'How to lift' training
Generic ‘how to lift’ training (HTL training) provided to workers does not address the health and safety risks of musculoskeletal disorders associated with hazardous manual tasks.
Hazardous manual tasks in the workplace are a major cause of musculoskeletal disorders.
A common approach taken by businesses is to provide workers with generic HTL training.
Employers and/or persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) often rely on workers to follow these techniques or principles to protect them from harm.
'How to lift’ training is not, of itself, suitable and adequate training necessary to protect workers from risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Legislative requirements must be followed when managing hazardous manual task risks. The highest level of risk control must be implemented, so far as reasonably practicable, in line with the hierarchy of controls.
Position paper on 'how to lift' training
The Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) national working group has developed a national position on ‘how to lift’ training (HTL training).
The aim of the paper is to reduce reliance on HTL training as a means of controlling hazardous manual task related hazards, and to inform business and industry of how hazardous manual tasks should be managed.
Learn more by reading the "how-to" lift position paper and position paper FAQs (PDF, 70.78 KB)
Why 'how to lift' training is ineffective
Research shows that HTL training is not effective in preventing or minimising the risk of injuries from hazardous manual tasks.
HTL training is not effective because risk factors causing the problem are not changed.
Even if workers apply HTL training (for example "safe lifting" techniques), they may still be exposed to a serious risk of injury. Therefore, employers/PCBUs are not meeting their risk management duties for managing hazardous manual tasks.
By taking this approach a business is not meeting its risk management duties.
Instead, employers and/or PCBUs should use the hierarchy of control measures when managing risks (for example eliminate, isolate, substitute, apply engineering controls). This is the law under section 60 and Part 5.1 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2025.
Any training provided should support these higher-level control measures and systems of work implemented.
What should be covered in hazardous manual task training?
The hazardous manual tasks code of practice (PDF, 1499.23 KB) outlines that training should cover:
- manual task risk management, including hazardous manual task risk factors and sources of risk
- specific manual task risks and the measures in place to control them
- how to perform manual tasks safely, including the use of mechanical aids, tools, equipment and safe work procedures
- how to report a problem or maintenance issues.
Use the training checklist (PDF, 138.3 KB) to help ensure workers receive appropriate training on hazardous manual tasks.
Training needs to use language and examples that are understood by all workers who receive the training.
Who should training be provided to?
Training should be provided to:
- workers who carry out, schedule, supervise or manage hazardous manual tasks
- in-house designers, engineers and those responsible for the selection, purchase, and maintenance of:
- plant
- structures
- the design and organisation of the job/task.
- health and safety representatives.
When should training be reviewed?
- work processes
- plant or equipment
- implementation of new control measures
- relevant legislation
- other issues that may impact on the way the task is performed.
What records should I keep?
You should keep records of induction and training given to your workers.
The records can include information such as:
- the date of the session
- the topics dealt with
- the name and signature of the trainer and each of the workers who attended the session