Please read this before using presentation

1. 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

2. Toolbox presentation Manual tasks Implementing an effective programme to manage risks associated with manual tasks in mining workplaces

3. 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

4. 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

5. How can the risk be managed? Source: National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders from Performing Manual Tasks at Work Consider all manual task risk factors that cause or contribute to the development of MSDs

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Case studies