Hazardous Manual Handling in Construction

Risk Control for Manual Handling in Construction

Manual handling is work where you have to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, move, hold or restrain something.

It’s hazardous manual handling if it involves:

• repeated, sustained or high force
• sustained awkward posture
• repetitive movements
• exposure to sustained vibration
• handling people or animals
• loads that are unstable, unbalanced or hard to hold

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD’s) are the most common injury sustained by Victorian construction workers. MSD means an injury, illness or disease that can arise from hazardous manual handling in the workplace. They can occur suddenly or develop over a period of time.

“Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD’s) are the most common injury sustained by Victorian construction workers.”

The leading cause of MSDs for construction workers is handling (e.g., lifting, carrying and putting down) objects, materials and tools. Construction workers at a higher risk of sustaining a MSD are labourers, carpenters, formworkers, and plumbers.

Controlling the risks

Employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, identify any hazardous manual handling and eliminate any risk of a MSD associated with that hazardous manual handling. If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate a risk of a MSD associated with hazardous manual handling, an employer must reduce the risk.

“Employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, identify any hazardous manual handling and eliminate any risk of a MSD associated with that hazardous manual handling.”

Duty holders (typically, builders and contractors) can reduce the risks of common MSDs by applying some basic risk control measures like the ones outlined below:

Hierarchy of risk control for Hazardous Manual Handling

1. Eliminate, so far as is reasonably practicable, all or part of the risk of MSD. For example:

• organise off-site manufacturing of wall panels and roof trusses
• arrange for bulky materials to be delivered to the final work location.

use mechanical load shifting devices such as cranes, material hoists, forklifts to move materials around the site.

2. Reduce, so far as is reasonably practicable, any remaining risk by changing the workplace layout, the environmental conditions, where the task is undertaken, or the systems of work used, or by using mechanical aids. For example:

• provide equipment such as trolleys to move materials, height access equipment (eg elevated work platforms) to reduce employees reaching/working above their head
• provide lifting points or handles for heavy or awkward loads
• provide gloves to assist with gripping when lifting/carrying items, particularly in wet/dry conditions
• use job rotation/work variation to reduce exposure to repetitive work or work that requires significant amount of force.

3. Reduce, so far as is reasonably practicable, any remaining risk by providing information, instruction and training.

Basic risk control measures for slips and trips

Ensure all site slip and trip hazards are identified and risks controlled

• keep access ways clear of materials/waste
• install ramps at changes in surface levels
• fix down any raised floorboards or sheets
• fill-in and compact surface penetrations
• use extension lead stands or hooks
• limit mud generation by using crushed rock
• limit mud inside by having boot scrapers
• carry out regular site clean-ups and inspections.

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Further information

Compliance code: Hazardous manual handling