Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00406:body:0:p15
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00406
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 48039–50928

nerves and blood vessels, increasing the risk of the worker developing an MSD.
The sources of risk include:
    * time constraints
    * pace and flow of work across the working day or shift
    * ability for workers to influence workload or work methods and changes in the workplace
    * the level of resources and guidance
    * consultation processes
    * work roles and performance requirements or processes for dealing with conflicts
    * staffing levels, skill mix and shift arrangements.
Remember that workers will also have different physical and psychological characteristics and these individual factors may increase the risk, for example:
    * Skills and experience – being inexperienced in a job may increase the risk
    * Physical characteristics – an overload situation may result from a mismatch between the worker and the task
    * Unaccustomed work – workers who are new, have transferred from another job or are returning from extended leave and whose muscles are not conditioned to the work.

Consider the workplace environment
The sources of risk in the work environment include:
       * Cold environments such as in cool rooms, freezers, cold stores or working outside in cold and/or wet weather can lower body and hand temperature and make handling and gripping objects more difficult. Increased grip force can also result from reduced sensitivity in cold hands or from wearing gloves.  Cold can also significantly increase the risk of hand-arm vibration. Working in a cold environment requires thick or heavy protective clothing that restricts movement which can increase the risk of MSD. It can also cause overheating of the body as the clothing does not allow heat or sweat to dissipate and may decrease the blood flow to muscles, increasing fatigue.
       * High temperatures - (including radiant heat), for example, in foundries, laundries, bakeries, kitchens, or working in hot weather can make handling and gripping objects more difficult. Workers may have difficulty grasping objects due to perspiration on the hands or there may be sudden or unexpected forces due to loads slipping.
       * Humid environments - caused by processes such as steam cleaning, cooking or the weather can also increase the risk of developing MSD. Handling wet or damp objects may require increased force. Humidity may also increase discomfort and fatigue.
       * Wind - may increase the force required to handle items and reduce control while handling large objects, especially those that are flexible and have a large surface area. When working in windy conditions and in low temperatures that 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)