The most common manual handling injuries

There are specific manual handling injuries which are common in the workplace. They affect certain areas of the body such as the back, hands and feet. We list some common ones in this guide.

Back, neck and shoulder injuries are common manual handling injuries and are a result of handling items using incorrect techniques. Your back is your weakest body part in relation to manual handling. Although back injuries can appear as not too serious initially, they can eventually become serious long-term health problems. 

Shoulder injuries from incorrect lifting can cause a dislocation of the shoulder. When an object is too heavy and you force yourself to lift it, it could cause neck injuries such as tearing:

• ligaments
• muscles
• tendons

If you suffer a strain or sprain during manual handing work it can result in a chronic condition. Strains or sprains can occur because you put too much weight on a part of your body such as your legs, wrists and arms.

This can cause an overstretched muscle.Symptoms of a sprain can include:

• bruising
• pain surrounding the sprained joint
• swelling
• inability to properly move the area.

During manual handling work, workers use their hands the majority of the time. Therefore, hand injuries are very common manual handling injuries at work. 

Hand injuries can occur either by handling objects as well as due to how an object is placed. Hand injuries at work can include:

• broken fingers
• cuts
• burns
• strains
• fractures

If you have a musculoskeletal disorder in the workplace this is called a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSDs). These will not be obvious immediately and can affect your bones, joints and muscles.

They can cause damage to joints and tissues and can include pain and stiffness.

There are three main types of musculoskeletal disorders which are:

• Back pain
• Upper limb or repetitive strain disorder
• Lower limb disorders

However, musculoskeletal disorders can also include rare autoimmune diseases and back pain.

It is common to experience a manual handling injury through a slip, trip or fall in the workplace.  You may experience this because you are carrying a large object which gets in the way of your vision, or distracts you from the environment around you. This can also occur due to:

• a spillage
• a loose cable
• uneven floor

A slip, trip or fall at your workplace can also cause further workplace injury to another worker. 

It is common in the workplace to experience a manual handling injury such as a cut. Handling sharp objects can cause this. It is also common to experience a bruise or fracture as a result of manual handling with can potentially keep you off work for a long time.  

Manual handling in the workplace can cause a hernia. This can result from lifting heavy objects, including suddenly straining to do so.  Your muscles can strain which then causes the hernia. Hernias often affect older people and can require an operation to resolve the situation. 

Foot injuries are common workplace injuries for those who work in manual handling jobs. The risk of a foot injury increases if you fail to use protective footwear. Foot injuries often occur due to an object being dropped on a foot because:

• the object slips from a person's grasp
• it has been held incorrectly
• an object has been suddenly dropped
• of incorrectly placing an object on the ground

Foot injuries in the workplace can result in crushed or broken bones. 

The best way to prevent manual handling injuries in the workplace is to follow the law which states that an employer must ensure manual handling work is only used ‘so far as reasonably practicable'. 

There are many other ways to prevent manual handling injuries or reduce the risk of injury from occurring in the UK. For example, if you

• use gloves to prevent cuts
• move obstacles around you
• use good lighting
• avoid slippery flooring
• avoid poor posture when lifting
• share lifting and use the right equipment for it
• use gear such as gloves and boots with steel caps
• take part in the right training
• use the right machinery or equipment 
• exercise regularly to stay healthy
• follow health and safety rules

If an accident occurs in the workplace, there are certain actions you or any other employee should take. For example:

• get immediate medical help
• inform your manager
• get the accident recorded at work in writing, such as in an accident reporting book
• take photos of the injury and the area the accident occurred in
• take witnesses details

^{Last updated 31.05.23}