Lifting and transferring immobile patients accounts for over half the total number of injuries sustained by those involved in patient care. Nurses often work lengthy shifts, spent for the most part on their feet, in high pressure, demanding environments. Nursing staff also often have to make quick decisions with regard to moving a patient, often operating in confined spaces, and without time to accurately judge the ergonomics of a situation. The behaviour of individual patients is another variable factor, as they may be uncooperative, agitated or violent. As in most working environments, there is also a risk of slips, trips and falls, which a safe system of work will aim to minimise.

Many other nursing tasks can cause injuries, including turning patients in bed, supporting them, and especially the bending and stretching involved in repetitive making of beds. Nursing staff are regularly let down by their employer’s is the provision of equipment to assist them. Studies have shown that state-of-the-art equipment such mechanically-powered beds for example can dramatically reduce injuries among nursing staff. More basic equipment such as metal frame walkers and gait belts for lifting patients may be unavailable, with nurses ending up lifting an unacceptable total amount of weight over the course of a shift, causing an injury.

Hospitals and care homes have a duty of care to protect the welfare of their staff as far as reasonably possible. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 sets out guidelines concerning the 'transporting or supporting a load (including lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving) by hand or bodily force'. Such tasks must be avoided if a suitable mechanical alternative exists, and otherwise the task should be risk assessed to minimise the possibility of as worker getting injured. Full training in safe lifting and the safe use of equipment must also be provided.

Bartletts Solicitors have been protecting and supporting clients for 150 years, and enjoys a reputation nationwide for trusted legal advice. We are specialists in nurse and carer injury compensation claims, having successfully taken legal action against various hospitals and care homes.

Bartletts Solicitors handle accident at work claims on a no win no fee basis, meaning that you will not have to pay any legal fees until you win your claim and receive your compensation, and will not have to pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful. Since a change in the law in April 2013, all law firms now charge a success fee payable upon conclusion of successful work accident claims, calculated as a percentage of the damages awarded. Contact our specialist team today for free and confidential legal advice.

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