Upper Limb Disorders Compensation Claims UK

Common WRULD Conditions

Some of the specific conditions which come under the heading WRULD include:

• Tenosynovitis or de Quervains syndrome
• Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
• Peritendonitis Crepitans
• Trigger Finger / Thumb
• Tennis elbow
• Golfers elbow
• Writers cramp
• Tendinosis

If you have developed one of the above conditions, depending on the exact circumstances, you may be entitled to a compensation award for your injury and losses.

Who is at risk?

In the United Kingdom, thousands of people have been affected by a form of WRULD. A number of different employees in a wide variety of industries can be put at risk of developing a WRULD. Some of the industries in which we have successfully brought claims against negligent employers include the following:

• Supermarket checkout operators
• Printers
• Assembly workers
• Chicken pluckers
• Factory packers
• Brick makers
• Keyboard operators

With the advent of new technology, a range new range of repetitive movements are required in the workplace therefore making many different types of employee susceptible to developing a form of WRULD.

Common WRULD symptoms

The most common symptoms associated with Upper Limb Disorders may include.

• Pain in the hands, fingers and arms
• Loss of grip sensation
• General weakness in the joints
• Tingling sensations similar to pins and needles

The pain and suffering one can experience after suffering a WRULD can often be severe and disabling. It can affect the way in which day to day activities including washing, driving, eating and working are carried out. If you are suffering from pain as a result of poor working conditions you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

The Employers responsibility

With sometimes very limited visible symptoms, sufferers from WRULD’s can suffer scepticism on the part of employers and even co-workers, however, the conditions that we have outlined above, are all recognised medical injuries. Employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Act 1999 to prevent work related upper limb disorders and to stop existing conditions getting worse. Employers that fail to address the issue may be seen as negligent and a claim maybe brought against them.

Employers must show that they are assessing the risks of potential injury to employees as a result of working conditions. They must at least demonstrate some of the following criteria if they are to be seen as protecting employees from the risk of developing an injury.

• Organising rotational workforces
• Regular and sufficient rest periods between intense tasks or tasks involving a lot of repetition, with several short breaks instead of one longer break at lunchtime
• Design workstations and equipment for workers of different sizes including adjustable chairs, foot-rests, platforms and equipment for left handed workers
• Educate employees as to the dangers they face in undertaking repetitive work. By training and educating employees, if they start to experience any symptoms they can seek medical advice immediately.

It is always important to report any concerns regarding ones working environment to the employer. If you are experiencing pain as a result of repetitive movements carried out over a prolonged period of time it is the responsibility of your employer to help you recover.

Our expertise can save you time and stress

With many years of experience in dealing with work related upper limb disorder compensation claims, we understand the legal issues but more importantly the human issues involved in making a claim for compensation for your injuries. We work with fully qualified, specialist industrial injury solicitors across the UK that have many years of experience in dealing with claims of this nature. We believe that is it a clients right as an accident victim to be dealt with by honest and trustworthy professionals that know the inside out so that your claim for compensation runs as smoothly as possible.

I think I can make a claim – What next?

If you have worked in an environment in which you have carried out tasks that require repetitive movements for prolonged periods of time and are starting to suffer from pain and discomfort, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Call our dedicated team today on 020 7836 5999; alternatively you can submit an online enquiry form by clicking here.