Manual Handling: An Overview
Published: 14 April 2024
Published: 14 April 2024
Did you know that the rate of manual handling injuries is 58.9% in healthcare compared to 43.9% across all other industries (WorkSafe Victoria 2007)?
Workplace injuries are common in healthcare, and there are many occupational health and safety risks inherently associated with working in the health sector.
This article will look at how you can reduce the risk of injury when performing manual handling tasks.
Note: the intention of this article is to provide an overview of manual handling. However, further reading is essential. Refer to the resources listed at the end of the article for more information. It is crucial that you receive appropriate, practical manual handling training and supervision from your facility. You must also follow workplace policies and procedures and be familiar with relevant state/federal legislation.
Manual handling includes any activity carried out in the workplace that requires the use of force. It encompasses acts such as:
(SafeWork NSW 2023)
Hazardous manual handling tasks are those that involve one or more of the following:
(SafeWork NSW 2023)
Manual handling can result in significant or irreversible injuries, particularly musculoskeletal injuries, which may include:
(Safe Work Australia 2018, 2023)
Factors related to manual handling tasks that increase the risk of injury include:
(Safe Work Australia 2018; WorkSafe Victoria 2023)
Standard 2: The Organisation - Outcome 2.2: Quality and safety culture (Action 2.2.2) of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards requires an aged care organisation’s governing body to prioritise their staff's safety, health, and wellbeing - naturally, this includes manual handling safety (ACQSC 2024).
Additionally, Outcome 2.4: Risk management (Action 2.4.1) states that providers must implement a risk management system to recognise, document, address, and monitor risks to their staff (ACQSC 2024).
Read: Risk Assessment and Management in the Home
Abide by these four steps to effectively manage hazards associated with manual handling tasks:
Identify the following in relation to the task:
Using the hierarchy of controls, apply the following methods of hazard prevention in order of highest protection to lowest protection:
Implemented control measures should be reviewed and, if necessary, revised.
(WorkSafe.qld.gov.au 2020)
(WorkSafe 2017; de-Vitry Smith 2021; vic.gov.au 2024)
Always question outdated procedures and practices, and don’t be afraid to speak up if you perceive a risk to you or your coworkers.
You should be familiar with (and thus refer to) relevant state/federal legislation that stipulates the roles of both employers and employees.
All workplaces should have policies and procedures on manual handling and hazard, incident and injury reporting. The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 applies to employees and employers. Under the work health and safety legislation, breaches of duty could result in penalties.
Disclaimer: This article is to be used in conjunction with your organisation’s policies and procedures regarding manual handling. This article does not replace the theory of mandatory training regarding manual handling from your organisation. Appropriate theoretical and practical training in manual handling in your workplace should be provided by your employer.
Question 1 of 3
True or false: Handling a person is a factor that may increase the risk of injury in the workplace.