Injury at work

[nic3c]

I've been working part time in the evening / at the weekends for a company where some manual handling is involved. (I also have a full-time office job). I've recently been injured from lifting something heavy. I've been in hospital for a day and have missed a few days work at my full-time job. The injury isn't permanent and should heal within a few weeks. Is it worth sueing this company? If so how should i proceed and who should i contact?

[Ethel]

You can only sue the company if they have been negligent.

Have you been trained to lift heavy items? Was you expected to lift that item on your own?

If the company can show that it is your fault for lifting it in the wrong way, or lifting something you should not have lifted, you will not win.

Bear in mind too - if you win, your full time job will expect to be recompensed for any sick pay you have had in respect of this injury.

[nic3c]

Thanks.

No manual handling training or any health and safety training at all was given by the company. We're expected to lift heavy boxes by ourselves.

[JanineG]

If the employer has instructed you to lift heavy boxes without having given you any manual handling training, then they are in breach of the Manual Handling Regulations, and you will have an entitlement to claim damages from them.

Ethel is right that your full-time employers may seek recompense from you for any sick pay that they have paid you while you've been off sick, but this can be included as part of your claim against the part-time employers. Although you say that the injury isn't permanent and should heal within a few weeks, the fact that you have had to spend a day in hospital and take time off work means that it will more than likely be severe enough to beat the Small Claims limit on claims like this (currently �1,000).

If I were you, I'd speak to a Solicitor that offers No Win No Fee.

[nic3c]

Thanks for the advice! I will do....