Manual handling is any activity that involves lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing, pulling, holding or restraining. It may also include stretching and bending, sustained and awkward postures and repetitive movements.
Every year in New South Wales, approximately 17,000 people are seriously injured or suffer from illness related to manual handling.
This represents about 37 per cent of all injuries in NSW and costs NSW workplaces $373 million with an average cost of $22,000 per injury. When the hidden costs of injury are considered that figure is more than $1,491 million.
What is WorkCover NSW doing about manual handling?
Safe manual handling – smart move aims to reduce workers compensation claims for manual handling injuries by 40 per cent by 2011/12. We will do this by:
- improving awareness of manual handling in the workplace
- increasing knowledge and skills
- targeting workplace interventions to industry ‘black spots’
- developing effective prevention strategies through strategic partnerships
- working in partnership with our stakeholders to develop messages that meet the needs of industry in NSW.
Legislation
Both employers and workers have obligations under legislation (pdf 175KB) with regard to manual handling. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (OHS Act) and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 (OHS Regulation) set out these requirements.
While the legislation sets out minimum standards for risk management there’s lots more you can do to reduce the risk of manual handling injuries.
Posters are available to help you reduce manual handling risks in your industry.
Register to receive more information on manual handling in your industry.
|