Step 1: Identify hazardous manual tasks
Consult your workers
You must consult with your workers who are affected, or likely to be affected, by the hazardous manual task.
If your workers have a health and safety representative, you must also consult with them.
This is a requirement under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 – Section 70.
Hazards that arise from manual tasks generally involve interaction between a worker and:
- the work tasks and how they are performed
- the tools, equipment and objects handled
- the physical work environment
- the systems of work (including psychosocial factors)
Your workers should be the key source of information on the demands of their job. Conduct a discomfort survey and ask them:
- What makes you sore at work?
- When do you feel discomfort?
- What jobs do you avoid doing?
Those businesses that actively consult with their workers have much better safety outcomes than those who do not.
Observe manual tasks
Identify if any hazardous manual task risk factors are present. This may include:
- forceful exertions such as pushing, pulling, lifting and gripping,
- awkward postures such as bending, reaching and twisting,
- vibrations to the hands, arm or body
- repetitive movement
Review available information
You may be able to identify hazardous manual tasks that cause harm by reviewing:
- discomfort surveys
- records of workplace injuries and incidents
- inspection reports.
Look for trends
You may be able to identify trends or common problems from the data and information you collect. These trends can be helpful in determining what hazardous manual tasks should be addressed as a priority. For example, trends may reveal that certain manual tasks involve multiple risk factors, which can increase the risk of a worker getting injured. You may also see that some risk factors are more common in certain tasks.