The department's latest safety and health snapshot looks at hazardous manual tasks
| Date: | Friday, 22 December 2017 |
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The latest instalment of the Resources Safety Division's monthly safety and health snapshots focuses on hazardous manual tasks and is now available from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
Mines Safety Director Andrew Chaplyn said hazardous manual tasks are recognised as a major occupational safety and health risk for Western Australia’s mining industry.
"A manual task can become hazardous when there is repetitive or sustained application of force, awkward posture, sustained vibration or handling of unstable or unbalanced loads," Mr Chaplyn said.
"Injuries from performing hazardous manual tasks are collectively referred to as musculoskeletal disorders and account for a third of all injuries in WA’s mining industry."
The monthly safety and health snapshots address key topics in the minerals sector that have been identified by the department as potential areas of concern.
The snapshots can be accessed and downloaded from the department's website and can be used by employers and workers to assist in the development and promotion of safe work practices on mining operations.
The department also releases quarterly performance snapshots detailing injury and incident data.
The better use of data in driving decisions is a core element of the department’s Towards 2020 regulatory strategy.
