Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Nurse Compensated for Manual Handling Accident at Work
1st May 2007
After suffering a back injury at work, caused by insufficient safety measures for manual handling, a nurse was awarded compensation with help from our specialist personal injury solicitors.
Manual Handling
At the time of her accident at work, the claimant was working with a healthcare assistant in the anaesthetic room of an operating theatre. A patient was being prepared for surgery and, after receiving his pre-med, was to be transferred from his bed onto an operating trolley.
They were using a ‘pat slide’ which is a strong piece of plastic that is placed underneath a patient in order to lift them safely. There should have been a third member of staff to assist the claimant and her colleague, and she had asked the assistant to find someone, however no one was available.
Accident at Work
The claimant and her colleague positioned themselves on either side of the trolley and began to move the patient on a count of three, away from the claimant and towards the healthcare assistant.
Whilst doing this the patient sat upright and the majority of his weight fell towards the claimant. As a result she jarred her back and was injured.
Employer Liability Claim
The Claimant’s employers defended the claim by stating that it was not reasonably practicable to avoid moving the patient manually in this way.
Her claim was based on there having been a breach of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations, in that there should have been another person assisting with the lift.
The claim was successful and the claimant was awarded an amount of damages in respect of her personal injury and losses.
Workplace Accident Claims
If you have been injured in an accident at work and believe that your employer was to blame, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
Contact The Legal Line for cost free advice and assistance from our expert personal injury lawyers on 0800 0328511, or by completing an online claim enquiry form.
Contact us
Testimonials
"It wasn't realistic for me to work any more and the loss of my income placed an additional strain on us."
Jane Evans
Mother of Rebecca
Personal Injury News
