Manual Handling Claims
Check if you can claim compensation
If you were injured lifting, carrying, or handling something at work because of unsafe practices, you may be able to claim compensation. We handle manual handling claims across the UK and will explain your options clearly and help you understand the next steps.
Regulated solicitors
Years' experience
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Can you make a manual handling claim?
You may be able to make a manual handling claim if you were injured in the last three years because your employer did not keep you safe. Manual handling covers lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing, or pulling a load by hand or by bodily force.
A claim is usually made against your employer, through their insurer, and many are handled on a No Win No Fee basis. Employers must reduce the risk of manual handling injuries by law, so if that did not happen, our team can check whether you can claim.
Why manual handling injuries often lead to a claim
Employers have a legal duty to protect workers from the risks of manual handling. That covers assessing tasks, providing training and lifting equipment, and organising work so people are not asked to lift more than is safe. When that duty is not met and someone is injured, the law may entitle them to compensation.
Manual handling injuries can happen in a single lift or build up over time, and they often affect the back, neck, shoulders, and joints. Whether your injury came on suddenly or gradually, our solicitors will explain where you stand and handle the claim for you.
Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, your employer must avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable, assess tasks that cannot be avoided and reduce the risk of injury. If these steps were not taken and you were injured, this may support a claim.
Common causes of manual handling claims
You may be eligible to claim if your injury was caused by your employer’s failure to manage the risk.
No training or unsafe systems
Being asked to lift without proper training, or a job set up in a way that makes safe lifting impossible.
Loads too heavy or awkward
Lifting loads that are too heavy, bulky, or unstable, or having to twist, stoop, or reach to move them.
No equipment or help
Missing lifting aids such as trolleys or hoists, or having to do a two-person lift on your own.
Whatever caused your injury, if your employer failed to manage the risk you may have a claim. Tell us what happened and we will let you know where you stand.
How much compensation for a manual handling injury?
There is no single figure. Manual handling compensation depends on how serious your injury is, how long it affects you, and the financial losses that follow. A short-lived strain is treated very differently from a slipped disc or a lasting back or shoulder injury.
We will never promise a set amount. Once an independent medical report sets out your injury and your recovery, your solicitor can explain what your claim may include.
- Pain, suffering and the effect on your daily life
- Lost earnings, now and in the future
- Treatment, physiotherapy and rehabilitation
- Care and support while you recover
Evidence that supports your claim
Clear evidence helps show how the injury happened and how it has affected you. You do not need to gather everything before you get in touch. We can help.
Report it and see your GP. Reporting the injury to your employer or in the accident book, and getting it checked by a doctor, creates a clear record of how and when it happened.
No Win No Fee manual handling claims
You can start a manual handling claim without paying anything upfront. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay a fee for our work, subject to the terms of your agreement.
If your claim succeeds, an agreed success fee is deducted from your compensation. Your solicitor will explain this clearly before you commit to anything.
You will see the full terms in writing before your claim begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before starting your claim.
Can I claim if my employer did not give me manual handling training?
Often, yes. Employers must provide proper training and safe systems for manual handling. If you were injured because that training or those safe systems were missing, you may be able to claim. A claim is made against your employer’s insurance, and you are protected by law from being dismissed for bringing one.
How much compensation can I get for a manual handling injury?
It depends on how serious your injury is, how long it affects you, and the financial losses that follow, such as lost earnings and treatment costs. A short-lived strain and a lasting disc injury are worth very different amounts, so there is no reliable average. Our team can give you a clearer idea once a medical report is in place.
Is there a legal weight limit for lifting at work?
There is no fixed legal weight limit. HSE guidelines treat lifting more than around 25kg as high risk, and the safe amount is lower when the load is held away from the body, lifted from the floor, or handled by a woman. What matters is whether your employer assessed the task and reduced the risk.
Can I claim if the injury built up over time rather than from one lift?
Yes. Many manual handling injuries build up gradually from repeated lifting or poor working practices, rather than from a single accident. For these claims, the three-year time limit usually runs from when you realised your injury was linked to your work, so it is worth getting advice.
Will making a claim affect my job?
A claim is made against your employer’s insurance, not their own pocket, and you have legal protection against being treated unfairly for making a genuine claim. Our team will explain how it works before you decide anything.
Can I still claim if I did not report it straight away?
You may still be able to claim. Reporting early and seeing a doctor makes a claim stronger, but if you did not, other evidence such as medical records and witness accounts can still support your case. It is worth getting advice about your options.
Check if you can make a manual handling claim
Tell us what happened and we will review your details and get back to you. We will explain your options in plain English, with no obligation to go ahead.
- Free, no-obligation review
- No Win No Fee available
- SRA-regulated solicitors
Check if you can make a claim
Takes less than 60 seconds
We'll review your details and contact you within 24 hours
Don't leave it too late to claim
Most manual handling claims must be started within three years. The sooner you begin, the easier it is to gather risk assessments, training records, and other evidence while everything is still available.
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