Here we provide you with a list of tools and resources to help you in managing Hazardous Manual Tasks and MSDs prevention at your workplace.
Guidance materials
Risk Management tools
The tools below help you through your HMT risk management process at your workplace.
* It is recommended to start with the Identification tool to explore all manual tasks that may be hazardous, then to use the Risk assessment and control tool to assess and control each hazardous manual task.
Other risk management resources
While the resources provided above cover the basics of managing hazardous manual tasks, there are more advanced tools and resources available that can be tailored to your organisation’s specific needs. The choice of tool or resource depends on various factors, including your organisation’s size, the nature and complexity of tasks, and the resources available. Basic tools may be more suitable for smaller businesses or less complex tasks, whereas advanced tools like PErforM and APHIRM may be better suited for medium to large organisations with more complex situations.
It is crucial for organisations to assess their specific needs and the risks associated with their tasks. Engaging workers, Health and Safety Representatives, and securing management commitment are essential steps in selecting and implementing the most appropriate hazardous manual task risk management resource.
Below are some tools and resources that can assist in assessing and managing hazardous manual tasks.
To assess the psychosocial hazards related to the work, consider using one of the tools here.
What is APHIRM toolkit?
APHIRM stands for A Participative Hazard Identification and Risk Management.
The APHIRM Toolkit is a cloud-based toolkit developed by La Trobe University to help employers manage hazardous manual handling. The toolkit addresses both physical and psychosocial hazards that can affect risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
The toolkit is freely available for use by Work Health & Safety Professionals, workplace managers and supervisors.
How the APHIRM toolkit can help?
The APHIRM toolkit includes resources to:
- identify the hazards in the workplace that increase the risk of MSDs
- engage employees in the risk management process
- design actions that address specific hazards
- monitor progress and review outcomes.
The toolkit is designed for occupational health and safety professionals. It encourages input from employees and support from managers.
What you need to get started?
- Visit the APHIRM toolkit web page provides resources and guidance about the program.
- Review cases studies that used the APHIRM toolkit.
What is PErforM?
Participative Ergonomics for Manual Tasks (PErforM) is a manual task risk management program based on participative ergonomics that aims to reduce the number of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace.
The PErforM program:
- provides a framework to help employers engage with workers at all levels to identify, assess and control manual tasks risks within their workplace
- has been used successfully in a wide range of industries
- can be applied to most types of hazardous manual tasks.
PErforM has been used by various industries such as mining; civil construction; construction related manufacturing and wholesaling; aged care; food processing.
NOTE: PErforM is not recommended for people and animal handling tasks or computer workstation assessments.
What you need to get started?
Before implementing PErforM at your workplace make sure you have:
- management commitment and support
- identified a suitable site champion (coordinator and/or trainer)
- workforce participation
Resources
- PErforM Handbook – guidance on how to implement the perform program
- Case studies and further guidance from SafeWork NSW
- The HMT Risk Assessment and Control worksheet is adapted from the PErforM risk assessment worksheet, hence it can be used when implementing the PErforM program.
What is ManTRA?
The Manual Task Risk Assessment (ManTRA) helps employers to assess and quantify MSD risk levels related to hazardous manual tasks.
The tool helps you to prioritise preventive measures and allocate resources effectively.
How the tool works?
The tool uses a scoring system to assess the risk on four body regions including lower limbs, back, neck/shoulder and arm/wrist/hand. Each body region is rated by its total time of exposure, duration and cycle time (repetition risk), force & speed (exertion risk), awkwardness and vibration on a scale of 1 to 5.
The total cumulative risk score is converted and summed up, with the final score ranging from 5 to 25. This score then indicates if 'action required' or 'action not required’.
Control measures associated with manual tasks are recommended if the exertion risk factors reach 5 for any body parts, the sum of exertion and awkwardness reaches 8+, or the cumulative score reaches 15+.
1 Manual Tasks Risk Assessment Tool (ManTRA) V 2.0 Burgess-Limerick, Egeskov, Straker, and Pollock’.
What is system thinking?
Systems thinking is an approach that recognises the complex interrelationship of the multiple factors that can contribute to an injury or illness.
MSDs are often caused by multiple, interacting factors in the work system, within the organisational system and from external sources. Prevention and control of MSD risks therefore need to be extended beyond the focus on the person performing the task, but rather to examine the system as a whole.
Look to the big picture
A systems thinking model for MSD
The systems thinking model of MSDs (Figure 1) can be used to underpin your review and assessment of the workplace’s current process for MSD accident/incident.
The model illustrates that the decisions and actions of everyone within the system contribute to MSDs (e.g. workers, HSRs, supervisors, purchasing, WHS managers, HR, finance, senior managers, regulators, government) not just the injured worker. The model describes the factors that contribute to MSDs, which includes those associated with tasks and factors that influence the success or failure of risk control measures. The interactions between these factors need to be identified during reviews to understand MSDs and develop appropriate prevention strategies.
Workplace risk factors can include:
- organisational culture (For example, risk perception, values and beliefs)
- performance measures, incentives and leadership priorities
- resources, budgets and financial and procurement processes
- organisational and safety management systems (For example, policies and procedures, risk management, consultation processes, training and supervision, auditing, reporting and maintenance)
- work area design and layout
- work organisation (For example, schedules and rosters, staff levels, time pressures, breaks, workload, job demands, pace and flow of work)
- knowledge and capability of workers.
Risk factors out of the workplace’s control can include:
- external funding and priorities
- suppliers' processes
- supply chain impacts (For example, customer or consumer expectations)
- built environment or transport availability
- socioeconomic and geographical location of the workplace.
Actions and controls to manage risks work better when they deal with a range of relevant factors rather than having a single focus. For example it is not effective to review how you train staff about hazardous manual tasks without considering other relevant factors such as; workplace and task design, psychosocial factors stressful working conditions, work schedules and the health and wellbeing of workers.
Figure 1 - A systems thinking model for MSD (adopted from Goode et al, 20162 (click to enlarge)
