One of the simplest and most useful approaches to managing manual handling is designed by the South Australian WorkCover Corporation. This advocates the use of simple approach - called the SAFER approach - to reduce manual handling risks in the workplace, ie:

See it

Assess it

Fix it

Evaluate it

Review it

The first step is to identify any potential risks relating to manual handling in your workplace. You can do this by:

à        Inspecting your workplace;

à        Consulting with workers performing manual handling tasks;

à        Auditing your workers compensation data, such as records of injuries; and

à        Checking records such as injury and near-miss reports, and first-aid registers.

Assess it

Once you have identified a risk, the next step is to assess the level of that risk.

The Worksafe National Code of Practice for Manual Handling provides a 13-point checklist to assess manual handling tasks which have the risk of causing injury.

The 13-point checklist for assessing any manual handling task is as follows:

Assess:

1. The actions and movements required to do the task;

2. The layout of the workplace, or the workstation;

3. The posture and position of the person doing the activity;

4. The duration of manual handling and how often it is done;

5. The location of the load and the distance required to move;

6. The weights and forces involved.

7. The characteristics of the load (eg. sharp edges);

8. How the work is organised.

9. The work environment (eg. hot, cold);

10. The skills and experience of the person doing the manual handling;

11. The age of the person;

12. Is the clothing of the person suitable to the task?;

13. Are there any special needs? (eg. has the person a pre-existing injury? or are they sick?).

Fix it

Once the assessment has been made then you must fix the problem (or potential problem). Control measures which could be put in place to minimise the risk of injury include job redesign, mechanical handling equipment, training and other administrative controls.

NSW WorkCover advises that there is a 'hierarchy of control'. This means that instead of choosing the simplest or cheapest method, you should start with the most effective way of fixing hazards. Remember, the aim is to make the workplace as hazard-free as possible. The qualification to the above advice is when implementing a temporary solution while you are setting in place a permanent one - although don't fall into the trap of turning a temporary solution into a permanent one.

The hierarchy of control is set out below:

1. Design the hazard away;

2. Eliminate or substitute a less hazardous material/equipment, for example;

3. Change the work process, for example mechanise the job, team lifting;

4. Enclose or isolate the work process, for example by fitting machine guards;

5. Provide other controls, such as effective ventilation;

6. Provide training on hazards and safe working procedures;

7. Establish suitable administrative procedures such as job rotation to reduce exposure; and

8. Provide suitable and properly maintained personal protective equipment (PPE) and training in its use. (Note: PPE does not get rid of the hazard.).

Evaluate it

This step is one which is often overlooked. However, it is vital that the means which you have taken to fix the risk is evaluated. Observe and measure the change(s) which you have implemented. Does it work? Is the risk eliminated/reduced/managed?

If yes, then you have controlled the risk. If no, then you must work through all the above steps again until the desired result is achieved.

Review it

Make a diary entry to review at a later date the steps which you took to fix the problem. The process of continuous review is vital to ensuring a safe workplace.