Musculoskeletal disorders - Stage 4: Control risk

If it is not possible to eliminate the hazard, think about how you can change the task, process and work environment to make the work safer, or whether you need to review the work equipment.

The task

• Can you make the load lighter or less bulky, easier to grasp or more stable?
• Can the supplier help (eg by providing handles or smaller units)?

Work-related factors

• Consider using a lifting or handling aid.
• Reduce the amount of twisting and stooping.
• Avoid lifting from floor level or above shoulder height, especially with heavy loads.
• Reduce the carry distance.
• Avoid repetitive actions.
• Allow sufficient breaks and introduce job rotation between different tasks to allow muscles to recover.

The work environment

• Keep the work area tidy and remove obstructions.
• Improve ground conditions.
• Avoid ladders, steps and steep ramps.
• Improve lighting.
• Make sure that people are wearing suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) and that it doesn’t interfere with their work.

Table 1 Examples of how work can be done differently

Example of task	Problem	Safer practice
Clearing material from area where mechanical excavator could not access	Use of full wheelbarrows over uneven ground.	Use a powered mini-conveyor to load material directly into a dumper.
Installing trench blocks	Blocks difficult to handle due to the unit weight and size.	Specify lighter blocks with handholds. Case study: COH04 Trench blocks with handholds [PDF 36KB]
Bricklaying	Repetitive constant task with bricks laid at various heights during the day.	Stack bricks and mortar on a platform at waist height. This allows more of the work to be done between waist and shoulder height. Case study: COH01 Reduce bending to materials [PDF 109KB] Case study: COH02 Using mast climbers [PDF 177KB]
Moving plasterboard	Plasterboard size leading to awkward postures.	Use a hoist to lift plasterboard to the right building floor. Panel trolley then used to take it to point of use. Use a smaller board size. A number of devices are available to help workers carry plasterboard manually. Case study: COH05 Reduce plasterboard manual handling [PDF 75KB]
Keeping materials dry	Wet materials gain weight which makes them more difficult to handle.	Plan how to protect materials Case study: COH03 Keeping materials dry [PDF 59KB]
Forming ceilings with sheet materials	Awkward postures while fixing.	Use a panel lifter.
Installing a beam in a basement to support the floor	The beam is heavy and a restricted space makes it difficult to manoeuvre.	Specify a stitch beam which is easier to handle because it is split lengthways into lighter sections that are assembled in the basement.
Tying rebar	Repetitive twisting action accompanied by poor posture.	Use an automated tying tool.

Solutions that involve a gang of workers handling a material may appear attractive, eg when installing a structural beam or laying kerbs. However, it is unlikely that each worker will bear the load equally. Poor coordination of activity, or a trip, could mean that one individual takes more than their fair share, which increases the risk of serious injury.

Provide suitable equipment

A range of equipment is available to make tasks easier and reduce the risk of injury. This includes trolleys, pallet trucks, automatic and vacuum powered handling devices. If you are unfamiliar with the equipment it is good practice to:

• seek advice on suitability from suppliers/hirers;
• ask for equipment on a trial basis, if possible, to see if it resolves the problem;
• ask the supplier about other users so you can see the equipment in use;
• check that lifting equipment is CE marked and that you will not overload it;
• consider what maintenance will be required;
• ensure the equipment will suit the area where it is to be used (eg manoeuvrability, headroom, ground conditions);
• consider if the equipment will itself bring new risks to the site (eg workplace transport);
• consult your workers; and
• consider what training is needed so that the equipment can be used safely, especially if it is a vehicle such as a fork-lift truck.

• ‘Are you making the best use of lifting and handling aids?’ INDG398 [PDF 100KB]