All manual handling activities at work require at least two key things: training, and risk assessments. Any employee who is instructed to undertake manual handling activities at work absolutely must receive quality training from the employer in safe and correct lifting techniques. On top of that, any activities must be fully risk assessed to make sure that the task is safe to carry out. These are legal requirements.
Even with proper training, if a task is not safe due to some form of other risk, then the task needs to be looked at carefully. Common examples are the size and weight of an object, obstacles on the route of the lift, and whether the objects are in a location that is safe to lift from. A classic example is that of the beer barrel deliveryman who in the past may have been subjected to lifting heavy kegs of alcohol in a basement whilst crouched down low due to a low lying roof. This can be a killer to your back!
Another example as the title of this article suggests, is that of stacked boxes or loads being on a shelf or at any other form of height. If you need to lift a box from stomach height, you can normally apply the manual handling regulations and safely lift the load so long as it is of a weight and size that is suitable to do so. However, if the box is above head height, you are at risk of injuring yourself as you try and lift the load from the height due to the position of your back.
This kind of scenario is very common in warehouses and similar places of work. Ultimately the task needs to be risk assessed so the risk of lifting the load from a height is identified and rectified. There should be some form of mechanical assistance or other assistance that allows you not to be stretched when lifting the load and therefore risking an injury. Another potential injury is that of the load falling due to it not being stabilised properly as you try and lift it from height.
If you have been asked to partake in such an activity and you have been injured as a result, you may have a claim for compensation against your employer. All employers have a duty to have a policy of employer’s liability insurance in place to cover them for these sorts of instances. If you are injured at work, you can then claim from the insurance for any injuries. However, if you have broken procedure in doing this can of activity, you may not have such an easy claim.
Call our free claims helpline on 0800 634 75 75 for advice about your rights for making a claim for compensation.
