UK solicitor sets out how to claim compensation for a lifting injury at work when proper manual handling training has not been provided.
Work lifting injury question
I work in a factory in Coventry and part of my job is to move boxes on a trolley from one area of the factory floor to another.
On one occasion my trolley was not working and my supervisor said I should pick the boxes up manually for that day only. The boxes weigh between 25 and 50 kilograms and after a few hours of work I had pain in my lower back.
I reported my injury to my employer who recorded it in to the accident book.
Later that day I went to see my GP and was referred to a specialist who indicated that I had a lower back strain. I explained that I was moving boxes and had never been given any training in manual handling about how to pick up the boxes and carry them as usually I would be using a trolley.
The consultant orthopaedic surgeon indicated that this was the cause of my lower back strain which could last a number of months or could even be permanent.
Can I make a claim for compensation from my employer?
Work accident solicitor response
It is clear that carrying boxes of weight between 25 kilograms and 50 kilograms without proper training is dangerous to employees. The lower back is one area that will be susceptible to injury.
You have previously been trained to do this job with a trolley and it seems highly inappropriate that whilst this trolley is not working that one individual should be required to move such a large amount of weight with or without manual handling training.
You have taken the right steps of reporting your injury in to the work accident book and the treating consultant orthopaedic surgeon has suggested that your injury is likely to have come from the weights involved.
Your employer would seem to be negligent for asking you to complete the job in this manner, not supplying help from another employer, not supplying a further trolley for the job to be done correctly, not supplying any training about safe handling techniques and not warning of the dangers of moving such large weights.
To make a claim you need the assistance of an accident at work solicitor who will obtain medical evidence from an independent orthopaedic surgeon verifying your injuries.
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