Work requiring lifting and carrying up to 4.5 kilograms on an occasional basis is generally defined as sedentary work. Lifting requires raising or lowering an object or equipment and carrying involves manually transporting an object from one place to another.
The 2005 National Code of Practice for Manual Handling states: 'in seated work, it is advisable not to lift loads in excess of 4.5 kilograms'.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
For people who have difficulty lifting and moving objects up to 4.5 kilograms there are a range of strategies that can assist including:
-
elimination - where possible consider completely removing or eliminating the person's requirement to lift
- substitution - consider breaking down the load into lighter components or replace lifting a load with pushing a load using a trolley
- minimisation - try to decrease the frequency of lifting during the day
- engineering - change equipment design to eliminate lifting
- administration - modification of work systems and practices such as job rotation, good housekeeping and location of products being lifted
- training and supervision - ensuring workers operate equipment safely and properly to minimise manual handling; along with manual handling training to assist with developing safe work practices for lifting and lowering
- personal protective equipment - for example provision of gloves or back braces which may be recommended for heavier lifting with specific usage guidelines.
There are also a range of products, aids and supports to assist lifting up to 4.5 kilograms:
For lifting and moving in an office environment there are aids such as:
- luggage on wheels (to cart files for example)
- trolleys
Cleaning based equipment which assists to minimise lifting and moving include:
For lifting and moving in industrial, mechanical and construction work there are aids such as:
Within the health and science fields there are tools and aids such as:
To assist people to complete activities of daily living for example shopping, cleaning and laundry tasks there are aids such as:
References and resources
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2007, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc., viewed 3 May 2007, <http://www.ilcaustralia.org>.
Safe Work Australia 2009, National Code of Practice for Manual Handling, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, viewed 4 March 2010, <http://safeworkaustralia.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/D7B8BF8-1C27-430B-922E-427CE310EB53/0/manualhandling_cop2005_1990.pdf>.
United States Department of Labor and United States Employment and Training Administration 1991, Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs, United States Department of Labor, Washington.
WorkCover New South Wales 2010, Manual Handling-Hierarchy of Controls, New South Wales Government, Sydney, viewed 4 March 2010, <http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/hierarchy_of_controls_5620.pdf>.
Workers Health Centre 2004, Manual Handling Factsheet, Workers Health Centre, viewed, Lidcombe, 4 March 2010, <http://www.workershealth.com.au/facts034.html>.