Manual handling is any activity that involves lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing, pulling, holding or restraining. It may also include stretching, bending, sustained and awkward postures, and repetitive movements.
Manual handling is one hazard that arises in the majority of workplaces. It occurs in numerous activities and is indentified as a problem across most industry sectors.
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.
Manual handling injuries are preventable.
Manual handling needs to be considered and integrated as part of the overall management of OHS. You can find out more about how to prevent manual handling injuries at the Smart Move website.
Call 13 10 50 for more information about manual handling and ergonomics or refer to the National Standard for Manual Tasks, available at the Safe Work Australia website.