A “hazardous manual task” is a task that requires a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any person, animal or thing involving one or more of the following:
- Repetitive or sustained force
- High or sudden force
- Repetitive movement
- Sustained or awkward posture
- Exposure to vibration
These characteristics define a ‘hazardous manual task’ for the purpose of the Work Health and Safety Regulation (“the WHS Regulation”) and the HAZARDOUS MANUAL TASKS CODE OF PRACTICE 2011.
It is well known that a task with those characteristics directly stresses the body and can lead to injury; there is a high risk of a musculoskeletal disorder occurring.
For this reason, if your job entails such a task, the WHS Regulation imposes specific obligations for your employer to take steps to manage the risk of injury associated with that task.
A risk assessment must be undertaken, and steps taken to manage the risks, by eliminating the risks “so far as is reasonably practicable”.
More specifically the WHS Regulation requires that during this process, the employer must consider ALL matters that might contribute to a musculoskeletal disorder including:
- Postures, movements, forces and vibration relating to the hazardous manual task
- Duration and frequency of the hazardous manual task
- Workplace environmental conditions affecting the task or worker
- Design of the work area
- Layout of the workplace
- System of work used
- Nature, size, weight or number of persons, animals or things involved in carrying out the hazardous manual task.
In addition, the Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice provides practical guide to assist the employer in achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare required with such tasks.
The employer must also document the steps taken and if they fail to do so, they may well be found to be liable for any injury sustained as a result.
In addition, the Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice provides practical guide to assist the employer in achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare required with such tasks.
The employer must also document the steps taken and if they fail to do so, they may well be found to be liable for any injury sustained as a result.
For more information about Hazardous Manual Tasks, visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/hazards/hazardous-manual-tasks
