Manual Handling Assessment

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Manual Handling injuries account for a significant amount all injury claims across Australia. The average cost of a manual handling claim in Victoria for example is in excess of $57,000 according to WorkSafe Victoria.

Manual handling relates to the moving of items either by lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing or pulling. The weight of the item is an important factor, but many other factors can create a risk of injury, for example the number of times you have to pick up or carry an item, the distance you are carrying it, where you are picking it up from or putting it down (picking it up from the floor, putting it on a shelf above shoulder level) and any twisting, bending, stretching or other awkward posture you may adopt while doing a task.

WHS Regulations require employers to manage the risks to their employees. They must:

  • Avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as is reasonably practicable, by redesigning the task to avoid moving the load or by automating or mechanising the process.
  • Make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided.
  • Reduce the risk of injury from those operations so far as is reasonably practicable. Where possible, provide mechanical assistance, for example, a sack trolley or hoist. Where this is not reasonably practicable then explore changes to the task, the load and the working environment.

 

Medical and scientific knowledge stress the importance of an ergonomic approach to look at manual handling as a whole, taking into account the nature of the task, the load and the working environment, and requiring worker participation.

 

MANUAL HANDLING ASSESSMENT SERVICES

A systematic assessment of jobs involving heavy, high-risk or repetitive material handling. Includes strategic and tactical recommendations for minimising load, force, exposure, repetitions and injury. Also includes worker training and management sharing relating to long-term safety strategies such as elimination, substitution, engineering controls or administrative controls.

 

Call our expert team today on +61-28-3109906 for a free consultation.

Interested in this service?

Fill in the form opposite or contact us now to speak to one of our consultants:

Tel: +61-28-3109906
Email: support@whsnetwork.com.au

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