Manual handling injuries are real and can have an enormous cultural and financial impact to a business.
Manual handling includes activities such as lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, throwing and carrying.
The types of tasks that can incorporate manual handling includes:
- Using hand tools
- Using machinery
- Repetitive tasks, such as packing and wrapping
- Cleaning
- Loading and unloading of vehicles
The National Standard for Manual tasks (2007) requires employers to assess the risk of hazardous manual tasks found in the workplace and put effective measures in place to:
- Prevent injury by eliminating the risk
- Where elimination is not reasonably practicable, reduce the risk of injury as much is reasonably practicable.
The risk assessment process begins with the identification of a task for assessment. This may come from worker/supervisor feedback about a task that is particularly demanding; as a result of an injury that has occurred whilst performing a particular task; a new task that is being introduced that is being proactively assessed; or any other reason.
Our fully trained assessors will assess any hazards, record the data and implement a process to ensure all risks have been identified, and controlled.
Call us today on (02) 9958 9009 or email at info@saunderssafety.com.au to find out how we can make your workplace safer.