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Manual tasks

Frequently asked questions

Contents

  1. What is the current legislation on manual handling and manual tasks?
  2. How does performing manual tasks result in injury?
  3. What are the risk factors associated with manual task injuries?
  4. How can hazards be identified?
  5. Is there a safe weight to lift?
  6. Is it expensive to implement manual handling solutions?
  7. What type of products could I use to address manual handling problems?
  8. Where do I find consultants who can help with my manual handling or other ergonomics related problems?
  9. Can wearing back belts prevent manual handling injuries?
  10. What should be covered in manual handling training?

1.  What is the current legislation on manual handling and manual tasks?

The OSH Act and regulations place certain duties on employers, employees, self-employed people, manufacturers, designers, importers and suppliers and must be complied with.  Duties include:

  • Do not expose workers to hazards

Hazards from performing manual tasks should be controlled so far as is practicable so that workers are not exposed to hazards. There are general duties and responsibilities placed upon employers, workers and contractors under WA legislation. Refer to Sections 19, 20 and 23D, 23E, 23Fof the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.

  • Provide information, instruction and training

Employers are required to provide information, instruction, training and supervision to their employees so that they are not exposed to manual task hazards. Refer to Section 19(1)(b) Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.

  • Conduct risk assessments 

The three-step risk management process of hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control should be applied to hazards from performing manual tasks, including manual handing. Refer to Regulation 3.1 and Regulation 3.4 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 .

  • Investigate hazards or injuries that have been reported to employers by employees

Injuries and hazards that have been reported in relation to performing manual tasks or reported musculoskeletal disorders should be investigated. The Act requires employers to investigate matters reported to them by employees, determine the action to be taken (if any), and notify the employee who made the report of the action to be taken. Refer to Section 23K of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.

  • Notify WorkSafe of reportable injuries

Certain injuries and illnesses should be reported to WorkSafe, including injuries that are likely to prevent the employee from being able to work within 10 days of the injury and certain types of fractures. Refer to Section 23I of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and Regulation 2.4 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996.

  • Provide safe workplaces

Those that have control of workplaces have a duty to take measures so far as is practicable so that people (including non-employees) are not exposed to hazards when they enter, exit or are in that workplace. Refer to Section 22 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.

  • Design and construct safe machinery, equipment and tools

Plant (includes machinery, equipment, appliance, implement, tool and any component) used in workplaces should be designed and constructed so that those who install, maintain or use them are not exposed to hazards.  The duties are applicable to designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers- Refer to Section 23 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.

Codes of practice apply to all workplaces in Western Australia covered by the OSH Act. The code provides practical guidelines on acceptable ways of achieving compliance with Act and regs.

  • The code of practice for Manual tasks

The Manual tasks code provides general guidance for employers and workers on the identification, assessment and control of risks associated with performing manual tasks at work.

2. How does performing manual tasks result in injury?

Most jobs require several types of manual tasks to be performed. However, not all manual tasks are
hazardous. The most common health problems that can arise from manual tasks that are hazardous are
musculoskeletal disorders (such as sprains and strains, disc injuries and tendonitis) and hernias.

A musculoskeletal disorder is an injury or disease of the musculoskeletal system. Musculoskeletal
disorders may arise in whole or in part from performing manual tasks in the workplace, whether occurring suddenly or over a prolonged period of time.

Musculoskeletal disorders include body-stressing injuries and conditions such as:

  • sprains and strains of muscles, ligaments and tendons (eg back strain);
  • joint injuries or degeneration (eg frozen shoulder or arthritis of the back);
  • disc protrusions, disc herniations or disc degeneration of the back or neck;
  • nerve injury or compression (eg carpal tunnel syndrome);
  • muscular and vascular disorders (eg vibration-induced white finger from hand-arm vibration); and
  • soft tissue injuries.

Musculoskeletal disorders may result from:

  • gradual wear and tear caused by frequent or prolonged periods of performing manual tasks (eg a storeperson continually handling stock between deliveries);
  • sudden damage caused by intense or strenuous manual handling or awkward lifts (eg a labourer lifting a compactor or a glazier lifting a pane of large glass from the ground on to a truck); or
  • direct trauma caused by unexpected events (eg a storeperson walking on uneven ground carrying a large heavy carton who trips and falls).

3. What are the risk factors associated with manual task injuries

There are a number of factors that may make a manual task hazardous, particularly for the development
of musculoskeletal disorders. Some of these are known to have direct effects on the body, while others
contribute to the risk by making the task more difficult to perform. These factors have been classified as
direct and indirect risk factors.

Direct risk factors

Risk factors that have a direct effect on the body include:

  • actions and postures (including awkward postures, sustained postures and repetitive movement); 
  • forces and loads (including forceful exertion); and
  • exposure to vibration (including whole-body and hand-arm vibration).

Indirect risk factors

Risk factors that can make the task more difficult to perform include:

  • the working environment (eg poor lighting and cool temperatures); 
  • systems of work, work organisation and work practices (eg inadequate rest breaks and unfamiliarity of the task); and
  • worker characteristics (eg physical limitations).

The above risk factors may interact and increase the overall risk. The overall risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder will increase if:

  • a direct risk factor level is high (eg high forces are required to lift an object); 
  • the task involves being exposed to more than one direct risk factor (eg lifting heavy loads in awkward postures); 
  • indirect risk factors are present and interact within a task (eg lifting loads in awkward postures in a cool environment); or 
  • if there are several hazardous manual tasks that an individual is exposed to during their work shift or as part of their job.

What are the conditions which create these risks?

Hazardous manual task risk factors may stem from various sources in the workplace. Addressing the sources of risks is the most effective way of controlling the risks.

The sources of risks may be varied and can include:

  • work area design and lay-out (eg inadequate space for task type); 
  • the nature of the item, equipment or tool (eg poorly designed chairs);  
  • the nature of the load (eg heavy load);
  • the working environment (eg cool temperatures); and
  • systems of work, work organisation and work practices (eg low job control).

4. How can hazards be identified?

The first step in managing risks from performing manual tasks is to identify manual tasks that have the
potential to cause injury or harm (ie identify hazardous manual tasks) so that they may be targeted for
closer examination and the risks controlled.

Hazardous manual tasks can be identified by:

  • reviewing hazard/injury reports;
  • consulting with employees and safety and health representatives; and
  • by observing tasks being performed.

More information on identifying, assessing and controlling manual handling hazards can be found in the Code of practice for Manual tasks.

5. Is there a safe weight to lift?

It is not possible to accurately assess manual handling tasks considering the weight of the load alone. For example, considering only the weight of the load will not significantly reduce the risk associated with manual handling tasks with low load weights, highly repetitive movements and poor postures.

The weight of a load is one of many common risk factors listed in the code of practice for assessing a manual handling task.

These risk factors fall into six basic categories:

  • actions and postures
  • forces and loads (including its weight)
  • exposure to vibration
  • the work environment
  • systems of work
  • worker characteristics.

There are variations in people's height and weight, and there are variations in their lifting ability. Design tasks that are safe for all people in workplaces. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, section 19, requires that the work environment does not expose workers to hazards.

6. Is it expensive to implement manual tasks solutions? 

There are a wide range of ways to control the risk of manual handling injury, ranging from simple procedural changes to state-of-the-art machinery and equipment.  The costs of manual handling solutions are justified when you consider the costs associated with injured workers requiring time off work.

7. What equipment can I use to address manual tasks problems?

When selecting equipment you should consider the design and ensure it is suitable for the type of task that needs to be performed, the environment it will be used in and the people who will be using it. Before purchasing equipment it advisable to have a trial period to ensure that the equipment suits the purpose and does not introduce new risks to the workplace. In addition staff should be trained in safe use of the equipment before it is used. In general mechanical equipment will require regular maintenance.

Examples of equipment which can be used to reduce the risk of manual task injuries include: 

  • trolleys and dollies;
  • hoists;
  • patient slide sheets;
  • back saver cranes;
  • wheels and castors;
  • drum handling equipment;
  • forklift and their attachments;
  • hand trucks;
  • lift tables;
  • load skates;
  • pallet lifters;
  • stair climbers;
  • tailgate loaders;
  • tool balancers;
  • utility cranes;
  • vacuum lifters; 

8. Where do I find consultants who can help with my manual handling or other ergonomics related problems?

You can make enquiries for the names of likely consultants through:

  • Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia (provide a list of certified professional ergonomists CPE)
  • other professional associations (such as the Australian Physiotherapy Association and Occupational Therapy Australia);
  • the yellow pages of the telephone directory. See:ergonomics; rehabilitation Services; and
    occupational Health and Safety
  • your local trade or industry association;
  • business colleagues and organisations;

  • internet search engines.  Keywords:
    'australia';
    'ergonomics';
    'occupational health'; and
    'occupational safety'.

9. Can wearing back belts prevent manual handling injuries?

No conclusive evidence has so far been found to support the use of back belts as an effective risk control strategy to prevent manual handling related injuries. A review of the scientific literature reporting studies carried out in several countries neither supports nor refutes the effectiveness of back belts in reducing injuries, although the consensus of expert opinion is that they have no demonstrable benefits. There is also insufficient scientific evidence that they deliver on the types of claims identified above.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the United States has undertaken extensive research to review and evaluate existing information on back belts. They do not recommend the use of back belts to prevent injuries among uninjured workers. They have also emphasised that:

"Back belts do not mitigate the hazards to workers posed by repeated lifting, pushing, pulling, twisting, or bending."

NIOSH is of the opinion that workers wearing back belts may feel a false sense of security and attempt to lift more weight than they would without a belt, thus possibly increasing risk of injury. Back belts should not be regarded as personal protective equipment.

10. What should be covered in manual handling training?

Depending on the degree of risk, the Code of practice for Manual tasks requires that employees should have an understanding of some or all of the following:

  • key sections of the regulations and code of practice, relating to manual handling;
  • the role and responsibilities of the employer, employees and others, and the consultation which should take place between employer and employees in order to identify manual handling hazards, and to assess and control risks;
  • the relationship between the human body work activity and risk of manual handling injury;
  • the risk management approach to manual handling; and
  • the application of relevant control strategies.

WorkSafe has developed a training package that can be adapted and modified for your workplace.

 

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