Repetitive injury for same company

Insanity200

I was unsure what title to start with, I hope this will do! 
I started for this retail company approx. 11 years ago. I was just a basic customer service assistant. Fast forward a couple of years. I was put on sorting out totes for the delivery. These can weigh up to about 20-20kg each, and stacked in 10s, to nearly 7 foot high. 
After a year or so, I can't quite recall when, I started to suffer from sciatica. Now, I can't blame the company for this. I know.
But despite my pleas, the staff within the company have put me back on this particular job. And funnily enough, I have suffered as a result.
The managers constantly blamed myself without any evidence whatsoever, saying I was not following company guidance, etc. 
Lets fast forward this, last year I thought I finally got through to them. They relieved me from that job. Since then I have had no issues at all! (I was off for 2 or 3 weeks a time every 3 months or so).
But this week, I've been told I have to do the totes again! 
Can this company seriously do this? They don't half pride themselves on employee health and safety 

Xbigman

Talk to your health and safety reps. Get the risk assessment for the job.
There has been a major issue at my warehouse with pallets of heavy vegetables (Carrots, Potatoes) coming in stacked too high. 
You shouldn't be lifting heavy items above shoulder height. Your health and safety reps should be all over this. My warehouse has spent £40k on a type of forklift that can take the top layers off of pallets, but it took a number of staff refusing to touch anything over their shoulder height to get it done. Your first step is the risk assessment. 
Good luck.


Darren

TELLIT01

There clearly appears to be a link between the job you do and the recurrence of sciatica.  What we don't know is whether the problem is with lifting and shifting in itself, or the way you are doing it.  It does require an assessment to be done as a first step.

oh_really

As I'm sure you are aware, your employer has duties placed upon them in law under H&S legislation.
Refer to...

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/section/2 P 1 and 2.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/regulation/3/made
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/regulation/10/made

Request a referral to occupational health, you can point them in the direction of NHS if they don't have their own provision (may be a small cost)  https://www.nhshealthatwork.co.uk/find-providers.asp

Inform them you require a manual handling assessment and join a trade union.

Insanity200

oh_really said:

As I'm sure you are aware, your employer has duties placed upon them in law under H&S legislation.
Refer to...

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/section/2 P 1 and 2.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/regulation/3/made
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/regulation/10/made

Request a referral to occupational health, you can point them in the direction of NHS if they don't have their own provision (may be a small cost)  https://www.nhshealthatwork.co.uk/find-providers.asp

Inform them you require a manual handling assessment and join a trade union.

I have tried the referral to occupational health but they said I have to be off for more than 5 consecutive weeks before they consider me. Thank you for your advice

oh_really

Can you self refer to occ health or given the history ask your employer to reconsider. Due to the potential for the situation to go belly up, open up a paper trail and keep it accessible.

Insanity200

TELLIT01 said:

There clearly appears to be a link between the job you do and the recurrence of sciatica.  What we don't know is whether the problem is with lifting and shifting in itself, or the way you are doing it.  It does require an assessment to be done as a first step.

I have tried doing exactly what I'm supposed to do,  as per company training, but it makes no difference. I think it's just the repetition for 2 or 3 hours every day, taking totes off the stack and moving them. I was told by the doctor that it builds up over time, and eventually my back just goes. 

TELLIT01

Insanity200 said:

I have tried the referral to occupational health but they said I have to be off for more than 5 consecutive weeks before they consider me. Thank you for your advice

The five consecutive weeks absence must be a company rule, it certainly isn't required under H&S regulations.  I've known people be referred to OH without any absence.