Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
The Safe Work Australia model code of practice on hazardous manual tasks: managing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders from force, repetitive movement, awkward or sustained posture and vibration, through identification, assessment, controls (purchasing, workstation design, mechanical aids, people and animal handling, workload, environment, rotation and breaks), review and the duties of designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers. Guidance, not law: once a jurisdiction approves it under WHS Act s 274 it is admissible evidence of what is reasonably practicable (s 275).
Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks is a compliance framework from Australia (model for the harmonised WHS jurisdictions: Commonwealth, NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, NT; not Victoria) with 6 domains and 43 controls. The largest domains are Section 4: Controlling the risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (18 controls), Section 3: Assessing the risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (9 controls), Section 1: Duties and managing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (7 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
Framework summaries on this platform are AI-assisted interpretations for educational and compliance planning purposes. They do not reproduce or replace the official standards. Refer to the authoritative source for the definitive text. Framework names and trademarks belong to their respective organisations.
Framework Domains (6)
Section 1: Duties and managing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::1.3a | 1.3 Eliminate or minimise hazardous manual task risks (primary duty) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::1.3b | 1.3 Duty holders upstream: design, manufacture, import, supply and installation |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::1.3c | 1.3 Exercise officer due diligence and make worker and visitor duties known |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::1.4a | 1.4 Manage musculoskeletal risk through the regulated risk management steps (r 60) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::1.4b | 1.4 Consult workers and health and safety representatives at each step |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::1.4c | 1.4 Consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders on shared handling tasks |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::1.4d | 1.4 Provide information, training, instruction and supervision, including on PPE (r 39) |
Section 2: Identifying hazardous manual tasks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::2.1a | 2.1 Consult workers to find hard, tiring or uncomfortable tasks |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::2.1b | 2.1 Review records, look for trends and observe how tasks are really done |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::2.2a | 2.2 Recognise force as a hazard: repetitive, sustained, high and sudden |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::2.2b | 2.2 Recognise repetitive movement, and sustained or awkward posture |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::2.2c | 2.2 Recognise whole-body and hand-arm vibration |
Section 3: Assessing the risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::3.1 | 3.1 Carry out a risk assessment for hazardous tasks unless the risk and control are known |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::3.2a | 3.2 Run the assessment with the right people, by task stage, with specialist help when needed |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::3.2b | 3.2 Group similar tasks only when they are truly similar and review when uncertain |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::3.3a | 3.3 Test for repetitive movement, sustained or awkward postures and repetitive or sustained force |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::3.3b | 3.3 Test for high or sudden force |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::3.3c | 3.3 Test for exposure to vibration, and take the combined result |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::3.4a | 3.4 Find the sources of risk in work area design and layout, loads and tools |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::3.4b | 3.4 Find the sources of risk in systems of work and individual factors |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::3.4c | 3.4 Find the sources of risk in the work environment |
Section 4: Controlling the risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.1 | 4.1 Have regard to all contributing matters and apply the hierarchy of control (r 60(2)) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.2 | 4.2 Purchase equipment that reduces manual task risk |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.3a | 4.3 Design workstations and working heights to keep postures neutral |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.3b | 4.3 Provide for varied working positions and adequate work space |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.4a | 4.4 Reduce risk when handling loads and choose and maintain hand tools |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.4b | 4.4 Provide mechanical aids that are suited, maintained and supported by training |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.4c | 4.4 Reduce the effort of pushing and pulling loads |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.4d | 4.4 Control the risk of handling people |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.4e | 4.4 Control the risk of handling animals |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.5a | 4.5 Set workload and pace of work the body can sustain |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.5b | 4.5 Design tasks for the working population and provide resources and support |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.6a | 4.6 Control whole-body and hand-arm vibration |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.6b | 4.6 Control cold, heat, humidity and wind in manual task areas |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.6c | 4.6 Keep floors clear and provide suitable lighting |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.7a | 4.7 Use job rotation and rest breaks as supporting administrative controls |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.7b | 4.7 Use team handling only as a temporary or rare measure and plan it |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.8a | 4.8 Implement controls with interim measures, worker input and a trial period |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::4.8b | 4.8 Run a manual task training program and keep records |
Section 5: Reviewing control measures – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::5 | 5 Maintain and review controls for musculoskeletal risk (r 38) |
Section 6: Role of designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::6.1a | 6.1 Design plant and structures to eliminate or minimise hazardous manual tasks (r 61) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::6.1b | 6.1 Design workplaces and plant with the building and plant lifecycle in mind |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-hazardous-manual-tasks::6.2 | 6.2 Manufacture, import and supply plant and goods with handling in mind (r 61) |
What is Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks and who does it apply to?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks is a compliance framework from Australia (model for the harmonised WHS jurisdictions: Commonwealth, NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, NT; not Victoria) with 6 domains and 43 controls. The Safe Work Australia model code of practice on hazardous manual tasks: managing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders from force, repetitive movement, awkward or sustained posture and vibration, through identification, assessment, controls (purchasing, workstation design, mechanical aids, people and animal handling, workload, environment, rotation and breaks), review and the duties of designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers. Guidance, not law: once a jurisdiction approves it under WHS Act s 274 it is admissible evidence of what is reasonably practicable (s 275). It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks actually require?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks has 43 controls organised across 6 domains. The largest domains are Section 4: Controlling the risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (18 controls), Section 3: Assessing the risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (9 controls), Section 1: Duties and managing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders – Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (7 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks do I already cover?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks does not currently have cross-framework mappings in our system. Check back as we continuously expand our mapping database.
How do I implement Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks?
Start your Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Australia Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 43 controls and track your progress.
Start Your Compliance Journey
Create a free account to run self-assessments, get AI advisory, and track your compliance progress across 908 frameworks.
Get Started Free →Free forever — no credit card required