Manual Handling
Manual handling tasks in the metals and engineering industry you may have to do include lifting or carrying items such as containers of chemical substances, tools and metal materials or holding objects during grinding or buffing.
Your employer should provide instruction, training and supervision for manual handling activities and assess and control manual handling tasks that are hazardous. This includes things such as:
re-organising the work tasks to reduce the manual handling involved.
providing mechanical lifting devices such as trolleys and hoists.
making sure employees do not work long shifts.
making sure the workplace layout allows employees enough space to move and work safely.
 | | You should follow safe working procedures for manual handling and speak to your supervisor if you are unsure about a manual handling task. |
Handling metal materials is one of the major causes of work-related injuries and death in the metal industries in Western Australia. Steel comes in many forms including flat plate, coil, round bar and pipes. If not stored and restrained correctly, steel can roll, slip, slide or fall over. Solid steel bar, large diameter pipes and coiled steel can be very dangerous because they can roll easily if disturbed. Steel coils can weigh up to 15 tonnes.
The dangers of manual handling in the metals and engineering industry are highlighted in the case study Lifting Aluminium Sheets.
