Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00406:body:0:p16
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00406
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 50654–53718

are also windy, the resultant wind chill may lower the body temperature further.
       * Slippery and uneven floor surfaces - may increase the exertion required to perform manual tasks due to difficulty maintaining stability. Unsuitable floor coverings (for example carpet) may increase friction when moving objects such as trolleys
       * Obstructions – caused by poor housekeeping and cleaning can lead to awkward postures such as reaching or bending over obstacles
       * Lighting - low or high levels of lighting, as well as glare and reflection, may lead to awkward or sustained postures to either improve vision or to avoid glare.

4. CONTROLLING THE RISKS
Now you know which risk factors are present, where they are present and why they are present (sources of the risk), you are in a position to know what must be controlled and work out how to
do it.

4.1         The hierarchy of control
The ways of controlling the risk of MSDs are ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest. This ranking is known as the hierarchy of risk control. The WHS Regulations require duty holders to work through this hierarchy to choose the control that most effectively eliminates or minimises the risk in the circumstances. This may involve a single control measure or a combination of two or more different controls.

Eliminate the risk
The most effective control measure involves eliminating the hazardous manual task and its associated risk. Eliminating hazards and risks is usually easier and cheaper to achieve in the planning or design stage of an item, process or place used for work.

Minimise the risk
If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, then you must minimise the risks so far as
is reasonably practicable by:
    * substituting the hazard with something that gives rise to a lesser risk
    * isolating the hazard from any person exposed to it
    * implementing engineering controls.
If there is a remaining risk, it must be minimised so far as is reasonably practicable by implementing administrative controls, and if a risk still remains, then suitable personal protective equipment must be provided and used. These two types of control measures, when used on their own, tend to be least effective in minimising risks because they rely on human behaviour and supervision.
Control measures should be aimed at eliminating or minimising the frequency, magnitude and duration of movements, forces and postures by changing the source of risk: the work area, tool, load, environment, method of handling and/or the way work is organised.

Hierarchy of control           Examples of control measures

Level 1                        Elimination                                                                                                              * Automate the manual task (such as using remote controls)
                                                                                                                                                        * Deliver goods directly to the point of use