stumbling on stairs at work

[frodsham]

does my employer have a duty of care if I have to continually use stairs and handball goods downstairs.

[bednobs]

its really strange - i understand every word in that sentance, i just don't understand the sentance!

if it's any help, your employer always has duty of care to you when you are at work

[buildersmate]

Or even 'sentence', but now who is being picky.
Perhaps for 'handball', read 'handle'?
Just a hutch.

[mattie]

erm handball - carry by hand.

Yes, either you get assistance from someone else if required or you are provided with one of those trolleys designed for going up/down stairs.

At a minimum, you should have been on a manual handling course.

[Oneeyedvic]

Just a hutch

Funny or ironic - not sure which

[buildersmate]

All part of a wider plan to keep the reader entertained, OEV. Gotta think about the customer, you know.

[bednobs]

no seriously i have never heard of the word "handball" to mean anything else other than a sport for wimps!


Even if i were to do as bulders mate suggests and replace it with Handle i still dont understant. Dont get me wrong i'm not being picky, i seriously dont understand the q

[buildersmate]

I'm with you, Bednobs. But it must be something to do with Manual Handling.

[LoftyLottie]

Employers have a duty of care on everything you do on their premises or even in other situations (e.g. driving in a company vehicle. Even if you sit at a desk all day they have a duty of care.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/HealthA ndSafetyAtWork/DG_4016686

[Fay Mousse]

The question is perfectly clear.

Is the employer liable if Frodsham falls down the stairs at work whilst carrying goods?

[buildersmate]

Must be my directionary then, Fay.
Handball (n): ball for throwing with hand, game played with this between two goals.

[frodsham]

Thanks to all who answered especially lofty lottie. By the way handball is a term I have used and heard for many moons (years). Obviously most people nowadays are not used to manual work so perhaps they are more familiar with RSI and the like.

[LoftyLottie]

I looked up 'handball' and found one reference that said it was also used to mean manually handling goods. Now I can't find the site on which I found it!!

[bednobs]

lol well you learrn something new every day. I have been a manual worker in the past, but not now, so have never heard of it in that context - thanks ll

[Twenty20]

It's ok to say that employers have a 'duty of care', but it really depends on the task youre doing - in this case what you are 'carrying' up and down stairs. If its a piece of paper or a pencil for instance, I doubt if they would have to do much (unless you were disabled?). However, if youre carrying heavy loads then it would be different. Bit of an open question really until you say what the 'goods' are.