pain
• HSE – Managing Risks And Risk Assessment At Work

Thank you for reading this guide on how compensation amounts for manual handling claims in the UK can be calculated. If you have been left with any questions, please contact us via the details provided in this guide.

Written by JO

Edited by MMI