a guide to safety in the wood products ... - WorkSafe Victoria

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MANUAL HANDLINGMANUAL HANDLING AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERSManual handlingFor the wood products manufacturing industry, manual handling covers a widerange of activities such as handling wood in and out of machinery, transport ofmaterials within the workplace, loading finished product for delivery, delivery andon-site installation. Many of these tasks can result in musculoskeletal disordersand other types of injuries. However, not all manual handling is hazardous. In thisindustry, hazardous manual handling refers to manual handling with any of thefollowing characteristics:• repetitive or sustained application of force• repetitive or sustained awkward posture• repetitive or sustained movement• application of high force• exposure to sustained vibration• unstable or unbalanced loads or loads which are difficult to grasp or hold.Musculoskeletal disordersMusculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are sometimes referred to as ‘sprains andstrains’. It is a term used to describe a wide variety of injuries and diseases of themusculoskeletal system including injuries to joints, ligaments, intervertebral discsand other structures in the back and injuries to joints, ligaments, tendons, musclesand nerves in the wrists, elbows, arms, shoulders, neck, abdomen (e.g. hernia),hips, knees and legs.Some of these conditions are sometimes described as repetitive strain injury (RSI),occupational overuse syndrome (OOS), cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) andwork-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD).In the Occupational Health and Safety (Manual Handling) Regulations 1999(Manual Handling Regulations), all of these conditions are referred to asmusculoskeletal disorders (MSD).THE LEGAL FRAMEWORKThere is a legislative framework around controlling risk and consultation in theworkplace. This guide shows ways to assist with compliance with theOccupational Health and Safety (Manual Handling) Regulations 1999. Under theseregulations the employer has a legal duty to:• identify tasks involving hazardous manual handling• assess the risk of developing a MSD associated with the task, and• control the risk by eliminating the risk or reducing it so far as isreasonably practicable.16 WORKSAFE VICTORIA / A GUIDE TO SAFETY IN THE WOOD PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
MANUAL HANDLINGHazard identificationThis guide identifies some tasks performed in the wood products industry thatare hazardous and known to have resulted in MSD. This is not to be taken as thecomplete list of all tasks involving hazardous manual handling within this industry.Risk assessmentThis guide follows the risk assessment format used in the WorkSafe publicationManual Handling (Code of Practice No. 25, 2000). It helps indicate which riskfactors may be in your workplace and, in particular, demonstrates those high-riskwork practices which may put people at risk of developing MSD.The guide cannot replace the requirement for risk assessment and risk control,as the risk of developing MSD will vary depending on the circumstances in eachworkplace. To ensure a reduction in MSD, employers should review risks anddevelop and implement a plan for controls in consultation with employees.Risk controlRisk controls are shown in the guide. Under the Manual Handling Regulationsit is the duty of an employer to carry out risk controls including:1. eliminating the risk (e.g. redesigning so as to eliminate handling), or2. if it is not practicable to eliminate the risk, reduce the risk so far as isreasonably practicable.In either case, the risk can be controlled in any of the following ways:a. altering the workplace or environmental conditions (e.g. height adjustablework surfaces)b. altering the systems of work (e.g. regular maintenance on equipment,job rotation, etc)c. changing the objects (e.g. using hand tools that minimise hand-arm vibration)d. using mechanical aids (e.g. pallet lifters, adjustable trolleys, approvedforklift attachments).GENERAL PRINCIPLES• Postures, movements and forces that are knownto be associated with MSD should be eliminatedfrom the workplace where possible.• Physical changes to workplace design, layout andplant are more effective than administrative riskcontrols such as training.• To accommodate for different people and tasks,workstations should be quick and easy to adjust.• No employee should be required to routinely workabove their shoulder height or below their knees.• Keep loads close to the body.• Avoid extreme postures when exerting high force.• Reduce hand-arm vibration from power tools byselecting the appropriate tool, isolating vibration,reducing or dampening the tool’s vibration, orreducing the time exposed to it.GREEN - LOW RISKAMBER - MEDIUM RISKRED - HIGH RISKWORKSAFE VICTORIA / A GUIDE TO SAFETY IN THE WOOD PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY 17
Page 1 and 2: A GUIDE TO SAFETYIN THE WOOD PRODUC
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTSINTRODUCTION . . . . . . .
Page 5 and 6: INTRODUCTIONRisk controlRisk contro
Page 7 and 8: INTRODUCTIONHOW TO USE THIS GUIDETh
Page 9 and 10: PLANTPLANT IN WOOD PRODUCTS MANUFAC
Page 11 and 12: PLANTPermanently fixed physical bar
Page 13 and 14: PLANTUSING HAND TOOLSThe definition
Page 15 and 16: PLANTUsing hand toolsReferring to t
Page 17: 2MANUAL HANDLINGMANUAL HANDLING AND
Page 21 and 22: MANUAL HANDLINGINTERIM WORK PRACTIC
Page 25 and 26: MANUAL HANDLINGHANDLING TROLLEYSPOT
Page 33 and 34: MANUAL HANDLINGCHECKLIST FOR THE MA
Page 35 and 36: MANUAL HANDLINGg. Is there a need t
Page 37 and 38: 4ENVIRONMENTNOISEWOOD DUSTDANGEROUS
Page 39 and 40: ENVIRONMENTWOOD DUSTTimber dust pos
Page 41 and 42: ENVIRONMENTHOUSEKEEPINGPoor houseke
Page 43 and 44: OTHER USEFULGUIDANCE MATERIALThose
Page 45 and 46: NOTESWORKSAFE VICTORIA / A GUIDE TO
Page 47: WORKSAFE VICTORIAAdvisory Service22

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