The law for this subject is very clear – there is a huge burden on your employer to limit as much as possible the need for manual handling at work, or risk assess it and make sure it’s done correctly to avoid any injuries occurring. If you are injured due to a manual handling activity at work, you may have a claim for compensation if your employer has failed to uphold the important duty of care they have for you.
As an example, let’s say you are asked to move a significantly large crate containing bricks. It weighs half a tonne, and unless you possess superhuman strength, it really cannot be moved manually without breaking it down.
If you have to move it, your employer should make sure that you have the right tools to move it. I would imagine a forklift truck or perhaps a pallet truck or pump truck could do the job. But what also needs to be considered in accordance with the regulations above is whether the job can be done risk free. Here is where the risk assessment comes in to place. Your employer should consider:
- Any obstacles or potential obstructions – such as a slope. What if you are pulling the load and lose control of it due to a steep slope? Had your employer considered this?
- Does the move require more than one person for it to be safe? i.e. should there be one person operating the truck, and three other people – one at each side – to secure the load and prevent it from tipping or falling off of the truck?
- Is the object moveable on the truck itself, or is it still too heavy? You don’t want to end up pushing or pulling so hard that you strain or tear a muscle or ligament in your back or shoulder, for example.
There’s a lot to consider. If your employer fails to properly risk assess a manual handling activity and you are injured as a result, there may be a claim to answer for. Give us a call for free and no obligation advice on 0800 634 75 75 today.
