Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00406:body:0:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00406
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 0–2827

Work Health and Safety (Hazardous Manual Tasks) Code of Practice 2015

made under the

Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 274 (Approved Codes of Practice)

1 Name of instrument

This instrument is the Work Health and Safety (Hazardous Manual Tasks) Code of Practice 2015.

2 Commencement

This instrument commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

3 Code of Practice Approval

I approve the Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice. I am satisfied that this code of practice was developed by a process described in section 274(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Michaelia Cash
Minister for Employment

18 March 2016

Date

HAZARDOUS MANUAL TASKS

Code of Practice

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD
1.  Introduction
1.1 What is a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)?
1.2 What is a hazardous manual task?
1.3 Who has health and safety duties in relation to hazardous manual tasks?
1.4 What is required to manage the risk of musculoskeletal disorders?
2.  Identifying hazardous manual tasks
2.1  How to identify hazardous manual tasks
2.2 Characteristics of Hazardous Manual Tasks
3.  Assessing the Risks
3.  Assessing the Risks
3.1 When should a risk assessment be conducted?
3.2 How to do a risk assessment for hazardous manual tasks
3.3 What are the risk factors?
3.4  What are the sources of the risk?
4.  CONTROLLING THE RISKS
4.1 The hierarchy of control
4.2 Purchasing to eliminate or minimise risks
4.3 Changing the design or layout of work areas
4.4 Changing the nature, size, weight or number of items handled
4.5 Using mechanical aids
4.6 Handling people and animals
4.7 Changing the system of work
4.8 Changing the work environment
4.9 Using administrative control measures
4.10 Implementing control measures
5.  Reviewing control measures
6.  Role of designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers
6.1 Designers
6.2 Manufacturers, importers and suppliers
Appendix A – The risk management process for manual tasks
Appendix b – HazaRdous manual task identification worksheeT
Appendix c – discomfort survey
Appendix D – RISK Assessment WoRKSHEET
Appendix e – Controlling MSD risks through design
Appendix F – references for further risk assessment methods

FOREWORD
This Code of Practice on how to identify hazardous manual tasks and control the risks of workers being affected by musculoskeletal disorders is an approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act.
An approved code of practice is a practical guide to achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare required under the Work Health and Safety Act (the WHS Act) and the Work Health and Safety Regulations (the Regulations).
A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code. In most