Manual Handling SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers planning, moving, lifting, transporting, storing and cleaning up materials handled manually. It supports work planning and risk management by addressing load condition, access, mechanical aids, coordination, repetitive tasks and changing conditions.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan manual handling work and assess the load
• Inspect access routes and work area conditions
• Set up exclusion zones where loads, vehicles or plant interact
• Inspect loads, packaging and handling equipment
• Position and use mechanical aids
• Unload delivered materials
• Lift and lower items, including team lifts
• Transport materials internally
• Place and store materials
• Manage repetitive work, changed conditions and clean-up

Who is this for?

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

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Applicable Commonwealth, state or territory WHS/OHS legislation and regulations, including duties to identify hazards, manage risks, provide information, training, instruction and supervision, consult workers, and maintain effective controls.
• Safe Work Australia, Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (guidance only unless adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction). The Code requires consideration of posture, movement, force, vibration, duration, frequency, work area, environment, systems of work and the nature of loads.
• Safe Work Australia, Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks (guidance only unless adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction).
• Safe Work Australia, Model Code of Practice: Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination (guidance only unless adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction).
• Safe Work Australia, Model Code of Practice: Construction Work, where the activity is construction work (guidance only unless adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction).
• AS/NZS 2210.3 Safety, protective and occupational footwear.
• AS/NZS 2161 Occupational protective gloves.
• AS/NZS 4602.1 High visibility safety garments for professional use, where workers may be exposed to vehicle or mobile plant traffic.
• AS 2359 series Powered industrial trucks, where forklifts are used.
• AS 1418 series Cranes, hoists and winches, and AS 2550 series Cranes—Safe use, where lifting plant is used.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections