Manual handling injuries can occur wherever people are at work. It makes no difference whether you work in a factory, office or on a farm. If your job involves lifting of any kind then you are at risk of sustaining injury.

An employer has a duty to minimise the risk of lifting injuries by preventing and controlling the way their employees perform their duties. You cannot remove the prospect of an injury being sustained completely from the workplace but you can take steps to reduce the risks.  Employers must adopt measures to ensure that the risks of injury are minimised fully.

The most common injury associated with lifting is back pain. It is said that up to 5 million working days are lost due to back pain every year.

Read also - pushing and pulling injuries sustained at work & Manual handling injury case study.

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 set out the main duties of both an employer and an employee:

The main duties of an employee

• Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling,
  reasonably practicable;

• Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous
  that can’t be avoided; and

• Reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual
  far as is reasonably practicable.
   

The main duties of the employee are as follows:

• Follow appropriate systems of work laid down for their safety;
  make proper use of equipment provided for their safety;

• Co-operate with their employer on health and safety matters;
   

• Inform the employer if they identify hazardous handling activities;
   

• Take care to ensure that their activities do not put others at risk.

More on back injuries and lifting at work: betterbacks.gov.uk

News:

• Prosecution after workers injured by live power cables at construction site  - 17th April 2008

• Worker fatally crushed at Heathrow Airport  - 26th March 2008

• The safety of people involved in clearing up after recent storms across the UK is of the utmost importance   - 16th March 2008

• Worrying results from the HSE's February spot checks at refurbishment sites   - 10th March 2008

• Inspection initiative targeting refurbishment sites by the HSE's Construction Division  - 12th February 2008

• Company prosecuted after worker loses fingers in machine  - 5th February 2008

• The Ladder Exchange campaign promoting ladder safety meets it's targets  - 24th January 2008

• HSE holding a slips, trips and falls campaign to raise awareness in the workplace during February and March 2008  - 15th January 2008

• Company director prosecuted as a result of workers death  - 13th January 2008

• Gas installers warned about the need for vigilance when carrying out there work after CORGI fitter is fined for poor workmanship - 13th November 2007

• Employers starting to embrace sickness absence well being schemes - 18th July 2007

• Council fined after youngsters fatal fall - 8th May 2007

• Using stepladders at work - the official view from the HSE - 13th April 2007

• Welsh smoking ban commences - 3rd April 2007

• Riddor rules not being adhered to regarding reporting of accidents - 7th March 2007

If you have suffered a personal injury at work - CALL NOW FOR FREE ADVICE ON MAKING A CLAIM

Tel 0800 0322210