What is a hazardous manual task?

Under the model Work Health and Safety Regulations (reg 60), a hazardous manual task is a task that requires a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, hold or restrain something, and that involves one or more of these factors: repetitive or sustained force; high or sudden force; repetitive movement; sustained or awkward posture; or exposure to vibration. The PCBU must manage the risk of musculoskeletal disorders from these tasks so far as is reasonably practicable.

What are the five risk factors for hazardous manual tasks?

The model WHS Regulations and the Hazardous manual tasks Code of Practice list five risk factors: sustained or awkward posture; repetitive movement; high, sudden or sustained force; long duration or high frequency; and exposure to vibration. You assess these together with the work environment and the load or object being handled. The more factors present, and the stronger they are, the higher the risk of a musculoskeletal disorder.

Is there a legal maximum lifting weight in Australia?

No. There is no fixed legal maximum lifting weight in Australian WHS law — the common belief in a 20kg limit is a myth. The duty is risk-based: a task is assessed against the risk factors (posture, movement, force, duration and frequency, vibration) and the work environment and load, not a single kilogram threshold. A light load can still be a hazardous manual task if it is handled repetitively, in an awkward posture, or with sudden force.

How do I control the risk from a hazardous manual task?

Work through the hierarchy of controls (model WHS Regulations, reg 36), most effective first. Eliminate the hazardous task or redesign it; if you cannot, substitute it, isolate the worker, or apply engineering controls such as mechanical lifting aids, trolleys, conveyors and height-adjustable benches. Administrative controls (safe work procedures, task rotation, training, recovery breaks) and PPE only back up the higher-order controls — they do not replace them.

Do I have to do a manual task risk assessment?

A PCBU must manage the risk of musculoskeletal disorders from hazardous manual tasks so far as is reasonably practicable, in consultation with workers. A risk assessment is not always mandatory where the risk and its controls are well known, but assessing the task is the practical way to work out which factors are driving the risk and which controls to use. You should also review your controls when the task, the load or the work changes.

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.

Last verified: 21 June 2026

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).

Describe the manual task

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.

How present is this factor?

Repetitive movement

Using the same body parts to repeat similar movements over and over, with little variation or recovery.

How present is this factor?

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.

How present is this factor?

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.

How present is this factor?

Exposure to vibration

Hand-arm vibration from power tools, or whole-body vibration from vehicles or vibrating surfaces, while handling.

How present is this factor?

Rate at least one risk factor as present to assess the manual task. If no factors apply, the task is unlikely to be a hazardous manual task under reg 60 — but review it again if the work, the load or the pace changes.

FairWork Mate AI

Is the figure right for you?

The advisor reads your payslip, contract or letter against the Fair Work Commission case library and cites the decision behind every answer.

Just need this week sorted? A 7-Day Pass is 50 questions over 7 days, no account. Get a 7-Day Pass — $14.99

Get pay and rights updates for your job

Free email updates when award rates, the minimum wage or workplace laws change.

Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.

Hazardous Manual Task Risk Assessment

Rate the risk factors present

Is the figure right for you?

Related Tools