Course Information
Practical Risk Control for Australian Workplaces
Hazardous manual handling can cause serious musculoskeletal injuries. Many injuries develop gradually through repeated exposure to poor task design, awkward postures, force or vibration.
For example, workers may face risks when they lift, lower, push, pull, carry, hold or restrain something.
Hazardous Manual Handling gives workers, supervisors and employers practical knowledge for controlling these risks. The course covers tasks in warehouses, retail stores, manufacturing facilities and offices.
First, learners examine the characteristics that can make a manual task hazardous. These include repetitive movements, sustained force, sudden force, awkward postures and vibration.
Next, learners explore how to identify hazards and assess the risk of injury. Then, they consider the task, load, work area, equipment, duration and way people perform the work.
Also, the course explains why lifting technique alone cannot control every manual handling risk. Instead, workplaces should improve task design and remove hazards wherever reasonably practicable.
For example, a workplace may change its layout, reduce load sizes or improve storage heights. It may also use mechanical aids, suitable equipment or better systems of work.
In addition, learners examine how the hierarchy of controls supports manual handling risk management. Higher-level controls should take priority over instructions to “lift properly”.
Workers also play an important role. They should follow safe work procedures and use the equipment their workplace provides. Meanwhile, they should report discomfort, damaged equipment and unsafe tasks as early as possible.
Finally, learners explore how consultation and regular reviews help workplaces maintain effective controls.
This course supports obligations under applicable Australian WHS and OHS laws. However, it does not replace task-specific instruction, practical training or workplace supervision.
The course takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
What You’ll Learn
- What makes a manual task hazardous
- How hazardous manual handling can cause injury
- Common risk factors in everyday work
- How to identify and assess hazardous manual tasks
- How to apply the hierarchy of controls
- Practical controls involving task design and mechanical aids
- Why lifting technique alone cannot control every risk
- Worker responsibilities and early reporting
- The importance of consultation and control reviews
Practical. Preventative. Built for real work.
Overall, this course helps learners recognise risks early, support effective controls and prevent manual handling injuries.
