Hazardous Manual Tasks and Manual Handling - Overview
What is Manual Handling?
Manual tasks (also known as Manual handling) involves using your body to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, or otherwise move, hold, or restrain any person, animal, or thing. Manual tasks cover a wide range of activities, including:
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pushing and pulling
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lifting and lowering
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carrying and restraining.
Examples of manual tasks include:
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stacking shelves
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working on a conveyor line
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entering data into a computer.
Not all manual tasks are hazardous. A manual task becomes hazardous when one or more of the following risk factors are present:
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repetitive or sustained force
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high or sudden force
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repetitive movement
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sustained or awkward posture
Under the WHS Act, all businesses must provide adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision to staff in order for them to be able to perform their jobs safely. This includes information and instruction on manual tasks that may be hazardous.
It is up to business owners, directors and CEOs to ensure these provisions are met.
What information and instruction should workers receive about manual tasks?
Section 19 f of the NSW WHS Act 2011 states that every organisation must provide “... any information, training, instruction or supervision that is necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety.”
The Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice (page 32) further clarifies this as “If a risk of MSDs* remains after implementing higher level control measures, then the risk must be minimised by providing information, training and instruction.”
* Musculoskeletal Disorders = a musculoskeletal disorder is an injury or disease of the muscular or skeletal system of the human body.
Whose duty is it to manage WHS risks in relation to Musculoskeletal Disorders?
Clause 60 of the WHS Regulation states: “A person conducting a business or undertaking must manage risks to health and safety relating to a musculoskeletal disorder associated with a hazardous manual task.”
A PCBU is a legal entity, not a human being. The PCBU (organisation) must provide the information, instruction, and training. Directors and CEOs (as officers of the organisation) must ensure that the organisation does so, and that the instruction, information, and training is done.
