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.
Last verified: 21 June 2026A 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.
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.
Get notified when rates change
Free alerts when minimum wage, award rates, or workplace laws are updated.
Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is general information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.
Free tools surface the issue. Our partners help you solve it.
Authorised Employment Hero Partner
Australian HR, payroll, rostering and award interpretation in one platform. Used by 300,000+ businesses. Fixes the underlying payroll/compliance issues our calculators surface.
Best for: SMEs that have outgrown spreadsheet payroll or want automated award interpretation.
See Employment HeroLaw Tram — lawyer matching
Matched with the right Australian lawyer for your situation — unfair dismissal, underpayment, workplace injury, debt, tenancy and more. Many lawyers offer a free first consult and no-win-no-fee arrangements.
Best for: anyone whose workplace or personal legal issue needs proper advice, not just a calculator.
Find a lawyerIT, Microsoft & cyber partner
Microsoft 365, Copilot rollouts, Essential Eight, Privacy Act 2026 and board-level cyber compliance for Australian SMBs. Where pay and HR end, your data and IT obligations begin.
Best for: SMBs running on Microsoft 365, anyone hitting cyber/privacy compliance, boards wanting an outside read on IT risk.
See FrontrowAffiliate partners — commissions fund the free tools on this site. We only recommend partners we've vetted as a good fit for Australian workplaces.