Prevention and ergonomics in the workplace

Prevention and ergonomics in the workplace

Back pain remains one of the leading causes of lost working days in the United Kingdom, yet most work related back injuries can be avoided when employers follow the legal safeguards already in place. The sections below walk you through those legal duties and the practical steps – from mechanical aids to desk set up – that stop lifting, carrying and long hours of sitting from turning into long term spinal problems.

The employer’s duty of care

UK law expects employers to remove hazardous manual-handling tasks wherever reasonable and to assess and reduce the risks wherever they cannot be removed. This duty sits in the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and is reinforced by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises a clear hierarchy: avoid the task, if possible, then assess it thoroughly, and finally control any remaining risk with the right equipment and procedures. Where hospitals install mechanical hoists for moving patients or warehouses fit roller conveyors for boxes, they are following this legal logic—cutting the load on workers’ backs before anyone has to lift a finger.

Manual-handling training and safe lifting technique

Even when mechanical aids exist, some objects still have to be moved by hand. Employers must therefore show staff how to lift safely and must refresh that training whenever processes or equipment change. HSE guidance highlights diagonal foot placement, keeping the load close to the body and, wherever possible, lifting from waist height rather than the floor, because floor-level lifting puts greatest strain on the lumbar spine. Good training is not box-ticking; it gives workers the confidence to refuse an unsafe lift and to request help or equipment instead.

Risk assessments and ongoing monitoring

Risk assessment is not a one-off paper exercise. Managers should review lifting tasks regularly, watch how work is actually done and revise their controls when new hazards emerge—for example, when product lines change or staffing levels drop. HSE encourages involving staff in these reviews because workers often spot early warning signs such as a reluctance to tackle certain tasks or makeshift ways of moving loads. Acting on that feedback prevents small aches from becoming compensation claims.

Office work and display-screen equipment

Back injuries do not only come from heavy loads. Office staff who spend hours at a desk are covered by the Display Screen Equipment Regulations. Employers must provide a stable, adjustable chair, set up the screen at eye level and organise the workstation so that mouse and keyboard are within easy reach. They must also plan the day so that screen users can take regular short breaks; HSE suggests five-to-ten minutes away from the screen every hour rather than a single long break. These measures share the same goal as safe lifting: spreading the load across muscles and joints instead of forcing one part of the spine to carry it all.

Building a culture of reporting

Prevention only works when employees feel able to speak up. Employers should make it clear who to approach with a concern and how that concern will be acted on. Spotting trends—such as repeated comments about a particular task or a spike in back-pain absences—allows managers to intervene before an injury becomes serious enough for a claim. HSE’s latest guidance on back pain emphasises shared responsibility: the company puts controls in place, and the workforce uses them and flags anything that slips.

When prevention fails

If you have hurt your back because your employer ignored these duties—whether that means being asked to lift unsuitable loads, working without proper equipment or spending long days at a poorly set-up workstation—you may have a right to compensation. Our specialist solicitors can review the circumstances, organise an independent medical report and advise on the value of your claim, all on a no-win, no-fee basis. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation and let us help you on the road to recovery.

If you have injured your back as a result of a workplace accident or some form of negligence it is likely you can claim compensation. Contact us today to discuss your personal circumstances further.

Call us now on 0800 028 2060 or click here to start your claim.