Work requiring lifting and carrying up to 23 kilograms on an occasional basis is generally defined as medium work.
Exerting 9 kilograms to 23 kilograms of force occasionally, or 4.5 kilograms to 11 kilograms of force frequently, or greater than negligible up to 4.5 kilograms of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for light work.
Lifting requires raising or lowering an object or equipment and carrying involves manually transporting an object from one place to another (The US Department of Labor 1991).
The National Code of Practice for Manual Handling states:
As weight increases from 16 kilograms up to 55 kilograms, the percentage of healthy adults who can safely lift, lower or carry the weight, decreases. Therefore, more care is required for weights above 16 kilograms and up to 55 kilograms in the assessment process. Mechanical assistance and/or team lifting arrangements should be provided to reduce the risk of injury associated with these heavier weights (Australian Safety and Compensation Council 2005).
Workplace solutions and adjustments
For people who have difficulty lifting and moving objects up to 23 kilograms there are a range of strategies that can assist them including:
- Elimination—consider completely removing or eliminating the worker’s requirement to lift
- Substitution—consider breaking down the load into lighter components or replace lifting a load with pushing a load (e.g. using a trolley)
- Minimisation—try to decrease the frequency of lifting during the day where possible
- Engineering—use of a trolley or manual handling equipment
- Administration—modification of work systems and practices (e.g. job rotation, good housekeeping, location of products being lifted)
- Training and supervision—ensuring workers operate equipment safely and properly to minimise manual handling. Manual handling training to be provided to assist with safe work practices for lifting and lowering, for example using correct lifting techniques, asking for assistance with lifting when required and using lift devices if needed
- Personal protective equipment—for example provision of gloves or back braces
(Australian Safety and Compensation Council 2007; WorkCover NSW 2007).
There are also a range of products, aids and supports to assist them with to lift up to 23 kilograms:
For lifting and moving in an office environment there are aids such as:
- luggage on wheels—to assist with moving office files etc.
- 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:
For people who work in the health-care field, there are:
To assist people to complete activities of daily living for example shopping, cleaning and laundry tasks there are aids such as:
References
Australian Safety and Compensation Council 2007, OHS Practical Solutions Database, Australian Safety and Compensation Council, Canberra, viewed 2 May 2007, <http://www.ascc.gov.au> and <http://www.nohsc.gov.au/OHSInformation/Databases/OHSSolutions/hierarchy.htm>.
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2007, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc., viewed 3 May 2007, <http://www.ilcaustralia.org>.
National Occupational Health and Safety Council 2005, National Code of Practice for Manual Handling, Australian Safety and Compensation Council, viewed 9 May 2007, <http://www.ascc.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/86BD7C06-48F5-48C6-ACB6-BD761EF0A508/0/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 2007, OHS Hazards,New South Wales Government, Sydney, viewed 3 May 2007, <http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Publications/OHS/Hazards/hazardhierarchy.htm>.