Manual Handling Procedure and Risk Assessment Manual

The Manual Handling Procedure and Risk Assessment Manual is to be read in conjunction with the Manual Handling Policy and "The West Australian Code of Practice on Manual Handling".

Procedure & Guidelines

The following procedures, guidelines and risk assessment outline the specific requirements of the Policy. Where any uncertainty exists the Occupational Safety and Health Act and Regulations, the Western Australian Manual Handling Code of Practice and any legislative requirements shall have precedence and will apply.

Definitions

Activity	Refers to the movements by or postures of an employee at any given time in order to perform a task.
Australian Standard	refers to the Australian standard published by the Standards Association of Australia
Control Measure	Means a method that can be used to reduce the risks to safety and health from work with hazardous substances.
Hazard	Means anything that may result in injury or harm to health.
Manager	Means the person who has direct control and management responsibility for that workplace.
Manual Handling	means any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain a person, animal or thing.
Risk	Means the likelihood that a substance will cause harm in the circumstances of its use.
Supplier	Means an importer, manufacturer, designer, supplier or distributor of any plant or equipment intended for use at the University.
Task	Refers to any sequence of activities performed by an employee as part of their job.
Workplace	Means a place where employee work or are likely to be in the course of their work.

Guidelines

Consultation

Manual handling hazards that are reported must be assessed in accordance with the Code of Practice. This assessment is the responsibility of the manager/supervisor who has or exerts control of that workplace.

The assessment and control of manual handling tasks that have the potential to cause injury must be carried out in consultation with the relevant employee/s, safety and health representative and/or the relevant safety and health committee as appropriate.

This consultation must occur:

In the planning/design stage of new projects or modifications to the existing workplace;
where options or decisions are being considered on control measures;
when assessment and the effectiveness of the control measure are being reviewed; and
when assessing work tasks that have contributed to a manual handling injury.

Design Requirements

Managers/supervisors will ensure that, so far as is practicable:

plant, equipment and containers used by University employees, students, contractors and visitors (so far as is practicable) are designed, constructed and maintained to minimize manual handling injury; and
work practices involving manual handling are assessed in accordance with the code of practice.

Purchasing specifications should detail the use and function of the proposed plant and equipment and where possible the general performance characteristics required to reduce the risk of manual handling injury.

Designers/Manufacturers/Importers & Suppliers

Designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of any plant or equipment intended for use at the University Campus Sites or to be used by any employee or student under the control of the University while off campus are required to meet their statutory obligations to ensure that the design and construction is such that users of the plant or equipment who properly use such plant or equipment are not exposed to risk of injury or harm to health as a result of performing manual handling tasks connected with such use. This responsibility also includes a requirement to test the plant and equipment, and to provide on supply adequate information regarding any associated hazards and safe use.

Information, Instruction and Training

The manager/supervisor of an employee performing a manual handling task which has been assessed as being a risk, will ensure the employee receives adequate information, instruction and training before commencing the work task.
Divisions and Faculties who engage the services of a contractor have a responsibility to ensure that the contractor is advised of manual handling risks involving University plant and equipment.
Contractors will comply with the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (1984), the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (1994) and the Western Australian Manual Handling Code of Practice.

Costs

Manual handling controls associated with the introduction of new plant and equipment is the responsibility of the division or faculties.
Divisions and faculties implementing corrective work practices and procedures, or changes to existing practices will be expected to meet the costs from their own budget.

Record Keeping

Information relating to the Universities manual handling injury prevention program and copies of risk assessment reports provided by consultants, will be maintained by the Occupational Safety and Health Section.
Details of risk control measures and design modifications to plant and equipment will be maintained by the work areas in which the manual handling tasks are performed.
Details of training and the material provided will be maintained as part of the Universities Occupational Safety and Health Training records.

Occupational Safety & Health