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The construction industry is labour intensive. Employees in the construction industry perform a wide variety of manual task using a range of materials and in the course of the average work day. Materials such as bricks, timber, cement bags, tiles, and plasterboard are carried or manipulated by hand, often over rough or slippery terrain. Employees also use a variety of tools and machinery to complete their work.
A number of tasks carried out in specific jobs expose those workers to greater risk of injury while carrying out manual tasks. These trades have been shown particularly to have high body stressing injuries:
Risks from manual tasks can be avoided or minimised during the design stage. The duty of care of designers outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health Act places a legal obligation on designers to ensure the design of the building or structure does not expose persons properly constructing, maintaining, repairing or servicing the building or structure to hazards. Designers therefore must consider the manual handling risks to workers from various trades that may arise from their designs and plan to reduce or eliminate the risks.
Code of practice - Safe design of buildings and structures
Manufacturers and suppliers can assist in reducing manual handling risks to all trade workers.
Construction work distinguishes itself from other types of work because employees in this industry may be exposed to a wide range of hazards while completing their day to day work duties. The reasons for this are complex and include:
The Occupational Safety and Health Act sets out a duty of care for the principal contractor. This duty of care requires safe systems of work to be established and maintained and be supported by adequate information, instruction, training and supervision. Correct planning can make sure safe systems of work are established and adequate information, instruction, training and supervision is provided. Good planning will avoid or reduce many of the manual handling hazards associated with plumbing and will benefit the productivity of the job as well as promote safety. The following guidelines provide some practical ideas.
Consideration needs to be given to access/egress for maintenance work and provisions made before the job is started.
Many construction trade workers have to work in confined spaces. Working in confined spaces has many safety implications. More detailed information can be obtained from the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 and Australian Standard AS 2865 Safe Working in a Confined Space.
When the blocks are to be laid from a scaffold ensure the safe load capacity of the scaffold is not exceeded. Generally a heavy-duty scaffold must be used to make sure the load is within the capacity of the scaffold. A loading bay should be located appropriately, giving consideration to access/egress. The movement of the blocks, equipment and people around the scaffold needs to be considered with particular attention to establishing and maintaining an even, stable and secure working platform, i.e. make sure the scaffold planks are even and secured.
Consider the scaffold requirements of plasterers, and plan accordingly. Ensure suitable scaffold and attachments such as aluminium frame hop-ups are provided where necessary. A loading bay should be located appropriately, giving consideration to access/egress. The capacity of the scaffold must be appropriate for the loads.
Material delivery and storage areas should have enough space and lighting to allow for the safe movement of the materials.
Have adequate storage space and systems in place to maintain materials and equipment in designated and secure areas.
The ground conditions for storage and lay down areas should be even and compacted.
Selecting materials that are lighter and easier to handle decreases the overall workload of trades people.
Mechanical lifting and handling equipment must be considered to move heavy/awkward products, tools and equipment around the site. Mechanical devices must be considered to complete heavy manual tasks such as digging, removing gatic or well covers etc. The provision and maintenance of the equipment should be planned at the beginning of the job. Examples of equipment that may need to be considered and directly or indirectly budgeted for includes:
When selecting tools and equipment the safety of the operator must be considered. The lightest weight tool with the least amount of vibration that is suitable for the job should be provided.
For example for to chase walls select a light weight cutter that minimises dust in preference to large, heavy, awkward, high revolution tool such as a chasing saws (refer to the Code of practice: Concrete and masonry cutting and drilling).
Team lifting can in many cases reduce this risk. It must be remembered however that team lifting has inherent risks and does not provide a long-term solution for moving heavy materials. The heavier the materials the higher the risk of manual handling injury when team lifting. Team lifting is often neither time nor cost effective. Alternatives to team lifting should be considered during the planning phase. If team lifting is utilised all workers involved must be trained and the lift coordinated.
During the construction phase the Principal Contractor has a legal responsibility to ensure the maintenance of site safety. Safety and health policies and procedures and safe systems of work should be established at the beginning of a project and should be regularly reviewed throughout project. Site inductions, appropriate training, and ongoing supervision are required throughout the construction phase to ensure safe systems are achieved and maintained.
The ongoing maintenance of clear routes to and from work areas to enable the safe movement of materials, equipment and people around site is essential. Adequate rubbish receptacles need to be provided and maintained in dedicated areas. Material hoists should not be removed before all materials have been put in place.
The sequencing/planning of a job should facilitate safe systems of work for the various trades. Coordinate the work so that all heavy/large components can be craned into place at one time thus minimising crane time and maximising the use of mechanical lifting; and
The work layout influences how the work can be completed. Examples include:
Working platform planks must be secured and maintained. Where practicable the working platform should allow the trade worker to complete their work in a good posture, i.e. between knee and shoulder height.
Windy weather has a considerable impact on the handling of formwork components, in particular large sheets of ply. Wet weather also makes manual handling significantly more difficult. Large loads should not be moved around in adverse climatic conditions unless a safe system of work, taking the conditions into consideration, can be implemented.
Good housekeeping on a site has many positive effects including increased harmony between different sub contractors, decreased probability of accidents and increased productivity. The site supervisor should ensure the work areas are free of obstructions that may prevent the safe movement of materials and people.
Manual task injuries are the largest single cause of injury resulting in plumbers having to take time off work. As well as costing millions of dollars per annum these injuries result in pain and suffering to the injured worker and their families and a loss of experience, skills and productivity to the industry.
Common manual tasks that result in injuries among plumbers include, moving gas bottles, digging, carrying pipes and plumbing fixtures and lifting heavy equipment such as tank covers, drain cleaning machines and heavy valves/pumps.
Sub contractors have individual responsibilities to manage site safety and health. All employees have a legal responsibility, to ensure their own safety and health at work and to avoid adversely affecting the safety and health of any other person. Some practical examples for plumbers are outlined below.
If you have part or whole control over the design, manufacture, supply and/or principal contracting of the work you do then look at these pages to get an idea of what you can do to minimise the risk to plumbers. Otherwise consult with these stakeholders to influence the implementation of the various safety elements.
Developing and maintaining safe work practices reduces the risk of injury. Specific examples for plumbers include:
Large gas cylinders are heavy, bulky and awkward to move. Some possible solutions are:
Note: There are other important associated safety issues with cylinders. Following safe work practices in the use and maintenance of gas cylinders is essential. Always store cylinders away from the immediate work area and secure them in an upright position.
Heavy equipment has to be loaded and unloaded, often several times per day. Loads are often heavy, awkward and difficult to access. To minimise the risk of a manual handling injury consider the following:
A number of injuries are associated with digging. Problems include using inappropriate tools, hitting an unexpected object and having to get into awkward positions. Before digging commences always identify the location of all gas, electrical, water, waste and sewage services likely to be encountered during excavation work (this can be done through the relevant authorities or Dial Before You Dig). Examples of solutions include:
There are problems associated with moving long, awkward pipes around site and in confined places. Often pipes need to be fitted in areas that are difficult to access. Possible solutions include:
Chasing walls with heavy, high revolution tools such as chasing saws has manual handling and inherent safety risks. Solutions include:
For further information refer to the Code of practice for Concrete and masonry cutting and drilling.
All workers involved in all trades on site have a responsibility for maintaining site tidiness. Routine, regular cleanups should be scheduled as part of the workday. Working on a tidy, well-maintained site makes the job easier, safer and more productive.
Training must be provided for all plumbers involved in team lifting. The lift needs to be coordinated by a 'leader'. Remember team lifting should not be considered an adequate long-term control. Team lifting in inherently dangerous and alternative solutions should be considered.
Blocklayers and stonemasons are at a higher risk than most workers of sustaining a manual handling injury. Manual handling injuries are the largest single cause of injury resulting in blocklayers and stonemasons having to take time off work. As well as costing millions of dollars per annum these injuries result in pain and suffering to the injured worker and their families and a loss of experience, skills and productivity to the industry.
Common manual tasks that result in injuries among blocklayers and stonemasons include: moving blocks/stones around site, a single person manually laying a large number of blocks/stones in excess of approximately 20kg and laying blocks/stones in awkward positions.
All blocklayers, stonemasons and their labourers have a legal responsibility, to ensure their own safety and health at work and to avoid adversely affecting the safety and health of any other person. Some practical examples for block layers and stonemasons are outlined below.
If you have part or whole control over the design, manufacture, supply and/or principal contracting of the work you do then look at these pages to get an idea of what you can do to minimise the risk to blocklayers and stonemasons. Otherwise consult with these stakeholders to influence the implementation of the various safety elements.
Developing and maintaining safe work practices reduces the risk of injury. Specific examples for blocklayers, stonemasons and their labourers include:
Heavy equipment has to be loaded and unloaded, often several times per day. Loads can be heavy, awkward and difficult to access. To minimise manual handling consider the following:
Blocks, stones and mortar need to be moved around site. The loads can be very heavy and in some cases awkward to move. Some solutions include:
Strategies to minimise the physical workload associated with shovelling sand and moving bags of cement include:
A number of injuries are associated with digging. Problems include using inappropriate tools, hitting an unexpected object and having to get into awkward positions. Before digging commences always identify the location of all the services. All excavation work should be carried out in accordance with the Code of practice: Excavation. Examples of solutions include:
All workers involved in all trades on site have a responsibility for maintaining site tidiness. Routine, regular cleanups should be scheduled as part of the workday. Working on a tidy, well-maintained site makes the job easier and safer.
Training must be provided for all blocklayers, stonemasons and labourers involved in team lifting. The lift needs to be coordinated by a 'leader'. Remember team lifting should not be considered an adequate long-term control. Team lifting in inherently dangerous and alternative solutions should be considered.
Among all workers bricklayers have one of the highest risks of suffering from a manual handling injury, this being the largest single cause of injury resulting in time off work from bricklaying. As well as costing millions of dollars per annum these injuries result in pain and suffering to the injured worker and their families and a loss of experience, skills and productivity to the industry.
Common manual tasks that result in injuries among bricklayers and labourers include moving bricks around site, manually lifting and carrying lintels and laying bricks in awkward positions and repetitively bending.
Sub contractors have individual responsibilities to manage site safety and health. All employees have a legal responsibility, to ensure their own safety and health at work and to avoid adversely affecting the safety and health of any other person. Some practical examples for bricklayers and labourers are outlined below.
If you have part or whole control over the design, manufacture, supply and/or principal contracting of the work you do then look at these pages to get an idea of what you can do to minimise the risk to bricklayers. Otherwise consult with these stakeholders to influence the implementation of the various safety elements.
Developing and maintaining safe work practices reduces the risk of injury. Examples of safe work practices for bricklayers include:
Bricks and mortar need to be moved around site. The loads can be very heavy and in some cases awkward to move. Some solutions include:
Heavy, awkward equipment, such as mixers need to be loaded and unloaded on a daily basis. To decrease the manual handling consider the following:
Strategies to minimise the physical workload associated with shovelling sand and moving bags of cement include:
All workers involved in all trades on site have a responsibility for maintaining site tidiness. Routine, regular cleanups should be scheduled as part of the workday. Working on a tidy, well-maintained site makes the job easier and safer.
Training must be provided for all bricklayers and labourers involved in team lifting. The lift needs to be coordinated by a 'leader'. Remember team lifting should not be considered an adequate long-term control. Team lifting in inherently dangerous and alternative solutions should be considered.
Manual handling injuries are the largest single cause of injury resulting in formwork carpenters having to take time off work. As well as costing millions of dollars per annum these injuries result in pain and suffering to the injured worker and their families and a loss of experience, skills and productivity to the industry.
Common manual tasks that result in injuries among formworkers include, moving sheets of ply between working levels, manually lifting and carrying heavy materials and fixing formwork components in awkward postures.
All formworkers have a legal responsibility to ensure their own safety and health at work and to avoid adversely affecting the safety and health of any other person. Some practical examples of how formworkers can fulfil these responsibilities in relation to manual handling are outlined below.
If you have part or whole control over the design, manufacture, supply and/or principal contracting of the work you do then look at these pages to get an idea of what you can do to minimise the risk to formworkers. Otherwise consult with these stakeholders to influence the implementation of the various safety elements.
Developing and maintaining safe work practices reduces the risk of injury. Specific examples for formworkers include:
The movement of formwork components around site should be minimised as much as possible as the loads can be heavy and awkward to handle. Inevitably however there will be some manual lifting and carrying. Strategies to minimise the risk of injury associated with manually moving formwork components include:
Safe work practices when using power tools include:
Power tools have inherent risks and should always be used in accordance with the manufacturers specification and with the relevant PPE. Never modify machine guarding or other safety features. Electrical safety requirements outlined in AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations - construction and demolition sites, must be complied with. Consideration must be given to the noise levels when using power tools. Further information is outlined in the Code of practice: Managing noise at workplaces.
Heavy equipment often has to be loaded and unloaded several times per day. Loads can be heavy, awkward and difficult to access. To minimise manual handling consider the following:
All workers involved in all trades on site have a responsibility for maintaining site tidiness. Routine, regular cleanups should be scheduled as part of the workday. Working on a tidy, well-maintained site makes the job easier and safer.
Training must be provided for all formworkers and labourers involved in team lifting. All team lifts require a 'leader' who is responsible to coordinate the lift. Remember team lifting should not be considered an adequate long-term control. Team lifting is inherently dangerous and alternative solutions should be considered.
Electricians are at a higher risk than most workers of sustaining a manual handling injury. Manual handling injuries are the largest single cause of injury resulting in electricians having to take time off work. As well as costing millions of dollars per annum these injuries result in pain and suffering to the injured worker and their families and a loss of experience, skills and productivity to the industry.
Common manual tasks that result in injuries among electricians include pulling cables, completing work in cramped postures, working overhead and lifting, carrying, manoeuvring and placing awkward loads.
If you have part or whole control over the design, manufacture, supply and/or principal contracting of the work you do then look at these pages to get an idea of what you can do to minimise the risk to electricians. Otherwise consult with these stakeholders to influence the implementation of the various safety elements.
All electricians have a legal responsibility to ensure their own safety and health at work and to avoid adversely affecting the safety and health of any other person. Some practical examples of how electricians can fulfil these responsibilities in relation to manual handling are outlined below.
Developing and maintaining safe work practices reduces the risk of injury. Specific examples for electricians include:
A number of injuries are associated with digging. Problems include using inappropriate tools, hitting an unexpected object and having to get into awkward positions. Before digging commences always identify the location of all gas, electrical, water, waste and sewage services likely to be encountered during excavation work. Examples of solutions include:
For further information on safe work practices associated with excavation refer to the Code of practice: Excavation code of practice.
Electricians often have to work for prolonged periods on switchboards/panels as well as fit them into place. Examples of safe work practices include:
Safe work practices when using power tools include:
Power tools have inherent risks and should always be used in accordance with the manufacturers specification. Compliance with electrical safety requirements, outlined in AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations on construction sites, must be achieved. Consideration must be given to the noise levels when using power tools. Further information is outlined in the Code of Practice: Managing noise at workplaces.
Loading and unloading work vehicles
Heavy equipment has to be loaded and unloaded, often several times per day. Loads can be heavy, awkward and difficult to access. To minimise manual handling consider the following:
Pulling cables can require significant force. Safe work practices include:
Confined spaces
Electricians often have to work in confined areas such as ceiling spaces. This affects how manual handling tasks can be completed. Examples of how to reduce the risk of a manual handling injury when working in confined areas are listed below:
More detailed information on safe work practices in confined spaces can be obtained from the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 and AS/NZS 2865:2001 Safe Working in Confined Spaces.
Chasing walls with heavy, high revolution tools such as quickcuts or angle grinders has manual handling and other inherent safety risks. Whenever possible pre-lay cables into the walls and/or floor to eliminate the need to chase; or where this is not possible:
For further information refer to the Code of practice: Concrete and masonry cutting and drilling.
All workers involved in all trades on site have a responsibility for maintaining site tidiness. Routine, regular clean-ups should be scheduled as part of the workday. Working on a tidy, well-maintained site makes the job easier and safer.
Before undertaking any manual handling tasks ensure adequate manual handling training has been completed so the job can be done safely.
Roof carpenters are at a higher risk than most workers of sustaining a manual handling injury. Manual handling injuries are the largest single cause of injury resulting in roof carpenters having to take time off work. As well as costing millions of dollars per annum these injuries result in pain and suffering to the injured worker and their families and a loss of experience, skills and productivity to the industry.
Common manual tasks that result in injuries among roof carpenters include, moving timber and steel from ground to roof level, manually lifting and carrying heavy materials and fixing timbers in awkward postures.
All roof carpenters have a legal responsibility to ensure their own safety and health at work and to avoid adversely affecting the safety and health of any other person. Some practical examples of how roof carpenters can fulfil these responsibilities, in relation to manual handling, are outlined below.
If you have part or whole control over the design, manufacture, supply and/or principal contracting of the work you do then look at these pages to get an idea of what you can do to minimise the risk to roof carpenters. Otherwise consult with these stakeholders to influence the implementation of the various safety elements.
Developing and maintaining safe work practices reduces the risk of injury. Specific examples for roof carpenters include:
Safe work practices when using power tools include:
Power tools have inherent risks and should always be used in accordance with the manufacturers specification. Never modify machine guarding or other safety features. For example never modify a nail gun so it free fires. Electrical safety requirements, outlined in AS/NZS 3012:2003 Electrical installations - Construction and demolition sites, must be complied with. Appropriate signage needs to be in place when power tools are used. Consideration must be given to the noise levels when using power tools. Further information is outlined in the Code of practice: Managing noise at workplaces.
Heavy equipment has to be loaded and unloaded, often several times per day. Loads can be heavy, awkward and difficult to access. To minimise manual handling consider the following:
Timber/steel inevitably need to be moved around site. The loads can be heavy and in some cases awkward to move. Some solutions include:
All workers involved in all trades on site have a responsibility for maintaining site tidiness. Routine, regular cleanups should be scheduled as part of the workday. Working on a tidy, well-maintained site makes the job easier and safer.
Training must be provided for all roof carpenters involved in team lifting. All team lifts require a 'leader' who is responsible to coordinate the lift. Remember team lifting should not be considered an adequate long-term control. Team lifting is inherently dangerous and alternative solutions should be considered.
Manual handling injuries are the largest single cause of injury resulting in plasterers having to take time off work. As well as costing millions of dollars per annum these injuries result in pain and suffering to the injured worker and their families and a loss of experience, skills and productivity to the industry.
Common manual tasks that result in injuries among plasterers include plastering in awkward and extreme postures, repetitively applying plaster and working to deadlines that result in working at a rapid pace without rest breaks.
All plasterers have a legal responsibility to ensure their own safety and health at work and to avoid adversely affecting the safety and health of any other person. Some practical examples of how plasterers can fulfil these responsibilities in relation to manual handling are outlined below.
If you have part or whole control over the design, manufacture, supply and/or principal contracting of the work you do then look at these pages to get an idea of what you can do to minimise the risk to plasterers. Otherwise consult with these stakeholders to influence the implementation of the various safety elements.
Developing and maintaining safe work practices reduces the risk of injury. Specific examples for plasterers include:
Plasterers have to move materials around site. Using equipment such as conveyors, trolleys and wheelbarrows reduce the load for plasterers. To minimise manual handling consider the following:
Always select the tools/equipment that are the best suited for the job. Some general considerations are, whenever practicable:
Research has shown that workers that complete work where the shoulder is in elevated postures such as plastering benefit significantly from home exercise programmes. Consideration also needs to be given to preparing your body for work to reduce the risk of injury. Recommended practices include:
Heavy equipment often has to be loaded and unloaded several times per day. Loads can be heavy, awkward and difficult to access. To minimise manual handling consider the following:
All workers involved in all trades on site have a responsibility for maintaining site tidiness. Routine, regular cleanups should be scheduled as part of the work day. Working on a tidy, well-maintained site eliminates many trip hazards and makes the job easier and safer.
Training must be provided for all plasterers and labourers involved in team lifting. All team lifts require a 'leader' who is responsible to coordinate the lift. Remember team lifting should not be considered an adequate long-term control. Team lifting is inherently dangerous and alternative solutions should be considered.
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