Please read this before using presentation

This presentation is based on content presented at the
Mines Safety Roadshow held in October 2009

It is made available for non-commercial use (e.g. toolbox
meetings) subject to the condition that the PowerPoint is
not altered without permission from Resources Safety

Supporting resources, such as brochures and posters, are
available from Resources Safety

For resources, information or clarification, please contact:
RSDComms@dmp.wa.gov.au
or visit
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
2009 Mines Safety Roadshow
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Toolbox presentation
Manual tasks
Implementing an effective programme to manage
risks associated with manual tasks in mining
workplaces
2009 Mines Safety Roadshow
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Why implement a programme?

At least 1/3 of all injuries that occur in WA mining
workplaces result from workers performing manual tasks

They account for nearly 40% of all LTI compensation costs
and about 45% of total days lost from workplace injuries

All duty holders under the mines safety legislation have a
legal obligation to reduce the risk of injury to employees
performing manual tasks
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How do these injuries occur?
Collectively referred to as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

Sudden damage to musculoskeletal system
and/or

Cumulative wear and tear on musculoskeletal system
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How can the risk be managed?
Consider all manual task risk factors that cause or contribute to the
development of MSDs
Source: National Code of Practice for the Prevention of
Musculoskeletal Disorders from Performing Manual
Tasks at Work
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Implementation guidelines:
Overview

Each mining workplace is different so some variation in
most suitable approach to implement and administer a
manual tasks risk management programme

However, some key factors applicable to all workplaces
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Implementation guidelines:
Management commitment

Need top-down management commitment

Appointing a champion to lead, advocate and promote
programme is strongly recommended

Key performance indicators (KPIs) for managing
hazardous manual tasks need to be developed and
integrated

Participation of front-line supervisors must be supported

Programme adequately resourced
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Implementation guidelines:
Consultation

Consultation between employers and employees on
occupational safety and health matters is legislative
requirement

Consultation is fundamental to success of risk
management process

Current best practice - Participative ergonomics approach,
where small teams of workers from same occupational
group are involved in risk management process
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Implementation guidelines:
Training

Training should provide information on:
risk management process applied to managing risks
associated with manual tasks
 task-specific safe work methods for a manual task,
including safe use of items (including plant) and safe
systems of work


All employees:
able to identify hazardous manual tasks
 aware of risk factors that increase risk of injury
 able to contribute to development of risk control measures

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Implementation guidelines:
Integration into existing systems

Risk management approach is recommended to deal with
all hazards, including hazardous manual tasks

To ensure hazardous manual tasks are addressed through
existing OSH risk management systems, consider:



establishing KPIs, including lead indicators such as specific
targets to control identified hazardous manual tasks
including hazardous manual tasks in safe work procedures
(SWPs) or job safety analysis (JSAs)
ensuring manual task hazard reports, risk assessments and
control measure implementation plans are documented and
incorporated into general OSH risk management documentation
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Implementation guidelines:
Access to expertise

Access to external expertise may be necessary

Ergonomists can provide training to key personnel on
managing risks associated with manual tasks and assist in
management of particularly difficult or complex problems

Engineers or designers can provide expertise to assist in
development and design of engineering risk control
measures
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Implementation guideline:
Planning, design and purchasing processes

Hazard and risk analysis procedures have identified where
potentially hazardous manual tasks can be designed out

Ergonomics specifications are incorporated into design
and purchase of all items (e.g. tools, plant, structures)

Reporting procedures in place so workers can report
issues that resulted in musculoskeletal discomfort and/or
injury

Participative ergonomic approach adopted
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Implementation guidelines:
Hazard identification

Documented procedures to identify and report all:
 hazardous manual tasks
 injuries (MSDs) from performing manual tasks at work

Participation of workers who do the task

Manual task hazard identification forms or discomfort
surveys are available to complement existing hazard
reporting forms
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Implementation guidelines:
Risk assessment

Consider all relevant risk factors and identify cause/s or
source/s of risk

Rate severity of risk arising from identified hazardous
manual tasks for prioritisation within existing OSH risk
management systems

Consult with workers who do the task

Various manual task risk assessment tools to assist in
assessment process
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Implementation guidelines:
Risk control

Hazardous manual tasks prioritised for action with all other
hazards in OSH risk management system

Where risk of a hazardous manual task is assessed as
moderate or high, control measures must be implemented
to eliminate or reduce the risk

Risk control measures must:
 follow hierarchy of controls
 address root cause/s or source/s of risk identified in
risk assessment
 be derived and developed in consultation with workers
who do the task
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Implementation guidelines:
Monitoring and review

All implemented control measures must be reviewed and
monitored, in consultation with workers who do the tasks,
to:
 ensure they are effective
 identify if any new hazards have been introduced

Good practice to re-assess task immediately after control
measures are implemented, and repeat the assessment at
suitable interval following implementation
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Implementation guidelines:
Documentation
Facilitate information sharing
Ensure all documentation related to:

identification

assessment

control and

review
of hazardous manual tasks is stored and accessible to everyone
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Useful resources

Following resources available shortly on DMP website:



Implementing an effective programme to manage risks
associated with manual tasks: Guidance for mining workplaces
Manual tasks risk management audit
Preventing musculoskeletal disorders from performing manual
tasks in mining workplaces: Training package

Manual tasks fact sheet series can be downloaded from
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/6713.aspx#7009

Options for establishing Manual Task Working Group
online forum for information sharing currently being
investigated by Resources Safety
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Case studies
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