Manual handling?

[sebmarshall83]

Hi

I'm looking for some help and advice. I work in a factory where I have to lift heavy boxes onto shelves. Sometimes I get a forklift to help me but there's only one in the whole warehouse, so if it's busy I have to make do myself. Anyway, a few days ago the forklift broke down and a few people were off on holiday for the summer. It was up to me to move 150 boxes each weighing about 25kg. When I was lifting one above my head I felt a sharp pain in my right arm and all the strength in it went. I dropped the box and my boss came running over to see what had happened. He filled in the accident book but was reluctant to let me go to the doctors. In the end I just had to walk out because I was in that much pain. I ended up going to a+e and after an xray they told me I'd torn my bicep and can't work for weeks. My boss won't pay me for the time off neither. Is it possible to get compensation for them making me lift these heavy boxes? and can I get compensation for the time I have to miss from work? I have a mortgage to pay and need to buy new school clothes for the kids so this couldn't have come at a worse time

Thanks for your help

Seb

 

[Ed Marshall]

Hi Seb

Thanks for reaching out and I'm sorry to hear about what's happened at work. It sounds like a nasty injury you've suffered, and also that it could have been avoided should your employer have put the proper safety measures in place.

A couple of important things to take away from this:

1. Your employer can't make you lift items that weight 25kg or more above your head
2. There should be risk assessments done for manual handling tasks to identify the hazards and to provide extra help and support to do the job safely

Based on what you've said here, it does sound like you could claim compensation and as part of that claim you could recover all of the costs and financial losses mentioned, plus a lump sum for your pain and suffering. Call us for free today if you'd like a free case check and we'll advise you further

Take care

Ed