Lifting Injury at Work Claim | Express Solicitors

If you’ve been injured while lifting something at work, you might be unsure whether you can make a claim. The answer usually comes down to whether your employer did enough to keep you safe.

Accidents while lifting are one of the most frequent causes of workplace injuries, especially in physically demanding jobs. But that doesn’t mean they’re inevitable. Employers have clear responsibilities to prevent them. And if they don’t, you could be entitled to compensation.

This guide explains when lifting becomes unsafe, what the law says, what injuries are most common, and how to start a lifting injury at work claim.

The risks of lifting without assistance

Lifting injuries often happen because proper support isn’t in place. Employers must provide equipment to make lifting safer, like trolleys, hoists or adjustable workstations. They should also make sure tasks are well planned, with enough people to help if needed. You’re more likely to suffer an injury if you’re:

Lifting heavy or awkward items alone
Working in a tight space or at an awkward angle
Rushing to meet deadlines without proper support

These are all signs that the task might not be safe. If you were injured in any of these situations and your employer didn’t take steps to reduce the risk, the responsibility might lie with them, not you.

Are there legal limits for manual lifting in the UK?

There’s no fixed legal maximum for how much you can be asked to lift at work, but that doesn’t mean anything goes.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance on what’s considered safe in ideal conditions:

Up to 25kg for men
Up to 16kg for women

However, these figures only serve as a guide. If you’re lifting at an angle, reaching overhead, twisting or working in poor conditions, the safe limit will be much lower.

By law, employers must carry out manual handling risk assessments and adjust tasks to reduce risk, not just rely on general weight guidelines. That means thinking about the load, the environment, the worker’s capability and whether equipment or help is needed.

If your employer didn’t do this, and you suffered an injury as a result, you might be able to make a claim for a lifting accident.

Unsafe lifting causes injury

If you’ve been injured lifting a heavy object at work, you’re not alone. Manual handling accidents are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries in the UK and they don’t always happen suddenly. Some develop over time through repeated strain. These are some of the most common injuries caused by unsafe lifting:

Back strain — Soft tissue damage in the muscles or ligaments of the back. Often caused by lifting too much, bending awkwardly, or twisting while carrying a load.
Slipped disc — A disc in your spine moves out of place or ruptures, causing pain, weakness or numbness. This can happen from lifting in the wrong position or handling heavy loads without support.
Hernia — Occurs when internal tissue pushes through a weak spot in muscle, often due to strain. Lifting without training or while overexerting yourself can increase the risk.
Shoulder or knee injuries — Heavy or awkward lifting can lead to joint damage, especially when working in cramped spaces or moving uneven loads.

If you’ve experienced any of these, whether from a single incident or repeated strain, you may be entitled to claim compensation for a manual handling injury.

How is your employer responsible?

Employers have a legal duty to protect workers from lifting-related injuries. These duties are set out in the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and they apply to all kinds of workplaces, from warehouses to hospitals. By law, employers must:

Assess the risks of manual handling tasks before asking staff to carry them out.
Avoid hazardous lifting where possible, by redesigning tasks or using equipment.
Provide training and equipment to make lifting safer when it can’t be avoided.

If you suffered a lifting injury with no training or weren’t given proper support, your employer may have failed in their duty of care. This is known as negligence and it could form the basis of a claim.

How to make a manual handling claim

If you’ve been injured at work while lifting, making a claim is simpler than you might think and there’s no upfront cost. At Express Solicitors, the process usually looks like this:

Initial chat — We’ll listen to what happened and let you know if you have a case.
Gathering evidence — This might include accident reports, witness statements or training records.
Medical records — We’ll arrange a medical assessment to understand your injury and recovery needs.
Negotiation — We’ll handle discussions with your employer’s insurer and fight for the compensation you deserve.

We work on a no win, no fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything upfront and you only pay a fee if your claim is successful.

There’s no pressure to commit. If you’re unsure, we’re happy to answer your questions and talk through your options.

How Express Solicitors can help

We’ve helped thousands of people make successful manual handling claims, including those who thought they didn’t have a case.

Our team specialises in workplace injury claims, including back injuries, hernias and other lifting-related accidents. We’ll guide you through the process with clear advice and a friendly, professional approach from start to finish.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a maximum weight I should lift at work?

There is no fixed legal limit, but HSE guidelines suggest 25kg for men and 16kg for women in ideal conditions.

Is there training to lift heavy objects at work?

Your employer must provide manual handling training to help prevent injury.

How can I claim for a back injury from lifting?

Speak to a solicitor. If your employer failed to protect you, you might be entitled to compensation.

Do I have to report the injury straight away?

It’s best to report your injury as soon as possible, ideally on the day it happens, and make sure it’s recorded in the accident book.

Is there a time limit to make a lifting-related claim?

You usually have three years from the date of injury, or from when you first became aware it was work-related.