Procedure overview
1 Purpose
To set out the processes for identifying, assessing, controlling and reviewing Risks of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) arising from Hazardous Manual Tasks at the University of Southern Queensland.
2 Scope
This procedure applies to all University Employees, Students, Contractors and Visitors performing or affected by Hazardous Manual Tasks at any University location, including fieldwork and off-campus activities.
3 Procedure Overview
This Procedure outlines how the University manages Risks to health and safety relating to MSDs associated with Hazardous Manual Tasks through a Risk management process in consultation with workers.
This Procedure aligns with:
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
- Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021.
4 Procedures
The University is responsible for ensuring Hazardous Manual Tasks are appropriately managed by:
- providing a work environment that meets or exceeds the standards required under the Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
- implementing effective processes to identify, assess, control and review Hazardous Manual Tasks in work systems and environments
For further Information on Risk Management and detailed roles and responsibilities, refer to Work Health and Safety Risk Management and Work Health and Safety Governance Procedures.
4.1 Managing the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD)
To manage the Risks associated with Hazardous Manual Tasks that have the potential to cause an MSD in the workplace the following systematic process should be used:
- Identify Hazardous Manual Tasks - determine what could cause harm.
- Assess Risks - understand the nature of the harm that could be caused by the Hazard, how serious the harm could be, and the likelihood of it happening. This step may not be necessary if you are dealing with a known Risk with known controls.
- Control Risks - eliminate Risks so far as is reasonably practicable; if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the Risk, implement the most effective Control Measures that are reasonably practicable in the circumstances in accordance with the hierarchy of Control Measures, and ensure they remain effective over time.
- Review Control Measures to ensure they are working as planned.
It is necessary to consult throughout the Risk management process to ensure those that are directly affected by the work have an opportunity to provide views and feedback.
For further Information on consultation refer to the Work Health and Safety Communication and Consultation Procedure.
4.2 Identifying Hazardous Manual Tasks
Supervisor's are responsible for ensuring that hazardous manual handling processes and tasks are identified, assessed, and controlled. Identification involves finding all relevant things and situations that may contribute to an MSD. Hazards typically arise from:
- work tasks and how they are performed
- work design and management
- the tools, equipment and objects handled
- physical work environment.
It is also useful to talk to workers, manufacturers, suppliers and health and safety specialists and review relevant Information, records, and incident reports.
Methods for identifying Hazardous Manual Tasks may include:
- Consultation with workers, and their health and safety representatives. For example, by asking workers to identify tasks that:
- are difficult to do or complete
- appear harder than they should be
- cause muscle fatigue or cause discomfort
- increase the Risk of injury and reduce work capacity
- involve awkward positions or movements or difficulty in controlling the load.
- Reviewing available Information such as records of workplace injuries and incidents, inspection reports, sick leave records, worker complaints and any workers compensation claims made for an MSD.
- Looking for trends that indicate design or work issues (e.g., higher injury rates in specific areas).
- Observing work practices to identify any of the following characteristics:
- repetitive or sustained force
- high or sudden force
- repetitive movement
- sustained and/or awkward posture
- exposure to vibration.
- Other things to look out for include
- changes resulting in new manual tasks or a changed environment
- tasks involving tools, machinery or equipment that does not work properly or is difficult to use
- tasks where workers have made improvisations to avoid discomfort, like stacking mats or flattened cartons to stand on.
When Hazards interact, the associated Risk changes, for example, static posture combined with repetitive movement may increase the Risk of a musculoskeletal injury.
4.3 Assessing the Risk (Risk Assessment)
A Risk assessment should be undertaken for Hazardous Manual Tasks where Risks are not well known or controls are uncertain. Workers who perform the task should be involved in the Risk assessment process.
A Risk assessment can help you determine:
- how severe a Risk is
- whether any existing Control Measures are effective
- what action/s you should take to control the Risk
- how urgently the action/s need to be taken.
Consider:
- postures, movements, forces and vibration
- duration and frequency of tasks
- environmental conditions
- work area design and layout
- systems of work
- the nature, size, weight and number of items handled.
The supervisor must ensure that identified hazardous manual processes and tasks in their area of responsibility are assessed for Risk and adequately controlled. Findings and recommended controls should be documented in SafeTrak. Further Information is available in the Work Health and Safety Risk Management Procedure.
4.4 Control Measures
When managing Risks from Hazardous Manual Tasks you must consider all factors that may contribute to an MSD and apply controls in the following order of effectiveness (hierarchy of controls):
Level 1 - Elimination
- Remove the need for the task or automate it (e.g., robotics, direct-to-point-of-use deliveries).
Level 2 - Substitution / Isolation / Engineering
- Substitute heavy items with lighter or easier-to-handle items.
- Isolate vibrating plant from the user; create barriers or enclosures.
- Implement engineering solutions: mechanical lifting aids (hoists, trolleys, vacuum lifters), height-adjustable workstations, redesign of layouts to reduce reaching, twisting and carrying distances.
Level 3 - Administrative Controls
- Redesign workflows to reduce handling, set realistic work rates, rotate tasks that use different muscle groups, schedule micro-pauses and rest breaks, provide clear work procedures (including team handling protocols only as an interim measure).
Level 4 - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Provide suitable PPE (e.g., heat-resistant gloves, non-slip footwear) to manage residual Risks. PPE must not be used as the sole control where higher-order controls are reasonably practicable.
Controls must be implemented in consultation with workers, supported by training, and maintained through inspections and servicing (for plant/tools/equipment).
4.5 Reviewing Control Measures
Supervisor's must ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that the effectiveness of controls provides the highest level of protection and reliability to address the Risk.
Supervisor's must review and, where necessary, revise Control Measures:
- when controls do not minimise Risk so far as is reasonably practicable
- before changes to tasks, plant, layout or environment that may create new or different Risks
- if new or additional Information about hazardous manual handling becomes available to the employer, or
- if incident or Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) at a workplace is reported by or on behalf of an Employee, or
- after receiving a request from a health and safety representative (HSR).
4.6 Reporting Hazards or Injury
Workers and Students must promptly report manual handling Hazards, discomfort or incidents to their supervisor or relevant University representative as per the Incident Management Procedure.
4.7 Training
The University must ensure that suitable and adequate Information, instruction and training is provided to staff and Students including:
- Hazard identification and Risk management for manual tasks
- safe work methods, including correct use of mechanical aids, tools and equipment
- proper use, wearing and maintenance of PPE
- reporting processes for Hazards and maintenance issues.
Training occurs at induction and as required (e.g., introduction of new plant or controls, Research, fieldwork or changes to systems of work). Refer to the Work Health and Safety Training Procedure.
4.8 Records and Documentation
Maintain records and Information as per Records and Information Management Procedure and Policy, including:
- Hazard identification, Risk assessment and control records (SafeTrak)
- training and induction records
- inspection, servicing and maintenance records for plant and equipment
- review outcomes and consultation records.
5 References
Nil.
6 Schedules
This procedure must be read in conjunction with its subordinate schedules as provided in the table below.
7 Procedure Information
| Accountable Officer | Chief People Officer |
| Responsible Officer | Director (Health, Safety and Wellbeing) |
| Policy Type | University Procedure |
| Policy Suite | |
| Subordinate Schedules | |
| Approved Date | 26/6/2026 |
| Effective Date | 26/6/2026 |
| Review Date | 26/6/2031 |
| Relevant Legislation | Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) |
| Policy Exceptions | |
| Related Policies | |
| Related Procedures | Records and Information Management Procedure Work Health and Safety Communication and Consultation Procedure Work Health and Safety Governance Procedure |
| Related forms, publications and websites | |
| Definitions | Terms defined in the Definitions Dictionary |
| A person employed by the University and whose conditions of employment are covered by the Enterprise Agreement and includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University....moreA person employed by the University and whose conditions of employment are covered by the Enterprise Agreement and includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University. Any collection of data that is processed, analysed, interpreted, organised, classified or communicated in order to serve a useful purpose, present facts or represent knowledge in any medium or form. This includes presentation in electronic (digital), print, audio, video, image, graphical, cartographic, physical sample, textual or numerical form....moreAny collection of data that is processed, analysed, interpreted, organised, classified or communicated in order to serve a useful purpose, present facts or represent knowledge in any medium or form. This includes presentation in electronic (digital), print, audio, video, image, graphical, cartographic, physical sample, textual or numerical form. Research is the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include the synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative....moreResearch is the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include the synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative. A person who is enrolled in a UniSQ Upskill Course or who is admitted to an Award Program or Non-Award Program offered by the University and is: currently enrolled in one or more Courses or study units; or not currently enrolled but is on an approved Leave of Absence or whose admission has not been cancelled....moreA person who is enrolled in a UniSQ Upskill Course or who is admitted to an Award Program or Non-Award Program offered by the University and is: currently enrolled in one or more Courses or study units; or not currently enrolled but is on an approved Leave of Absence or whose admission has not been cancelled. The term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland....moreThe term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland. | |
| Definitions that relate to this procedure only | |
| Control Measure An action taken to eliminate or minimise health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable. Hazard A situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person. Hazardous Manual Task A task requiring a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any person, animal or thing involving one or more of the following:
These hazards directly stress the body and can lead to an injury. Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) An injury to, or a disease of, the musculoskeletal system, whether occurring suddenly or over time. It does not include an injury caused by crushing, entrapment or cutting resulting from the mechanical operation of plant. Risk The possibility harm (death, injury or illness) might occur when exposed to a hazard. | |
| Keywords | Hazardous Manual Tasks, Hazards, Risk, Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD), prevention of injury |
| Record No | 13/362PL |