Manual Handling Risk Assessment

Product Overview

This risk assessment covers manual handling activities, including lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, repetitive work and team handling. It supports planning by identifying handling hazards and considering controls for changing work conditions and incidents.

Activities & Risks Covered

This assessment addresses activities and risks including:

• Plan handling tasks and assess load weight, size, stability, travel paths and worker capability.
• Set up work areas to reduce awkward postures, poor housekeeping and interaction with people or moving plant.
• Lift and lower loads while considering force, balance and hand and foot injury risks.
• Carry loads by hand over travel routes, through access points and across uneven ground.
• Push and pull loads or equipment while managing starting, stopping, steering and pinch-point risks.
• Manage repetitive handling, sustained gripping and fixed or above-shoulder postures.
• Coordinate team handling to manage shared loads, timing, communication and confined movement areas.
• Use mechanical aids and handling equipment while considering condition, control, load movement and collisions.
• Support training, consultation and supervision for changing conditions and hazardous manual tasks.
• Respond to strains, crush injuries, pain and near misses, including risks to hands and feet.

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out manual handling activities.

Activities & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template records model guidance used to inform the documented controls. Applicable WHS/OHS laws and adopted Codes vary by state or territory, so confirm the current local requirements when tailoring the assessment:

• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks — 4.1 The hierarchy of control measures; p. 31.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of fatigue at work — Provide sufficient breaks while at work; p. 30.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities — 2. The work environment; p. 13.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination — 3. What is effective consultation?; p. 13.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace — 3. First aid equipment, facilities and training; p. 12.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — 4. Step 3 — How to control risks; p. 20.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace — Plant used to lift or suspend persons or things; p. 17.

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Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)

• Activity-specific hazard identification and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each activity
• Risk matrix and assessment classification
• Review, monitoring and sign-off fields
• Site-specific customisation before use