EWJ June 61 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 51
The Ergonomist’s Role in
Manual Handling Injury Claims
By Dr Ian Randle BSc, MSc, PhD, MErgS, C.ErgHF
Hu-Tech Experts
Manual handling injuries remain one of the most
common causes of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the UK, with thousands of claims brought
each year under personal injury law. At the heart of
many of these cases lies a central question: was the task
designed and managed in a way that made injury
foreseeable and preventable? Answering this requires
more than an understanding of training, equipment
or processes—it requires an understanding of how
humans interact with their work environment. This is
precisely where the ergonomist’s expertise comes into
play.
superficially perceived as hazardous is, in fact,
reasonably safe when human factors and task
design are appropriately considered. This holistic approach makes ergonomists well-placed to provide expert evidence on whether the risk of injury was
foreseeable from a human biomechanics perspective.
Methods of Assessment
In investigating manual handling injuries,
ergonomists employ a range of evidence-based techniques to provide objective analysis. These may include:
• Task Analysis: Structured observation and
documentation of the task, identifying factors such as
awkward postures, repetitive movements, twisting, or
reaching.
A Human-Centred Perspective
An ergonomist, also known as a human factors
specialist, brings a distinct, human-centred perspective to evaluating manual handling injury claims.
While engineers may focus on the mechanical properties of lifting equipment or the structural integrity of
storage systems, ergonomists are uniquely trained to
assess the interface between the task and the human
body. This includes evaluating posture, lifting technique, the physical demands of the task, and the
capacity of the individual worker.
• Biomechanical Assessment: Calculating the forces
exerted on joints and the spine during lifting or
carrying, using validated models to assess whether
physical demands exceed safe guidelines.
• Environmental Evaluation: Examining factors such
as space constraints, floor surfaces, lighting, and temperature, all of which can influence injury risk.
• Worker Capability Assessment: Considering
individual differences in strength, stature, and health
that may affect safe performance of the task as well as
their state of training.
Unlike purely technical assessments, ergonomic
analysis recognises that injury risk cannot be fully understood by examining load weights or equipment
specifications alone. For example, a load may fall
within basic weight guidelines, yet still exceed what is
safe for a particular individual to lift repeatedly
without undue strain. Conversely, an ergonomist’s
analysis may also demonstrate that a task
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Through these methods, ergonomists provide
detailed, scientifically grounded opinions on whether
a task was designed and managed with due regard for
the worker’s capabilities and limitations. This analysis
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