M1. Manual Handling

M1.1 Introduction
M1.2 Standard
M1.3 Procedures
   M1.3.1 Guidelines for prevention of injury
   M1.3.2 Reporting hazards or injury

M1.1 Introduction

M1.2 Standard

The University has an obligation under the Queensland Advisory Standard (Manual Tasks 2000) to minimise the incidence and severity of manual handling injuries by identifying and controlling manual handling tasks.

M1.3 Procedures

Category 4 Delegates or above will ensure that all faculties and departments within the University provide appropriate education, equipment and other resources for the control of manual handling hazards.  Provisions will be made for the special needs of employees or students with disabilities.

M1.3.1 Guidelines for prevention of injury

An employee or student must not carry or move any object if they consider they are at risk of injury or if others may be at risk.

Individual employees and students should make every effort to reduce the risk of manual handling accidents or injuries by taking steps recommended in the USQSafe Fact Sheet on Safe Lifting.

The appropriate Supervisor is responsible for undertaking risk assessments in their workplace.  The Manual Handling Checklist is a useful tool.  Refer to Section R1 - Risk Management for more information on risk assessments.

M1.3.2 Reporting hazards or injury

Individual employees and students must report to their Supervisor or Lecturer any manual handling hazard.  Those hazards which cannot be immediately rectified should be reported to the appropriate Category 4 Delegate or above and USQSafe on the Hazard Report and Investigation Form.  Refer to the procedures for Section H1 - Hazard Reporting in this Manual.

The appropriate Supervisor or Lecturer must address any hazards and take corrective action, which may include reviewing work practices, arranging education or providing appropriate equipment for safe manual handling.

If an employee suffers injury, they must report the injury on the Incident Record/Report. The appropriate Category 4 Delegate or above must ensure the individual employee seeks medical advice immediately.  Refer to procedures for Section I1 - Incident or Injury Reporting in this Manual.