Appendix 1C Risk Assessment and Risk Control Form for Manual Tasks

Appendix 1C Risk Assessment and Risk Control Form (ASSESSING & CONTROLLING RISKS FROM MANUAL TASKS)
Date of assessment: Work area management rep:
Description of manual task:
Work area H&S rep:
Location of task: Others (employees, consultants):
Reason for identification
Existing task Change in task, object or tool Report of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)
New task New information Change in the workplace/work environment
The National Standard for Manual Tasks (2007) requires duty holders to assess the risk of any hazardous manual tasks found in the workplace and put effective measures in place to:
prevent injury by eliminating the risk
where elimination is not reasonably practicable, reduce the risk of injury as much as is reasonably practicable
How to use this worksheet
Follow the worksheet step by step and refer to the National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders from Performing Manual Tasks at Work (2007) (COP)
as indicated on the worksheet to:
assess tasks in the workplace involving hazardous manual tasks and determine the sources of risk – Refer COP Sections 6.3
list appropriate risk control measures – Refer COP Sections 6.4
implement those measures – Refer COP Sections 6.4
You are required to consult with the relevant health and safety representatives and, where possible, also involve the employees who do the tasks, when assessing the tasks and planning
and introducing risk controls.
This worksheet and the Code of Practice can be downloaded from the ASCC website at www.ascc.gov.au
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Record your assessment! – It is recommended that you retain your risk assessment if it shows a risk of injury.
Control any risk! – This worksheet provides general guidelines only. Some workers may still be at risk of injury because manual handling occurs in a variety of
tasks and workplace situations, and injury may be caused by a number of factors. It is important, as far as is reasonably practicable, to control any risk you find.
Assessment details Persons doing assessment
NATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS FROM PERFORMING MANUAL TASKS AT WORK | 95

* Describe what the person is doing – e.g. hand operation of drill 10 times per minute, performed 3 hrs per day, five days a week
What are the sources of risk? Describe any aspect of the design and layout of the workplace, the nature of the load handled, the nature of the item used, the working environment, the work practices or work organisation that may have caused you to tick a box..
Question 1 – Does the task involve repetitive or sustained postures, movements or forces?
Tick yes if the task requires any of the following actions to be done:
repetitively (done more than twice a minute) OR
sustained (done for more than 30 seconds at a time)
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Postures and Movements Page Comments* Describe any risk control
options you have identified
Control Options
(not exhaustive list)
Bending the back
forwards or sideways
more than 20 degrees
20 ̊
20 ̊
41
Twisting the back
more than 20 degrees
41
Any visible
backward bending
41
Bending the head
forwards or sideways
more than 20 degrees
20 ̊ 20 ̊ 41
Eliminate the manual task
Automate or mechanise the task, especially
repetitive functions
Modify operation or production method
Use bulk handling methods
Alter the design and layout of the workplace (p 62)
Ensure the equipment accounts for
differences in worker size, shape
and physical ability – i.e. adjustable
or fixed to suit all workers
Ensure working heights are matched to the
task and the worker
Ensure items are within reaching distance
Place items where the person can
be in a comfortable symmetrical
posture when handling
Provide seating that matches the needs
of the task and the worker – i.e. adjustable
seating for multiple workers
Reposition items that workers are required
to look at
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NATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS FROM PERFORMING MANUAL TASKS AT WORK | 96

Any visible bending of
the head backwards
41
Twisting the neck more than
20 degrees
41
Working with one or both
hands above shoulder height
41
Reaching forward or sideways
more than 30cm from the
body
41
Reaching behind the body 41
Squatting, kneeling, crawling,
lying, semi-lying or jumping
41
Postures and Movements Page Comments* Describe any risk control
options you have identified
Control Options
(not exhaustive list)
Use fixtures/jigs to orientate the item
worked on by the worker
Provide arm supports for precision work
Alter the nature of the load handled (p 64)
Alter the size or shape of the load
Alter the items used (p 70)
Use power tools
Ensure tools are suitable for the task
Ensure tools orient the arm, hand and
wrist in a power grip position
Alter the working environment (p 72)
Ensure visual requirements are not
too demanding by providing breaks,
better lighting
Provide visual aids
Ensure lighting is suitable to task
demands – i.e. task lighting for fine,
manipulative work
Alter the work organisation (p 74)
Relocate equipment or items
Restructure task to minimize multiple
handling
Remove machine or other pacing
Remove or monitor piecework schemes
Select the best working position for the
type of work being undertaken
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* Describe what the person is doing – e.g. hand operation of drill 10 times per minute, performed 3 hrs per day, five days a week
What are the sources of risk? Describe any aspect of the design and layout of the workplace, the nature of the load handled, the nature of the item used, the working environment, the work practices or work organisation that may have caused you to tick a box.
NATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS FROM PERFORMING MANUAL TASKS AT WORK | 97

Postures and Movements Page Comments* Describe any risk control
options you have identified
Control Options
(not exhaustive list)
Standing with most of the
body’s weight on one leg
41
Twisting, turning, grabbing,
picking or wringing actions with
the fingers, hands or arms
41
Working with the fingers
close together or wide apart
41
Very fast movements 41
Bending of the wrist beyond
the angles indicated on page
40 of the Code of Practice
41
* Describe what the person is doing – e.g. hand operation of drill 10 times per minute, performed 3 hrs per day, five days a week
What are the sources of risk? Describe any aspect of the design and layout of the workplace, the nature of the load handled, the nature of the item used, the working environment, the work practices or work organisation that may have caused you to tick a box.
NATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS FROM PERFORMING MANUAL TASKS AT WORK | 98