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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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There are many machines in the modern workplace which help employees lift and load heavy items onto lorries. However, if the correct safety measures are not taken when utilising this useful machinery it could result in the need for a compensation lawyer.
With aid from a pallet truck large loads can be manoeuvred onto a lorry's rear tail-lift, and the rear tail-lift can then be put into operation lifting the freight up to the vehicle's cargo space.
Without the assistance of these two machines, workers would only be able to load small amounts at a time and it would take much longer to fill a vehicle before deliveries could begin.
It is also likely that if employees had to use their own body strength to lift items, there would be many more compensation claims made for spinal or back injuries.
Yet, the existence of pallet trucks and tail-lifts exposes workers to different hazards which could also cause a personal injury.
Companies should make sure that they do not breach the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). This involves regular and thorough examinations being undertaken on the tail-lift by a competent person.
All reports must be kept for up to two years, or until the next examination is carried out, so that Health and Safety Executive inspectors are able to look through the information gathered if needed.
Ideally, examinations will be undertaken every six months to assure the safety of workers who come into contact with the lorry's tail-lift mechanism.
In between assessments, companies should make sure that loads carried by the pallet truck and lorry lift do not exceed the total maximum weight allowed.
Moreover, employers should be aware and make their staff conscious of the fact that even if the goods are of the correct weight, failing to keep them in the centre of the lift may mean the maximum weight is still exceeded due to extra strain on the mechanism.
Companies should also make sure, when any new lifts are fitted by a reputable and qualified firm, that the size of the lift's platform will be such that there is plenty of room for the load and handling equipment to be manoeuvred with the help of one or two workers.
A lift of too small a size may mean that an employee falls from the edge while manoeuvring the cargo, or that the load itself falls from the platform onto a worker nearby.
Contacting a compensation lawyer after lorry loading accident
If you have suffered a lorry loading accident at work which was not your fault, we could help you claim compensation for your pain, suffering, and any resultant loss of earnings.
Phone us for help from a compensation lawyer on 0800 10 757 95, or talk online concerning your case using live help.
