How to lift position paper - FAQ

These FAQs have been developed to be read in conjunction with the Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA)¹ position paper on ‘How to lift’ training.

The position talks about hazardous manual task risk factors and the sources of risk, what are they?

Hazardous manual task risk factors

Being exposed to one or more of these can lead to an injury:

  • repetitive or sustained forces
  • high or sudden forces
  • sustained or awkward postures
  • repetitive movement
  • exposure to vibration

Sources of risk

These are the things that are responsible for a risk factor being present:

  • workplace design and layout
  • systems of working including organisational and psychosocial factors, for example, high workload and low job control
  • work environment, for example, poor lighting or extreme temperature
  • the nature, size, weight or number of persons, animals or things involved in the task.

If How to Lift training is not an effective method for managing hazardous manual tasks in the workplace, then what is?

How to lift training does not address the source of the risk, or a worker’s exposure to hazardous manual task risk factors. An effective method should follow risk management principles specific to hazardous manual tasks, in consultation with your workers. This includes:

  • identifying which manual tasks are hazardous and could cause harm to workers
  • determining why a task is hazardous, for example, you need to determine the source of the risk as shown in the table above
  • eliminating the hazard, and then controlling any remaining risk by following the hierarchy of control measures. The control measure(s) should address the source of the risk
  • maintaining and reviewing the control measure(s) to ensure their continuing effectiveness.

Note – these risk management principles must be adhered to as per the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (Part 3.1 and section 60).

Example

A manufacturing worker is required to continually bend into a large tub to retrieve products for packing and distribution. The risk management process needs to be followed to eliminate the hazardous manual task, or at a minimum, reduce the associated risk. The work should be designed to eliminate the need to reach into a tub, or at a minimum, reduce the amount of bending required by tilting and placing the tub at an appropriate height.

Providing training on ‘how to lift’ techniques (for example, bend your knees, keep you back straight, don’t reach) is not an effective or appropriate strategy for managing this hazardous manual task.

Is “how to lift” training a requirement under NSW Work Health and Safety laws?

Although there is a requirement to provide necessary training to ensure worker safety, there is no prescribed requirement for a business to provide specific ‘how to lift’ training.

This position paper was written to clarify that providing ‘how to lift’ training is not a requirement under any Australian or New Zealand work/occupational health and safety legislation.

Example

A warehouse worker is required to pick orders all day. Their job continually exposes them to hazardous manual task risk factors, including awkward postures, high and sudden forces, repetitive movements, and mental stress. Due to this exposure, the worker is at risk of getting an injury.

In this example, providing the worker with ‘how to lift’ training does not reduce their exposure to hazardous manual task risk factors, as the sources of risk have not been addressed and remain unchanged.

So, what is the source of risk for this worker?

  • The layout of the work area placed the worker in an awkward posture (pallets on the ground).
  • The systems of work imposed repetitive movements and caused mental stress (high job demand and low job control).
  • The types of load being handled required forceful demands (the size, shape and number of things being handled).

What training should be provided to workers in relation to hazardous manual tasks?

As stated in the position statement (and NSW Code of Practice Hazardous Manual Tasks), 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.

Example

A health care worker is required to handle, move and transfer people as part of their job. Providing training on the procedure and process (specific to the person and situation) and how to use, store and maintain the required aids (patient lifter, slide sheet, walk belt etc) is appropriate.

Are pre-work stretches and exercises effective methods for controlling hazardous manual task risks?

These programs do not address the source of the risk, or a worker’s exposure to hazardous manual task risk factors. You must follow the risk management principles specific to hazardous manual tasks (refer to question 2 above).

Example

A construction worker may start the day by performing morning stretches, but their daily tasks require them to use high force, maintain an awkward posture for sustained periods, or engage in highly repetitive movements. The stretching program has done nothing to eliminate or even reduce the workers’ exposure to these risk factors.

When looking to engage a service provider to assist our business manage hazardous manual tasks, what should I look for?

  • A provider that is aware of and operates in line with the HWSA ‘how to lift’ position statement.
  • They have a thorough understanding of the legislative requirements for managing hazardous manual tasks.
  • Knowledge and experience in identifying hazardous manual tasks, and conducting hazardous manual task risk assessments that identify the source/s of risk
  • They focus on, and have the ability to, identify interventions that follow the hierarchy of control and address the source/s of risk.
  • A provider that utilises a consultative approach with relevant workers.

Note – it is advisable to get the provider to show you examples/references of how they follow the above points.

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