Courtenell Pty Ltd
OHS Training Specialists

OHS Training

Manual Handling

"Manual handling" means any activity requiring the use of force by a human to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any animate or inanimate object" clause 79, OHS Regulation 2001.

Employers and management must:

• Identify manual handling risks in the workplace
• Assess those manual handling risks
• Eliminate or control manual handling risks as far as reasonably practicable
• Consult with employees involved in these tasks while doing the above

Risk Factors:

When a manual handling task is being assessed the following risk factors must be taken into account;

• actions and movements
• work organization
• workplace and workstation layout
• work environment
• working posture and position
• skills and experience
• duration and frequency of manual handling
• age
• location of loads and distances moved
• clothing
• weights and forces
• special needs
• characteristics of loads and equipment
• any relevant factors

Employees:

• Must take care of others in the workplace and cooperate with the employer in matters of health and safety
• Employees who have received appropriate training in manual handling techniques or in the correct use of mechanical aids, personal protective equipment or team lifting procedures, must apply that training to their job wherever possible.

The full legal responsibilities for manual handling are set out in the NSW OH&S Act 2000 and the OH&S Regulation 2001. Practical advice and guidance in complying with the law regarding manual handling can be found in the Code of Practice for Manual Handling.

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