Employers have a responsibility to ensure all employees avoid undertaking manual handling operations which involve a risk of injury in the workplace. This can be in the office, warehouse, café, restaurant, gymnasium and a variety of other work environments.

Where there is the risk of injury, employers should take all reasonable steps to ensure manual handling operations are conducted with measures to reduce the risk by providing devices which assist with lifting. They should also correctly risk assess the task that the employee has to carry out and ensure that the correct training has been completed.

To Avoid Manual Handling Injuries Employers Should Ensure:

• Carrying is not undertaken over long distances
• Lifting or carrying does not require extensive twisting, stooping or reaching upwards
• Lifting or carrying does not require any strenuous pushing or pulling
• You are not required to carry anything where load movements can be unpredictable, unstable or difficult to grasp
• Lifting is done by heavy goods lifting equipment where possible
• Your work allows for sufficient rest periods where manual handling is involved
• You are provided with health and safety instructions on good lifting practice

What safety measures should be in place for employees required to manually handle in the workplace?

It is important for employers to ensure that facilities are up to date with the latest ideas and technology to tackle workplace accidents. This is essential in a work environmentwhere physical lifting and manually handling is required.

Risk assessments

Your employer has a 'duty of care' to make sure, as far as possible, your health, safety and welfare while you're at work. They should start with a risk assessment to spot possible health and safety hazards.

They have to appoint a 'competent person' with health and safety responsibilities usually one of the owners in smaller firms, or a member of staff trained in health and safety.

For businesses employing five or more people, there must also be:

• an official record of what the assessment finds (your employer has to put plans in place to deal with the risks)
• a formal health and safety policy which includes arrangements to protect your health and safety (you should be told what these are)

To talk to a Personal Injury solicitor about your compensation claim, contact Kirwans today on 0151 608 9078 or complete our online enquiry form.