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Most jobs in the workforce involve carrying out manual tasks in some shape, way or form. A hazardous manual task is where you engage in a process that puts your body at risk of suffering an injury.

Examples of manual tasks include stacking shelves, working on a conveyor line or sitting at a computer. Some manual tasks are hazardous and can cause serious injury like musculoskeletal disorders. Tasks do not necessarily need to involve any external force. Even your own body weight in an abnormal or sustained posture may be risky.

Hazardous manual tasks include using the body to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any object, person or animal and involves one or more of the following:

  • repetitive or sustained force
  • high or sudden force
  • repetitive movement
  • sustained or awkward posture
  • exposure to vibration.

The Hazardous manual tasks – Code of Practice provides further information on how to identify hazardous manual tasks and control the risks of workers being affected by musculoskeletal disorders.

Musculoskeletal disorders

A musculoskeletal disorder means an injury to, or a disease of, the musculoskeletal system, whether occurring suddenly or over time.

It can be:

  • a back injury
  • a sprain or strained muscle
  • torn ligament or tendon
  • degeneration of a joint or bone
  • nerve damage such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

These ailments can all result from poorly managed hazardous manual tasks.

Contributing factors

There are seven groups of contributing factors that to some extent affect all workplaces, including:

  • individual factors
  • psychosocial factors
  • work organisation
  • work layout and awkward postures
  • load and forceful movements
  • task invariability
  • environmental issues.

These factors combine in a way that magnifies their effect. By only addressing one or two factors and not all of them, you are unlikely to achieve the goal in preventing injury.

Duty holders

Under our state's work health and safety (WHS) laws, certain people (called duty holders) in a workplace have specific duties:

  • a person conducting a business or undertaking
    • have the primary duty of care to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers and other persons are not exposed to health and safety risks arising from their business or undertaking
  • designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of plant and structures
    • must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the plant or structure they design, manufacture, import or supply is without risks to health and safety.
  • officers, such as company directors
    • must exercise due diligence to ensure that the business or undertaking complies with the WHS Act and Regulations and take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate resources and processes are used to eliminate or minimise risks that arise from hazardous manual tasks.
  • workers
    • must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and ensure they don't adversely affect the health and safety of anyone else.

Managing risks

To manage the risks associated with hazardous manual tasks, a duty holder must follow a risk management process to:

  • identify hazards which could give rise to a risk
  • eliminate the risk, so far as is reasonably practicable
  • minimise the risk by implementing control measures in accordance with the hierarchy of control, if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk
  • maintain the control measure so that it remains effective
  • review risk control measures.

Refer to Appendix A of the Code of Practice for an overview of the risk management process.

Static loading

Static loading refers to physical exertion in which the same posture or position is held throughout the exertion. These types of exertions put increased loads or forces on the muscles and tendons, which contributes to fatigue. This occurs because not moving impedes the flow of blood that is needed to bring nutrients to the muscles and to carry away the waste products of muscle metabolism. Examples of static postures include gripping tools that cannot be put down, holding the arms out or up to perform tasks, or standing in one place for prolonged periods.

Some principles of motion-economy that reduce the range of physical movement are now recognised as hazardous due to their effect on increasing static work at the expense of healthy dynamic movement.

Sedentary work

Sedentary work poses a real threat to worker safety and is linked to a range of health problems including:

  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • cardiovascular disease
  • diabetes
  • obesity
  • poor mental health
  • some cancers
  • premature death.

The negative health effects from prolonged sitting are due to:

  • insufficient movement and muscle activity
  • low energy expenditure
  • not moving enough
  • not changing posture enough.

General task rotation, combined with a mixture of sitting, standing and movement throughout your day, is the best way to reduce the impact of sedentary work. See our Stretch Regularly at Work desk card for some simple stretches that you can do to get your body moving.

'How to lift' training

Lifting technique training continues to be used as a primary way to control manual task risks in the workplace. However, research evidence shows that providing lifting technique training is not effective in minimising the risk of injury from manual tasks.

The main reason lifting technique training is not effective is because the risk factors causing the problem are not changed. Even if workers attempt to apply ‘safe lifting’ techniques, they may still be exposed to a serious injury risk.

HWSA position paper

The Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) national working group has developed a national position on ‘how to lift’ training (HTL training), with the aim being to reduce reliance on HTL training as a means of controlling hazardous manual task related hazards, and to inform business and industry of how hazardous manual tasks should be managed.

SafeWork SA is a member of the HWSA MSD national working group. A key focus of the group is to identify areas for national collaboration in the prevention of work-related MSDs.

‘How to lift’ training programs do not reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders. Despite this, a recent survey found that almost 80 per cent of employers had provided ‘how to lift’ training to their workers in the past two years.

The position paper notes the evidence on the ineffectiveness of ‘how to lift’ training, outlines the expectations of the regulators and provides general information on the obligations of work health and safety duty holders with respect to the management of hazardous manual tasks in the workplace.

What is 'how to lift' training?

The term ‘how to lift training’ is used to refer to workplace interventions that:

  • train workers in lifting techniques such as bending the knees, keeping a straight back/neutral spine, using a power stance and/or focusing on core strengthening and abdominal bracing and/or
  • include exercises for warming up, stretching and/or
  • rely on the worker having to follow generic principles, for example, use the ‘correct’ posture, don’t lift things that are too heavy.

The term ‘how to lift training’ does not refer to training and instruction provided to workers about:

  • hazardous manual task risk management
  • the risk factors associated with hazardous manual tasks
  • any implemented control measures (for example, use of mechanical aids).

Position

Most PCBUs/employers think that ‘how to lift’ training is a requirement under WHS/OHS laws.

However, this is not the case. Providing ‘how to lift’ training is not a prescribed requirement of any Work/Occupational Health and Safety (WHS/OHS) legislation in Australia or New Zealand.

Information, instruction and training provided to workers must be suitable, adequate and in line with relevant legislation, codes of practices and compliance codes.

'How to lift’ training is not, of itself, suitable and adequate training necessary to protect workers from risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

It does not control either worker exposure to the risk factors or sources of risk for hazardous manual tasks. There is evidence that providing ‘How to lift’ training is not effective in preventing musculoskeletal disorders.

Why is ‘how to lift’ training not effective?

Musculoskeletal disorders are caused by exposure to a range of physical and psychosocial hazards at work. Prevention approaches implemented within workplace settings are often overly simplistic, focusing on worker behaviour and therefore misaligned to the complex nature of MSDs.

Providing ‘how to lift’ training does not prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders. ‘How to lift’ training does not change any of the hazardous manual task risk factors that workers are exposed to, nor does it address the source/s of the musculoskeletal disorder risk, such as:

  • the design and layout of the work area
  • the systems of work used
  • physical and psychosocial risk factors
  • workplace environmental conditions
  • the characteristics of the load being handled
  • things used in the hazardous manual task such as tools and equipment.

Research evidence verifies that ‘how to lift’ training is not effective in preventing or reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

FAQs

Q: If ‘how to lift training’ is not an effective method for managing hazardous manual tasks in the workplace, then what is?

A: Following risk management principles specific to hazardous manual tasks, in consultation with your workers. This looks like:

  • identifying which manual tasks are hazardous
  • determining why a task is hazardous
  • eliminating the hazard, then controlling any remaining risk by following the hierarchy of control. Your control measure(s) should address the source of the risk
  • maintaining and reviewing the control(s) to ensure continuing effectiveness.

Q: What training should be provided to workers in relation to hazardous manual tasks?

A: As stated in the position statement, training should cover:

  • manual task risk management, including hazardous manual task risk factors and sources of risk
  • specific manual task risks and the measures in place to control them
  • how to perform manual tasks safely, including the use of mechanical aids, tools, equipment and safe work procedures
  • how to report a problem or maintenance issues.

Q: Are pre-work stretching and exercises good methods for controlling hazardous manual task risks?

A: These programs do not address the source of the risk, or a worker’s exposure to hazardous manual tasks risk factors. You must follow the risk management principles specific to hazardous manual tasks.

Q: When looking to engage a service provider to assist our business manage hazardous manual tasks, what should I look for?

A: A provider who:

  • is aware of and operates in line with the HWSA ‘how to lift’ position statement
  • has a thorough understanding of the legislative requirements for managing hazardous manual tasks
  • demonstrates knowledge and experience in identifying hazardous manual tasks, and conducting hazardous manual task risk assessments that identify the source/s of risk
  • has a focus on, and have the ability to, identify interventions that follow the hierarchy of control and address the source/s of risk
  • utilises a consultative approach with relevant workers.

Note – it is advisable to get the provider to show you examples/references of how they follow the above points.

Further links:

Identifying hazardous manual tasks

There are several ways you can be on the lookout for hazardous manual tasks, including:

  • consulting your workers who are affected, or likely to be affected, by a manual task, as they will provide valuable information about discomfort, muscular aches and pains which can signal potential hazards
  • reviewing available information such as records of workplace injuries and accidents, inspection reports and work injury insurance claims, as they can help identify which manual tasks may cause harm
  • observing trends which may show certain tasks have more characteristics which make them hazardous.

This will help the decision process in determining which manual task hazards should be addressed as a priority.

Assessing the risks

Conducting a risk assessment is the best way to examine in more detail the traits of a particular hazardous manual task you have identified as being dangerous, unless the risk is well known and you know how to control it.

A risk assessment will help you determine:

  • which postures, movements (or lack of movement) and forces of a task pose a risk
  • where they pose a risk during the task
  • why they are occurring
  • what needs to be fixed.

Determining the risk factors

The following questions can help you determine which postures, movements and forces of a task pose a risk.

Question 1: Does the task involve any of the following:

  • repetitive movement?
  • sustained or awkward postures?
  • repetitive or sustained forces?
  • mental stress / tension?

The term ‘repetitive’ means that a movement or force is performed more than twice a minute, while ‘sustained’ means a posture or force is held for more than 30 seconds at a time.

Question 2: Does the task occur over a long time?

If a ‘yes’ response is given to Question 1, then the time taken to complete the task should be determined.

If the task is done for more than 2 hours over a whole shift, or continuously for more than 30 minutes at a time, there is a risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Question 3: Does the task involve high or sudden force?

Force is the amount of muscular effort required to perform, attempt to perform, resist or change a movement. Forceful muscular exertions can overload muscles, tendons, joints and discs, and are associated with most musculoskeletal disorders.

High force is exerted when large loads, relative to the body part doing the activity, are placed on muscles and other tissues. An indicator of a high force is when a worker describes a task as physically demanding, needs help to do it, requires a stronger person or two people to do the task, or where a normally one-handed task requires two hands.

Sudden force occurs when there is a rapid increase or decrease in muscular effort. Examples of sudden force include jarring, jerky or unexpected movements. It is particularly hazardous because the body must suddenly adapt to the changing force. Tasks which include sudden force typically generate high force as well. Accelerating too fast when applying force, or trying to catch a falling load, can create sudden hazardous forces.

Question 4: Does the task involve vibration?

Prolonged exposure to the whole body or hand-arm vibration increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and other health problems. The degree of risk increases as the duration of exposure increases and when the amplitude of vibration is high. Examples of tasks involving vibrations include the use of hand-powered tools or operating a mobile plant.

Is there a risk?

The task involves a risk of musculoskeletal disorders if you have answered ‘yes’ to either:

  • Question 1 and Question 2, or
  • Question 3

If you answered ‘yes’ to Question 4, the task may be a risk but requires further investigation.

A task may involve more than one risk factor. The more risk factors that are present, the higher the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

If you identify a risk, you need to think about the sources of these risks that are present in the task as you may be able to change these to eliminate or reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

The main sources of risk are:

  • work area design and layout
  • the nature, size, weight or number of things handled
  • systems of work
  • the environment.

Controlling the risk

Duty holders must work through the hierarchy of control to choose the control that most effectively eliminates or minimises the risk. This can either involve a single control measure or a combination of two or more different controls.

Eliminating the risk is the most effective control measure and involves eradicating the hazardous manual task along with its associated risk. However, if it isn’t reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, then you must minimise the risks as much as possible.

Hierarchy of control Examples of control measures
Level 1 Elimination
  • Automate the manual task.
  • Deliver goods directly to the point of use to eliminate multiple handling.
Level 2 Substitution
  • Replace heavy items with those that are lighter, smaller and/or easier to handle.
  • Replace hand tools with power tools to reduce the level of force required to do the task.
Isolation
  • Isolate vibrating machinery from the user, for example, by providing fully independent seating on a mobile plant.
Engineering
  • Use mechanical lifting aids.
  • Provide workstations that are height adjustable.
Level 3 Administrative
  • Rotate workers between different tasks.
  • Arrange workflows to avoid peak physical and mental demands towards the end of a shift.
  Personal
protective
equipment
  • Provide heat resistant gloves for handling hot items.
  • Provide shock absorbent shoes for work on hard concrete floors.

For the most effective controls:

  • start at the top of the hierarchy of control
  • enable workers to test controls and give their feedback before decisions are made to make them permanent
  • develop work procedures to ensure that controls are understood and responsibilities are clear
  • communicate the reasons for the change to workers and others
  • ensure that any equipment used in the manual task is properly maintained
  • provide training to ensure workers can proficiently implement the risk controls, including information about manual tasks risk management, specific manual task risks and how to control them, use of mechanical aids, tools, equipment and safe work procedures and how to report a problem or maintenance issue.

Training as a control method to reduce risk of musculoskeletal disorder is not effective. It is more effective to provide workers with training in:

  • how to identify hazards and risks
  • strategies to avoid hazards and prevent injury
  • how to report hazards and risks they might encounter
  • develop controls to address hazards and risks.

Review control measures

Control measures that have been implemented should be reviewed and, if necessary, revised to make sure they work as planned while maintaining a work environment that is without risk to health and safety.

You should review control measures:

  • when the control measure is no longer effective
  • before a change is made that is likely to give rise to a new or different risk
  • if a new hazard is identified
  • if consultation indicates a review is necessary
  • if a health and safety representative requests a review.

Further information