Manual handling injuries don’t only occur in warehouses or on construction sites. They can affect anyone who moves objects as part of their job. Every year, around 300,000 people in the UK suffer backpain due to manual handling accidents.
Whether they develop slowly from repeated strain or appear suddenly after a handling a single heavy object, these injuries can make simple tasks painful and exhausting. Understanding how these injuries occur and what to do if you suffer one can protect your health and, if necessary, your rights.
What are manual handling injuries?
When you move objects by hand, this puts strain on your muscles and joints, especially if those objects are heavy. In jobs where this is a common occurrence this strain can lead to minor sprains or major conditions like musculoskeletal disorders and hernias, either over time or in one sudden episode.
The areas of the body most commonly affected are the back, shoulders, arms and knees as these bear most of the weight, especially if you don’t follow recommended safe lifting techniques. Sometimes symptoms take days or weeks to fully emerge, starting as mild discomfort and potentially intensifying to crippling pain if ignored.
Recognising and treating these injuries can be crucial in ensuring they don’t become dangerous or develop into a lasting issue that impacts your quality of life. Ignoring small aches and pains can lead to long-term problems that affect your ability to work and enjoy everyday activities.
Common causes of manual handling injuries
Many factors increase your risk of injury during manual handling tasks.
Carrying heavy or awkwardly shaped items without assistance can put pressure on your body in unusual positions. This is a common cause of knee pain and back injuries. Repetitive movements, like stacking boxes repeatedly or pushing a heavy cart across a floor, gradually wear down your muscles and joints.
Poor workplace conditions also play a role in causing manual handling injuries. Slippery floors, inadequate lighting, or insufficient training on safe lifting techniques leave you vulnerable to accidents. Even fatigue affects how well you handle loads, slowing reaction times and negatively impacting your posture so serious injury is more likely.
Steps to take after a manual handling injury
If you hurt yourself at work, you should report it immediately, verbally to someone senior and in writing within the workplace accident logbook. Ensuring your employer records the incident officially is important if you need medical treatment or decide to claim compensation later.
Seek medical attention promptly, even if the injury feels minor, to check that no serious damage has been done and get expert recommendations on treatment. If your injury significantly affects your life such as causing you to miss work or rendering you unable to perform essential tasks, keep a personal record. In cases where your employer was at fault for your accident and you could pursue a claim for compensation, these details are important supporting evidence.
Finally, follow any medical advice or rehabilitation programmes carefully to aid your recovery and demonstrate that you’re taking the situation seriously.
How to claim compensation
If your employer failed to provide a safe working environment or ignored risks you raised, you could have grounds for making a manual handling injuries claim.
Begin by gathering evidence to support your claim. This could include photographs of the workplace conditions, any relevant correspondence with your work and medical professionals and statements from colleagues who witnessed the incident.
Once you’re in a position to move forward in the process, consult a solicitor specialising in workplace injuries. They can review your case and manage the claims process on your behalf, advising you on important considerations such as time limitations and the types of damages you could recover. The process can be time-consuming, but the outcome could be invaluable financial support and peace of mind knowing your injury is being taken seriously.
