Importance of Hazardous Manual Task Training
Here's why training matters:
- It complements other safety measures in place, such as proper use of equipment and safe task performance.
- It helps you and your team recognize hazardous manual tasks (HMT), understand the risks, and find ways to reduce them.
- It's legally required by regulations and codes of practice.
Key points of suitable HMT training:
- Focuses on risk management and how to identify HMT and its risk factors like force, postures, vibration, repetition, and duration.
- Teaches how to minimize risks and perform specific tasks safely using tools, equipment, and work procedures.
- Guides you on how to report any problems or maintenance issues.
Who should receive training?
- Anyone who performs, supervises, or manages HMT.
- Staff responsible for selecting and maintaining equipment, or organizing jobs and tasks.
- Health and safety representatives.
When should training occur?
- When starting a new job or during induction.
- Continuously as part of regular updates and whenever new risks are identified.
- When job processes, equipment, or legislation changes.
Keep training records, including dates, topics covered, and participants' signatures. This ensures ongoing compliance and safety at work.
Resources
- Tips for hazardous manual tasks training (DOCX, 0.86 MB) – minimum standard for HMT training – customise this to suit your workplace
- The truth about how to lift training
- Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities position on ‘How to lift’ training (PDF, 0.27 MB)
- How to lift training: An analysis of survey responses (PDF, 0.79 MB)
- FAQ – Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities position on ‘how to lift’ training (PDF, 0.12 MB)
Construction
- Hazardous manual tasks in construction training presentation (PPTX, 2.9 MB) – customise this to suit your workplace
- A better way of working - preventing sprains and strains in construction (PDF, 0.31 MB)
- Work procedure checklist to control hazardous manual tasks (DOCX, 0.79 MB)
- Tips for hazardous manual tasks training (DOCX, 0.82 MB) (construction) – minimum standard for HMT training – customise this to suit your workplace