What Is The Maximum Weight Limit for Manual Handling At Work?
Last Updated 21st March 2025. Welcome to this guide about manual handling in the workplace. We will discuss how manual handling accidents can happen and when they could be the fault of your employer. We will discuss whether there is a weight limit for manual handling and also if there is a 2 person lift weight limit.
An important consideration is how much compensation you could claim if you were injured in this type of accident, so we will also go into depth about how damages are calculated. This can include compensation for both injuries and financial losses.
The types of evidence needed to support your claim are also considered before we show you how one of the specialist manual handling solicitors from our panel could help you with your case on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you think you may have exceeded the maximum weight a person should lift, or have any questions after an accident a work, you can contact an advisor for a free case assessment by:
- Calling us on 020 3870 4868
- Using the live chat feature
- Contacting us online
Choose A Section
- Everything You Need To Know About Manual Handling Weight Limits
- Manual Handling Weight Limit Guidelines
- Am I Eligible To Claim For A Manual Handling Injury At Work?
- Manual Handling Injury Compensation Examples
- How Could You Be Hurt If You Exceed The Maximum Weight Limit For Manual Handling At Work?
- What Evidence Can Help Me Prove A Manual Handling Injury Claim?
- Manual Handling Injury Claims – Can A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help Me?
- Other Information
Everything You Need To Know About Manual Handling Weight Limits
Manual handling doesn’t just include lifting, although it is included. There are other physical actions listed in the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. The other physical actions included in manual handling involve:
- Putting down
- Pushing
- Pulling
- Carrying
- Moving a load via hand or bodily force
Somewhat surprisingly, there’s no legal weight limit for individuals to abide by when engaging in manual handling. There are however advised guidelines. The weight differs between the genders, with men being advised they can handle slightly heavier loads.
The maximum safe weight to lift at work may not have a legally enforceable limit, but personal injury claims can still be made for injuries sustained when lifting an item that is heavier than 25kg alone. How the load is being handled/transported can also lead to different weight limits being advised. Injuries being sustained by lifting heavy loads are more common in some workplaces than others.
Manual Handling Weight Limit Guidelines
In this section, we answer more commonly asked questions and provide essential guidance on the weight limits for both one person and two people.
Manual Handling Weight Limits For One Person
When it comes to manual handling for one person, there is guidance on what you can lift and the manner in which it can be done.
This image below, published by the Health and Safety Executive, gives a clear guide:
Image Credit – HSE Guide To Manual Handling
As you can see, the legal manual handling limits vary depending on how the item is carried. Heavy items can be held close to the body, but if they have to be lifted above head height and placed on a shelf, for example, that limit decreases significantly.
It’s much harder to carry heavy things when your arms are extended, with greater strain placed on muscles and tendons. It’s at these ranges that manual handling injuries can occur, such as torn or strained muscles.
What Is The Two Person Lift Weight Limit In The UK?
When two people lift a heavy item, they can carry a greater weight between them.
As a rule, they can increase the total sum of both individuals’ lifting limits by around two-thirds (2/3rds).
For example, two women (who can carry a maximum of 16kg each), could lift an extra 10.5kg (approximately), meaning they could carry 26.5kg between them as the legal weight limit.
Am I Eligible To Claim For A Manual Handling Injury At Work?
Manual handling at work can be a strenuous task and may result in minimal or extensive injuries if not completed correctly. However, all employers are responsible for ensuring their employees are safe while manually handling at work. If they failed to do so, resulting in your injuries, you may be eligible to claim compensation.
All employers have a duty to adhere to the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to take reasonable and practicable steps to ensure their employees are safe. As discussed above, there are also specific measures employers must take under The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 to protect the safety of employees when carrying heavy loads at work.
Some examples of how employers can reach this standard of care include:
- Providing manual handling training
- Assessing the abilities of each employee
- Providing protective equipment
- Completing regular risk assessments
- Keeping up to date with the weight limit for manual handling
If employers fail to comply with such safety measures this would be considered negligent and they would be in breach of their duty of care. If this happens and an employee sustains manual handling injuries, they may be eligible to start an accident at work claim, to be compensated for their suffering.
If you have suffered from a manual handling accident at work, you can contact our friendly advisors today to find out if you are eligible to claim. They can also answer any of your questions such as, ‘What is the 2 person lift weight limit and what are my rights if my employer failed to provide training?’
Manual Handling Injury Compensation Examples
So, how much compensation could you get if you were injured after your employer asked you to operate over the manual handling weight limit?
Since every claim is unique, this can make pinpointing an exact amount hard. This is because your final compensation amount can be affected by:
- How much evidence you have.
- Whether you have suffered financial losses.
- How severe your injuries are.
Usually, the compensation you receive can be split into two heads. The first of these heads, general damages, covers the pain and suffering that is caused by your injuries. This heading also covers loss of amenity, which means loss of enjoyment.
The guideline compensation brackets found in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can be used to calculate this head of claim. You can see some examples of these brackets in the table below, but please keep in mind that these aren’t guaranteed and that the first entry isn’t from the JCG.
JCG Compensation Brackets
| Injury | Guideline Amount |
|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries Plus Special Damages | Up to £500,000+ |
| Back - Severe (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Back - Moderate (i) | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Neck - Severe (i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Neck - Moderate (i) | £30,500 to £46,970 |
| Hand - Amputation of Index and Middle and/or Ring Fingers | £75,550 to £110,750 |
| Hand - Serious Damage to Both Hands | £68,070 to £103,200 |
| Knee - Severe (ii) | £63,610 to £85,100 |
| Elbow - Severely Disabling | £47,810 to £66,920 |
| Hernia -Continuing Pain | £18,180 to £29,490 |
What Else Could I Claim For After A Manual Handling Injury?
You might also be eligible for special damages. Under this heading, you can claim back any financial losses caused by your injuries. This can cover a range of costs, including the cost of:
- Mobility aids.
- Lost earnings.
- Prosthetics.
- Prescription and medical costs.
- Travel.
- Childcare.
- Help with cooking and cleaning.
Providing evidence of your financial losses could help you with claiming special damages. Evidence could include bank statements, invoices and payslips.
To learn more about what you could claim for if you were injured after your employer asked you to lift or move something over the manual handling weight limit, contact our team of advisors today.
How Could You Be Hurt If You Exceed The Maximum Weight Limit For Manual Handling At Work?
If you carry more than the maximum weight for manual handling in the workplace, then this could lead to an injury being sustained. In the list below, we’ve included a few examples of possible injuries. However, every incident is unique, and therefore certain injuries may only occur in certain circumstances.
- Broken bones – In order to stay safe, lifting weights needs to be done in a certain way. If no training is given, then this could lead to a loss of balance or a poor manual handling technique. If you were to fall as a result of this, then the impact with the ground or the heavy objects falling on you could cause this kind of injury.
- Back injuries – Strain on the back could cause damage on a long- or short-term basis.
- Psychological impact – If you carry more than the manual handling limit, then any incidents that happen as a result could cause mental health issues such as PTSD to occur.
To find out if your injury makes your eligible to receive compensation, get in touch with our advisors today.
What Evidence Can Help Me Prove A Manual Handling Injury Claim?
If you intend to claim for injuries that occurred due to a problem while performing a manual handling task at work, then you will need evidence that can support your case.
The evidence you present will need to confirm your injuries and show how they were caused by your employer breaching the duty of care they owed you. While there is no legal weight limit for manual handling, you may be able to present evidence that shows your employer has failed to implement safe precautions for staff that carry out manual handling tasks.
Evidence could include the following:
- Medical reports that confirm the injuries you’re claiming for and treatment you’ve received for them.
- The contact details of any witnesses who can provide a statement.
- Any photographic or video evidence (such as CCTV footage) that shows how your injuries occurred.
- A copy of the report covering the incident that caused your injuries in your employer’s work accident book.
A solicitor can assist with gathering evidence that can strengthen your claim if you have one supporting you. You can speak to our advisors about getting help from a solicitor if you contact our team for free, either online or on the phone.
Manual Handling Injury Claims – Can A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help Me?
If you were injured because your employer asked you to lift over the maximum manual handling weight, you may be able to make an accident at work claim. Working with a solicitor on your claim can help to make the process seem less complex, amongst other benefits.
For example, the solicitors on our panel work on a No Win No Fee basis. They do this by offering their clients a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under this kind of contract, you can access the services of a solicitor without paying any upfront fees. Similarly, you won’t need to pay any ongoing fees for your solicitor to continue their work, nor will you pay for their work if your claim does not succeed.
If it does succeed and you receive manual handling injury compensation, then your solicitor will take a success fee. They take this as a small percentage of your compensation, but this percentage is limited by a legislative cap. This means that you keep the majority share of what you receive.
To find out if working with a solicitor from our panel could be right for you, contact our advisors today. They can offer more information on the accident at work claims process, and may be able to connect you with a legal professional. To get started:
- Use the live chat feature
- Call us on 020 3870 4868
- Contact us online
Other Information
We’ve included some links to additional information regarding accident at work claims.
- A brief guide to lifting at work.
- Your rights after an accident at work.
- Maximising compensation for a personal injury claim.
- How to claim if you’re self-employed.
- An Employer’s Responsibility Following an Accident at Work
Thank you for reading our guide on the weight limit for manual handling.
