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Procedure ID no 0480/05
MANUAL HANDLING PROCEDURE
This procedure is applicable to: All Department of Education and Children's Services employees.
DOCUMENT CONTROL
Managed by:
Phil O’Loughlin
Responsible position:
Executive Director Human Resource &
Workforce Development
Version:
1
Contact person:
Voula Panayotopoulos
Approved by:
Chief Executive
File number:
0480/05
Contact position:
Director, Health and Safety Services
Date approved:
11 September 2011
Status:
FINAL
Contact number:
8226 0949
Next review date:
10 September 2014
Security classification:
Health and Safety Services
Manual Handling Procedure
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CONTENTS
1. TITLE...............................................................................................................................3
2. PURPOSE .......................................................................................................................3
3. SCOPE ............................................................................................................................3
4. OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................................3
5. PROCEDURE DETAIL ....................................................................................................4
6. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES .................................................................................5
7. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REVIEW ................................................................5
8. DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS...........................................................................6
9. ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS .........................................................................................7
10. REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................7
APPENDIX 1
MANUAL HANDLING RISK ASSESSMENT ..........................................8
REVISION RECORD
Date
Version
Revision description
4/12/10
1
H&SS Consultation
Manual Handling Procedure
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1. TITLE
Manual Handling Procedure.
2. PURPOSE
Assist site managers and employees to develop and implement safe systems of work by:
2.1
Complying with relevant legislation and codes of practice on manual handling, and the
South Australian Public Sector Code of Practice for Crown Self-Insured Employers.
2.2
Complying with the DECS Occupational Health, Safety & Welfare and Injury Management
Policy.
2.3
Maximising organisational health and wellbeing while delivering high quality service and
learning outcomes for students and children.
2.4
Satisfying the requirements of the Safety and Wellbeing in the Public Sector 2010 - 2015
Strategy (SWIPS).
2.5
Managing the risks associated with manual handling tasks.
3. SCOPE
This procedure applies to all DECS activities where hazardous manual handling tasks may be
present.
4. OBJECTIVES
4.1
To develop and facilitate best practice manual handling procedures.
4.2
To reduce the incidence of workplace injury and illness.
4.3
To assist site managers to identify, implement and review manual handling control measures.
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5. PROCEDURE DETAIL
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6. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
POSITION
SITE MANAGER
EMPLOYEES AND
OTHERS
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Site managers are responsible for integrating DECS occupational
health, safety, welfare and injury management policy and procedures
in their operations and they must:
 As far as is reasonably practicable, provide safe systems of
work to either prevent or minimise manual handling risks in the
workplace.
 Must, in consultation with employees and their representatives,
systematically identify hazards, and analyse, evaluate and
control risks associated with manual handling.
All employees are responsible for their own health and safety (Section
21 OHS&W Act 1986), and shall:
 Identify manual handling risks.
 Follow all reasonable instructions in relation to this procedure.
 Engage in the consultative process.
 Report manual handling hazards to the site manager.
 Undertake manual handling training and apply that training
appropriately.
HSRs present manual handling concerns to the site manager on behalf
HEALTH AND
of the workgroup. Their roles and responsibilities are governed by the
SAFETY
REPRESENTATIVE Occupational Health Safety and Welfare 1986.
(HSR)
7. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REVIEW
7.1
The state-wide consultative system, including this procedure will be evaluated for
effectiveness every 3 years by a sub-committee of the State OHS&W Consultative
Committee.
7.2
Individual sites shall review and evaluate the effectiveness of their processes annually.
7.3
Site managers must ensure that employees are consulted and provided with any necessary
instruction, training and supervision to ensure that control measures are effectively
implemented.
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8. DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
TERM
DECS
MEANING
Department of Education and Children's Services.
EMPLOYEE
A person who is employed under a contract of service, or who works
under a contract of service.
EMPLOYER
The Department of Education and Children’s Services, viz. Chief
Executive or delegated Responsible Officer (such as the principal or
site manager).
HAZARD
Any condition or behaviour that has the potential to harm a person,
the environment or damage property.
MANUAL
HANDLING
MANUAL
HANDLING
HAZARD
MUST
Any activities requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift,
lower, push, pull carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain a person,
animal or object.
Examples of hazardous manual handling tasks include:
 Repetitive or sustained application of force.
 Repetitive or sustained awkward posture.
 Repetitive or sustained movement.
 Application of high force.
 Exposure to sustained vibration.
 Handling a student.
 Handling live animals.
 Handling loads which are unbalanced, unstable or difficult to
move.
A load (person, object, substance, animal, etc.) which needs to be
moved and has the potential to cause harm.
Indicates that a statement is a legislative requirement
OTHERS
Persons other than employees at the workplace. e.g. students,
parents, contractors, visitors or volunteers.
RISK
The probability that a hazard will cause harm in the given
circumstances.
RISK
ASSESSMENT
The process of evaluating the likelihood and severity of injury or
illness that will result from exposure to hazards.
RISK CONTROL
Processes to eliminate or minimise the potential for injury or illness.
RISK
MANAGEMENT
FRAMEWORK
DECS guidelines, closely aligned with departmental goals and
objectives, for the implementation of effective risk management
programs to meet the needs of individual groups and sites.
SAFE SYSTEMS
OF WORK
A safe system of work is an inclusive concept that covers all aspects
of the organisation of work processes, including planning,
consultation, policies, procedures, the methods of using machinery,
plant and equipment, training and instruction.
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SHALL
Indicates that a statement is mandatory
SITE
Any place where employees are working, or may be expected to
work, and includes any place a person goes while at work.
SITE MANAGER
Any person who has responsibility and control of a DECS site or
work unit. This includes, but is not limited to Executive Directors,
Regional Directors, Directors and Principals.
WORKGROUP
A group of employees constituted as a workgroup for the purposes
of Part 4 of the OHS&W Act 1986 and may include Schools,
Directorates, Programs, Sections, Units, Groups and Teams.
9. ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS
As a guide, records must be retained, in accordance with the following table:
Description of Record
Disposal Schedule Reference
Records relating to hazard identification and risk assessment of
foreseeable hazards in agency workplaces. Includes measures taken to
eliminate or control risks
Authority Number:
2006/GDS15(V7) : 11.92.1
TEMPORARY
Retain until 2040, retention subject to
a review at that date
Records relating to the provision of training and induction programs to
agency staff and volunteers on OH&S matters. Includes hazard awareness
training relevant to specific workplace conditions. Also includes training
for managers on their OH&S responsibilities.
Authority Number:
2006/GDS15(V7) : 15.102.2
TEMPORARY
Destroy 30 years after
action completed.
10. REFERENCES
Approved Code of Practice for Manual Handling, WorkCover Corporation of South Australia.
Australian Standard Handbook 436:2004, Risk Management Guidelines.
Code of Practice for Crown Exempt Employers.
DECS Consultative Procedure.
DECS Hazard Management Procedure.
DECS Incident / Injury Investigation Procedure.
DECS Risk Management Framework.
DECS Training Procedure.
General Disposal Schedule 15, 7th Edition, Effective 14 November 2006 to 30 June 2011.
Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (OHS&W) Act 1986.
Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (OHS&W) Regulations 2010, Part 2, Division 9 - Manual
handling.
Safety and Wellbeing in the Public Sector 2010 - 2015 Strategy, Department of the Premier and
Cabinet, Public Sector Workforce Relations.
South Australian Code of Conduct for Public Sector Employees.
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APPENDIX 1
MANUAL HANDLING RISK ASSESSMENT
Manual Handling is any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull carry,
move, hold or restrain a person, animal or object. Where it is reasonably foreseeable that a manual handling
task may cause injury, then this form shall be completed in consultation with the Employer, Health and Safety
Representative and Employee.
ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION
Site:
Date:
Work Location:
Task:
Assessed by:
Employer
Name:
Position:
Assessed by:
Employee(s)
Name:
Position:
Assessed by:
Health & Safety
Representative
Name:
Position:
Have there been any records of injury related to this task at this
workplace? If “Yes”, review section, “Analysis Of Workplace
Yes
No
Injury Records” page 8 of the Manual Handling Code of Practice
before proceeding to the Risk assessment below. If “No” proceed
directly to the risk assessment below.
Refer to Section 4 of the Manual Handling Code of Practice,
RISK ASSESSMENT
and the Risk Management Framework for guidance.
RISK
ASSESSMENT
CONTROL
SECTION IN CODE OF PRACTICE
Description /
Comment
Review Control measures every two
years or after an accident
4A: Actions and Movements (p.13)
4B: Layout of workplace (p.13)
4C: Working Posture and Position (p.14)
4D: Duration and Frequency of activity (p.15)
4E: Location of Loads and Distances Moved
(p.15)
4F: Weights and Forces (p.16)
4G: Characteristics of Loads and Equipment
(p.17)
4H: Work organisation (p.18)
4I: Work Environment (p.19)
4J: Skill and Experience of Employee (p.19)
4K: Personal Characteristics (p.19)
4L: Clothing (p.20)
4M: Other factors e.g. vibration
RISK FRAMEWORK
Likelihood of the risk
event occurring
Consequence of the risk
event occurring
Risk
RISK LEVEL
Note: Attach sheets if there is insufficient space to record comments and controls. Contact your Safety
Consultant if you need advice when completing this form.
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