Every day we perform a range of manual work tasks that stress the body and potentially lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). But what makes a manual task 'hazardous' and what can you do to keep your workplace safe?

Manual tasks (or manual handling) involve pushing, pulling, lifting, lowering, carrying, or otherwise moving, holding or restraining any person, animal or thing. However, not all manual tasks are hazardous.

For a task to be 'hazardous', one or more of the following must be present:

October is National Safe Work Month. Each week we cover a different health and safety focus area to ensure safety is at the forefront of our minds.

Week 1 was all about working together to manage risks at work.

Week 2 we look specifically at psychosocial hazards and the risks they present.

Week 3 - we discuss factors that make workers vulnerable - taking age, background and location into consideration.

October is Safe Work Australia's Safety Month. We're going to be bringing you a different health and safety focus area each week, to bring Safety into the forefront of our minds.

Week 1 was all about working together to manage risks at work.

Week 2 we look specifically at Psychosocial hazards and the risks they present. 

October is SafeWork Australia's Safety Month. We're going to be bringing you a different health and safety focus area each week, to bring Safety into the forefront of our minds.

Week 1 is all about working together to manage risks at work.