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 US Department of Labor 1991).
The National Code of Practice for Manual Handling (2005) states: 'in seated work, it is advisable not to lift loads in excess of 4.5 kilograms' (Australian Safety and Compensation Council 2005).
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 them including:
- elimination—consider completely removing or eliminating the person’s requirement to lift, where possible
- substitution—consider breaking down the load into lighter components or replace lifting a load with pushing a load (for example, 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 (for example, 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 assist with safe work practices for lifting and lowering
- personal protective equipment—for example provision of gloves or back braces (usually recommended for heavier lifting)
(Australian Safety and Compensation Council 2007, WorkCover NSW 2007).
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:
(Australian Safety and Compensation Council and Independent Living Centres Australia Inc.2007).
References and resources
Australian Safety and Compensation Council 2007,OHS Practical Solutions Database, Australian Safety and Compensation Council, Canberra, viewed 2 May 2007, <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>.