New hazardous manual tasks resources
With sprains and strains accounting for 43 per cent of workers’ compensation claims in the construction industry, new resources have been produced to help reduce the risks of hazardous manual tasks (HMT).
Developed by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland working closely with the industry, the three new construction specific resources include:
- HMT training presentation (PPTX, 2.9 MB)
- HMT training tips sheet (DOCX, 0.82 MB)
- work procedure review checklist for HMT (DOCX, 0.79 MB).
These resources provide detailed guidance with clear examples on how to deliver HMT training and how to include HMT in safe work procedures.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors report common construction HMT issues include:
- use of non-compliant HMT training
- use of written safe work procedures for core construction tasks with known MSD risk which fail to address HMT risk factors.
Non-compliant HMT training typically includes generic and non-evidence-based content about how to lift. HMT training content should be specific to the task and cover the risk factors and the controls. The new HMT presentation and training tip sheet can be used as a basis to deliver suitable training.
Many core construction tasks have both safety hazards, as well as HMT risk factors, such as force, awkward postures, duration and vibration. While written work procedures common in construction may adequately address the critical safety hazards, many work procedures do not identify the HMT risk factors or suitable controls for these risk factors.
The new work procedure review checklist for HMT risk factors will assist to identify and mark off the key elements in order to address HMT.
You can access our new hazardous manual tasks resources from manual tasks in construction.