Manual Handling Injury Claims*

Manual handling injuries happen when a person is hurt while lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or lowering objects as part of their job. While people often associate these injuries with heavy lifting, it doesn’t always take a large or awkward load to cause serious harm. Even moving something small without proper technique, support or training can lead to lasting pain or damage.

Injuries from manual handling often affect the back, shoulders, arms, legs or neck. Some are sudden like a torn muscle or slipped disc while others build over time from repeated strain. Either way, they can make everyday tasks harder and may leave you unable to work, drive or sleep properly.

These injuries are especially common in sectors like healthcare, retail, logistics, construction, cleaning, hospitality and warehousing, where physical effort is often part of the job. But they can happen in any workplace where people are expected to move items by hand especially when the right supports aren’t in place.

Every employer in Ireland has a duty to prevent injuries at work. That means providing the right training, doing proper risk assessments, and supplying equipment where needed. If they don’t, and you’re hurt as a result, you may be entitled to bring a claim.

At Crimmins Howard Solicitors, we help injured workers understand their rights and recover what they’re owed clearly, locally, and with full support.

You can bring a claim for a manual handling injury if the incident was avoidable and happened because your employer failed in their duty of care. That duty is clear under Irish health and safety law. If you were hurt while lifting, pulling, or moving something as part of your work, and you weren’t properly trained, supported or protected, then you may have a strong case.

To succeed with a claim, three things usually need to be shown:

• Your employer had a duty to keep you safe
• They failed to meet that duty for example, by not giving you proper training or equipment
• That failure caused your injury

Manual handling risks must be taken seriously by all employers. That includes those hiring staff on temporary contracts, agency placements, or part-time shifts. You are just as entitled to safety and fair treatment as anyone else on the floor.

You may have a valid claim if:

• You weren’t trained in safe lifting or pushing techniques
• You were asked to move an unsafe load by yourself
• You weren’t given handling aids like trolleys, hoists or sliders
• The workspace was too tight or awkward to lift safely
• The task was too heavy or repetitive for your physical ability
• Your injury happened over time due to poor posture or lack of breaks

You don’t need to know the law or have proof in hand to speak with us. Crimmins Howard Solicitors will guide you step by step, helping you understand where you stand and whether your injury could lead to a claim.

Manual handling injuries are common across Irish workplaces not just because lifting and carrying are physical tasks, but because many employers fail to manage the risks properly. When proper precautions aren’t taken, even routine tasks can lead to serious harm.

Some of the most common causes include:

• Lack of training: Many workers are never shown how to lift or move loads safely. Others may receive training once but never again, even if their role or environment changes.
• Inadequate equipment: Moving heavy or awkward items without access to proper tools like trolleys, hoists, pallet jacks or sliders is a major cause of injuries. Equipment should be suited to the task and in working order.
• Unsafe or overloaded objects: Boxes that are too heavy, poorly packed or unbalanced can cause sudden strain. Workers should never be expected to move objects that exceed safe limits for one person.
• Tight or awkward spaces: Trying to lift or carry in a confined area, on a staircase or around sharp corners increases the risk of twisting, slipping or overreaching.
• Fatigue and overwork: Repeating the same manual tasks without rest breaks or rotation can lead to wear and tear over time. These gradual injuries are often just as serious as one-off accidents.
• Poor communication: In shared tasks, injuries can happen when one person lifts too early or bears the full load because a co-worker drops their side.

At Crimmins Howard Solicitors, we understand the pressures of real-world workplaces especially in fast-moving sectors like retail, healthcare, warehousing, cleaning and hospitality. If your employer failed to protect you properly and you were injured as a result, we’re here to help you take the next step.

Manual handling injuries can affect almost any part of the body and vary from short-term strains to life-altering conditions. Some injuries happen in an instant others build over weeks or months due to repeated poor movement, overwork or bad posture. Whatever the cause, these injuries can limit your ability to work, drive, care for your family or simply go about your day without pain.

Here are some of the most common injuries we see in manual handling claims:

• Back injuries: These are the most frequent and often the most severe. They include pulled muscles, slipped discs, sciatica, nerve compression and spinal strain. Even a mild injury can make bending, sitting or standing painful, while more serious damage can lead to long-term mobility problems.
• Shoulder injuries: Repetitive lifting or carrying loads at awkward angles can damage the rotator cuff or shoulder joints. You may experience reduced movement, stiffness, or pain reaching or lifting anything overhead.
• Soft tissue injuries: Muscles, tendons and ligaments in the arms, neck or legs can be strained, torn or inflamed. These injuries often result in swelling, weakness and reduced range of motion.
• Repetitive strain injuries (RSI): Tasks that involve repeated movement such as stacking shelves, lifting trays or unloading deliveries can cause chronic pain in the wrists, elbows, neck or shoulders. These injuries may not be noticed straight away but can worsen over time.
• Leg and foot injuries: Carrying items on stairs or uneven ground can lead to sprains, fractures or crush injuries if you lose balance or drop the load.
• Cuts and bruises: Handling sharp-edged boxes or equipment without proper protection can cause lacerations, especially when loads shift unexpectedly or corners dig into skin.

Manual handling injuries are not just physical they can lead to time off work, stress about income, and long-term changes in lifestyle. At Crimmins Howard Solicitors, we take every part of your injury seriously and help build a full picture of how it has affected your life.

If you’ve suffered a manual handling injury at work, taking the right steps early on can make a big difference not just for your recovery, but also if you decide to bring a claim later. Here’s what you should do:

• Get medical attention straight away: Even if the injury seems minor at first, it’s important to be checked by a GP or at A&E. Some injuries worsen over time or may not be obvious immediately. Make sure your symptoms are properly recorded.
• Report the injury to your employer: Let your line manager or supervisor know what happened as soon as possible. Insist that the incident is logged in the workplace accident report book. Ask for a copy for your own records.
• Write down what happened: Note the time, location and exactly how the injury occurred. Include details like what you were asked to lift, who else was present, and whether you had equipment or help. These notes will be valuable later if your memory fades or records are missing.
• Check your training history: Think about whether you were trained in manual handling, and if so, whether it was specific to your role or task. If you weren’t trained or the training was years ago you should mention this to your solicitor.
• Keep records of any costs: Hold on to receipts for GP visits, physio, medication, or travel related to your injury. These may be included in your claim later on.
• Speak to a solicitor early: You don’t need to wait until everything is in place. Getting legal advice early means we can help gather evidence, deal with insurers, and protect your rights from the start.

At Crimmins Howard Solicitors, we make it easy to take the next step. You’ll never be pressured, and every conversation is fully confidential.

In Ireland, you usually have two years less one day from the date of knowledge to make a manual handling injury claim. This means you must begin legal proceedings within that time frame from the day you became aware of the injury and its connection to your work.

In most cases, this is the date the injury occurred. However, if your symptoms developed slowly or were only diagnosed later for example, in repetitive strain or back damage cases the clock may start from when you first received medical confirmation.

There are also a few exceptions:

• Minors: For those under 18, the time limit doesn’t begin until their 18th birthday.
• Mental capacity: If someone is unable to manage their affairs, the clock may be paused.
• Psychological injuries: Where emotional distress emerges later, the date of knowledge can shift accordingly.

It’s important not to delay. Even if you’re unsure whether you’ll claim, speaking with a solicitor early can help protect your position. Gathering evidence like medical records, accident reports and witness details is far easier in the early days after an incident.

If you’ve been injured and time may be passing, contact Crimmins Howard Solicitors today for timely, straightforward advice.

You don’t need legal experience or a stack of paperwork to talk to us. If you’ve been injured at work while lifting, carrying or moving something, we’ll help you understand your rights in plain English.

Contact Crimmins Howard Solicitors today for a calm, confidential conversation. We’re here to listen, advise and support you.