Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone can help supply me with some information?

I have been signed off my work with a neck injury caused, I think, from lifting heavy chemicals (20 litres).  My doctor mentioned that there was a guide to the maximum weights women should be lifting at work and I wondered if anyone could help with the relevant information?   My job regularly involves lifting heavy bags of clinical waste as well as chemicals and paper goods.  I can't afford to be on Statutory Sick Pay but neither can I afford to permenently injure myself.

Thanks

Christine

Hi I can't think how heavy 20 litres is in weight? However, you SHOULD have been training in 'Handling and Movement' which teaches you how to move and lift things correctly. It may well be that it is not the weight that was incorrect, but the way you tried to move it?? Do you have a Union rep or somebody in the Company that is responsible for Health and Safety? Otherwise a call to the Health and Safety Executive may be in order(I'm sure someone clever like JG or Isabel will be able to do a link for you!!) All the best, Dawn PS Do you have an Occupational Health Department?? You can see them in confidence and they will advise you accordingly too.

Did you call :D
I don't know if this will be any use to you, haven't read it thoroughly myself but it certainly seems the onus is on the employer to supply lifting aids whenever it is possible and as Newfie says training should always be given.

Basically, when we are on supplies (Delivering paper goods, chemicals etc. to businesses) we have to load our own vans and then unload them when we deliver to the customer.  Very occasionally the customer will help you but that's rare.

It is a small business I work for with just 5 drivers, 2 warehousemen and then the office staff.

According to this http://www.simetric.co.uk/si_medical.htm, 20 litres is approx. 20 kilos.

20 litres of water will weigh 20k.  Other liquids may be different.

AHAAA, always to be relied upon as usual!!!! :D

AHAAA

You are either over pronouncinating the Norwegian band or those initials stand for something?

I would be grateful for anyhelp with this, I'm a bit cheesed off that I only get SSP when clearly I've tweaked something at work.    Lifting 3 boxes each containing 20 litres of disinfectant probably doesn't help!

It was a reply to Isabels help...always to be relied upon to give links!!! I've already given you my help, which I think you'll find everyone has agreed with...you should have had moving and handling instructions and advised you to seek the hse(another link given by someone)opinion and website help or Unions help...I don't know what else I can help you with?? Everyone has given sound advise and should be a starting point for you...all the best, Dawn

Edited to add...if you click on the right top corner arrow of the dialogue box, you track upto the conversation box the poster is replying to....

If you haven't been trained in Manual Handling then the onus is on the employer to sort out any sick leave and/or compensation.  It doesn't matter what anything weighs - if you're expected to lift something they have to train you to lift it correctly.  This is why I have to spend sooo many days training for work :rolleyes: lol

Debs

Have you checked OSHA? There should be some information on their website or contact phone numbers.

The maximum load that an individual can lift will depend on the capability of the individual and the position of the load relative to the body.  There is therefore no safe load but following HSE guidance, it is not recommeded that loads in excess of 25kg should be lifted or carried by a man (and this is only permissable when the load is at the level of and adjacent to the thighs).  For women the guideline figures sould be reduced by about one third.

A full risk assessment should be carried out before ANY manual handling operation is carried out and full training (and refresher training) should be given.

(quoted from my Health & Safety NEBOSH book). 

Thanks for all your replies to this thread.

I'm in a real quandry and I would like some opinions please.  I have been off work now since 9th May, I should've been on holiday last week but as I sent in a line I assume that I will get this week to take off at a later stage?   Being off has really crippled me financially, SSP is £66 a week, I will have to go back to work next week becuase the mortgage is due to be piad on the 1st and I will need a week's wages to cover this.  However, I'm still getting twinges through my left shoulder blade, I know if I go back to work next week I will be expected to start lifting boxes, bags of clinical waste etc.   I really do not know what to do for the best.  

My boss is far from understanding, believe me, before anyone suggests discussing it with him pre-returning.   Last July I asked if I could work a slightly shorter day to go to to my brother-in-laws funeral held at 3.30 one afternoon, he went balistic and said to me that I had to chose whether I wanted to work or not etc. :(

Any opinions on this would be a real help, yes, I am looking for another job but they don't grow on trees especially in Scotland.

I think I might be able to help you as this is an area in which I specialise ;)

There are actually no maximum weights for manual handling (ie lifting, pushing, pulling) etc, however there are HSE guidelines for both men and women which are relevant to heights, ie you can lift more the smaller the load, and the nearer it is to your body, and the nearer it is to waist level etc. etc.

Your employer should conduct Risk Assessments for all tasks in the workplace and, where relevant, manual handling operations risk assessments.

The heirarchy of risk control means that where possible all manual handling activities should be avoided, then a risk assessment made and then consider the use of MHE where practicable.

Your first step is to view the risk assessments which should be available to all employees, and of course the results of these risk assessments were communicated to you via a Safe System of Work (SSoW) with which you were trained and signed for.

If either you  have failed to look after your own H & S or your employer has failed to extend its duty of care then either or both of you may be in breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Obviously the tasks you mention will also have undergone a COSHH risk assessment where applicable.

You should ascertain if your company has an occupational health nurse/doctor, GPs are not experienced in your field of work and therefore are not much help.

Many companies operate a scheme whereby issues such as yours are referred to specialists such as osteopaths, chiropractics and/or physiotherapists as they can you give you expert advice and get you back to work again.

There should be an accident/incident investigation on your RTW and the underlying and immediate cause identified with remedial action.  One of these remedial actions would  be to reveiw any existing risk assessments and make a cost benefit analysis re MHE v claims etc.

Also if you have any ongoing health problems you should undergo an individual risk assessment too.

Your first step is to view the risk assessments which should be available to all employees, and of course the results of these risk assessments were communicated to you via a Safe System of Work (SSoW) with which you were trained and signed for.

If either you  have failed to look after your own H & S or your employer has failed to extend its duty of care then either or both of you may be in breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.


I never even knew such things as risk assessments existed until now!   So it shows you how much training I have been given!