Hazardous Manual Task Risk Assessment
Describe a manual task and rate the five model-WHS risk factors — posture, repetitive movement, force, duration and frequency, and vibration — to get a musculoskeletal-disorder (MSD) risk band, the factors driving it, and control suggestions mapped to the hierarchy of controls.
A hazardous manual task (model WHS Regulations, reg 60) is one requiring a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, hold or restrain that involves repetitive or sustained force, high or sudden force, repetitive movement, sustained or awkward posture, or exposure to vibration. There is no fixed legal maximum lifting weight in Australia — risk is assessed against these factors, not a kilogram limit, then controlled through the hierarchy of controls (reg 36).
A hazardous manual task is one requiring a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, hold or restrain (model WHS Regulations, reg 60). There is no fixed legal weight limit — the risk is assessed against the factors below, not a kilogram figure.
Rate the risk factors present
For each of the five reg-60 risk factors, rate how strongly it is present in this task. The rating and overall band are an assessment aid to help you prioritise and pick controls — not a statutory score.
Sustained or awkward posture
Bending, twisting, reaching, working overhead or below knee height, or holding a position for a long time.
Repetitive movement
Using the same body parts to repeat similar movements over and over, with little variation or recovery.
High, sudden or sustained force
Lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, holding or restraining that takes a lot of effort, jerky effort, or effort held for a long time.
Long duration or high frequency
Doing the task for a long time in one go, or repeating it many times across the shift, with limited breaks.
Exposure to vibration
Hand-arm vibration from power tools, or whole-body vibration from vehicles or vibrating surfaces, while handling.
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