The importance of conducting manual handling risk assessments and implementing safe systems of work with suitable manual handling training, is demonstrated by this case from 21st October, 2010.
A Warwickshire bathroom company has been prosecuted after a worker suffered crush injuries when unloading items from a delivery vehicle. Two workers were involved – one passing boxes from the vehicle down to the other who was standing on the ground. The boxes were between 25 and 50 kg each and were sat on a shrink wrapped pallet on the vehicle. The driver cut away the shrinkwrap on one pallet and several items fell out onto the worker below. He went to hospital and had a month off with damaged ligaments in his wrist.
The company was found guilty of failing to conduct a risk assessment, provide training and use a safe system of work. It was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,500.
It has subsequently introduced a safe system of work using a vehicle with a tail lift and also ensuring that all palletised goods are moved by a fork lift truck. Manual handling training has also been conducted with all staff.