Tools and resources to manage musculoskeletal disorders at work

Below you will find a summary of available resources designed to help businesses effectively manage and mitigate the risks associated with MSDs.

Hazardous Manual Tasks Resources

• Hazardous Manual Tasks (HMT) Fact Sheet PDF, 200.87 KB: Provides information on how to manage MSD risks arising from HMTs.
• Code of Practice Hazardous Manual Tasks PDF, 1499.23 KB: Offers practical guidance on managing MSD risks from hazardous manual tasks, including legal requirements and examples of safe work design.
• Risk Management Process for Manual Tasks PDF, 44.27 KB: A flowchart to help you identify, assess, control, and review hazardous manual tasks.
• Systems Self-Assessment Tool PDF, 263.07 KB: Helps evaluate the effectiveness of your HMT management system and identify areas for improvement.
• MSD Toolbox Talk PDF, 108.51 KB: Assists supervisors and managers in consulting with workers about MSD prevention.
• Interactive Risk Management Worksheet PDF, 101.05 KB: For recording and documenting hazardous tasks in your workplace.
• Training Fact Sheet PDF, 138.3 KB: Provides guidance to ensure workers receive appropriate training for hazardous manual tasks.
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Webinar: Explains legal requirements and regulator expectations.
• Participative Ergonomics for Manual Tasks (PErforM): A simple manual task risk management program based on international recommendations for reducing MSDs

Visit the Hazardous Manual Tasks page for a full list of resources and guidance.

Visit the Musculoskeletal Disorders Page for a full list of resources and guidance.

Slips, Trips, and Falls Resources

Managing the risks of slips, trips, and falls is crucial for maintaining a safe workplace. The following resources can assist you:

• Code of Practice Managing the Work Environment and Facilities PDF, 422.29 KB: Provides guidance on managing MSDs caused by the work environment, including outdoor, remote, and isolated work.
• Systems Self-Assessment Tool PDF, 270.22 KB: Audits your system’s effectiveness in managing slips, trips, and falls.
• Slips, Trips, and Falls Prevention Guide PDF, 1625.42 KB: Includes information, case studies, and tools for managing these hazards.
• Incident Worksheet PDF, 210.14 KB: Helps prevent the recurrence of slip, trip, or fall incidents.

Visit our Slips, Trips, and Falls page for more information.

Psychosocial Hazards and MSDs

You can prevent MSDs by addressing psychosocial risk factors. Research demonstrates a direct link between psychosocial hazards and increased risk of MSDs in the workplace . The following resources provide guidance on managing these risks:

• Code of Practice Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work: Offers practical guidance on identifying and managing psychosocial hazards at work.
• Designing Work to Manage Psychosocial Risks: Provides information on how to design work and systems to eliminate and minimise psychosocial hazards and risks as set out in the WHS Regulation and the Code of Practice.
• Work-Related Stress Tip Sheets: Provides additional information on managing work-related stress, a significant contributor to MSDs.

Visit our Mental health page for more resources.

Industry Specific Resources

The following resources provide guidance on managing MSD risks in various industries:

Health Care

Incident animation: Shows an MSD incident relating to people handling including what led to the incident and what should have been done to prevent MSDs in this situation.

Aged Care

Managing Musculoskeletal Disorder Risks Guide in Aged Care PDF, 223.07 KB: Offers information and examples for aged care workers to manage risks related to non-patient handling tasks.

Child Care

MSD prevention in Early Childcare Education and Care:

Managing hazardous manual tasks in Early Childhood and Care Centres:

• using cots, highchairs and change tables
• conducting administrative tasks
• maintaining indoor and outdoor areas
• moving equipment
• storing supplies
• working at low levels

Construction

MSDs in Construction SafetyCast: Learn from SafeWork Inspectors about preventing MSDs in the construction sector.

Retail

Managing hazardous manual tasks checklist guide PDF, 988.71 KB: gives information about how to manage hazardous manual tasks in supermarkets and grocery stores.
Managing hazardous manual tasks checklist PDF, 271 KB: guides supermarket and grocery store businesses through a practical questionnaire to prevent MSDs and identify areas for improvement.

Manufacturing

MSD Safety Alert - Handling product ingredients in food manufacturing: uses an example of a hazardous manual task in the manufacturing sector and gives information about how to manage the risk of MSDs.

Reference:

1. Centre for Work Health Safety The link between workplace stressors and physical injury: Current evidence, prevalence in NSW employees and prevention tools, September 2021; and Dr Jodie Oakman, Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Australia, 2019.