--- title: "Workplace safety: Manual handling" description: According to Safe Work Australia’s Keep Work, Health & Safety Statistics (2021), body stressing accounts for 37% of serious injury claims in the workplace. image: https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hubfs/image-053.jpg --- [Skip to the main content.](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/manual-handling#main-content) [![Blackwoods Expert+](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/BWMA26-0681%20Blackwoods_Expert%20Plus%20(1).jpg?width=2073&height=493&name=BWMA26-0681%20Blackwoods_Expert%20Plus%20(1).jpg "Blackwoods Expert+")](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/expert-plus) [![Blackwoods Expert+](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/BWMA26-0681%20Blackwoods_Expert%20Plus.jpg?width=2073&height=493&name=BWMA26-0681%20Blackwoods_Expert%20Plus.jpg "Blackwoods Expert+")](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/expert-plus) - [Safety](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/safety) - Industries - [Manufacturing](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/manufacturing) - [Utilities](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/utilities) - [Construction](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/construction) - [Mining](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/tag/mining) - Content Types - [Articles](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au) - [Videos](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfA8meUWjOmhLQKsUGnLOsQ/featured) - [Catalogues](https://www.blackwoods.com.au/catalogues) - [Events](https://www.blackwoods.com.au/tradeshows) Search [Shop Now](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/click?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJKBRVYGEi1kYk6Tr%2FeYuxC38seJfDvw6eoTuOvNyFXrnfbrRzHMycjkDLjD9uDKzBW%2F0rzTTcMAy5MhxouRBWDIHdBEPgdURPs5K8yM3IgUlJVYC0wgLaNPID3rGfSIl%2BZe4I3AOl1nwRrdsN0MD7ScauvzV%2BbOLU6ejZWSYT9Ew%3D%3D&portalId=7298381) Toggle Menu Search Toggle Menu [Shop Now](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/click?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJKBRVYGEi1kYk6Tr%2FeYuxC38seJfDvw6eoTuOvNyFXrnfbrRzHMycjkDLjD9uDKzBW%2F0rzTTcMAy5MhxouRBWDIHdBEPgdURPs5K8yM3IgUlJVYC0wgLaNPID3rGfSIl%2BZe4I3AOl1nwRrdsN0MD7ScauvzV%2BbOLU6ejZWSYT9Ew%3D%3D&portalId=7298381) - [Safety](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/safety) - Industries - [Manufacturing](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/manufacturing) - [Utilities](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/utilities) - [Construction](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/construction) - [Mining](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/tag/mining) - Content Types - [Articles](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au) - [Videos](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfA8meUWjOmhLQKsUGnLOsQ/featured) - [Catalogues](https://www.blackwoods.com.au/catalogues) - [Events](https://www.blackwoods.com.au/tradeshows) 1 min read # Workplace safety: Manual handling [![Picture of Bullivants](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hubfs/images.jpg) Bullivants](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/author/bullivants) : 19 May 2022 Workplace safety: Manual handling 2:14 Fact. Manual handling is the biggest cause of injuries in Australian workplaces. According to Safe Work Australia’s Keep Work, Health and Safety Statistics (2021), body stressing accounts for 37% of serious injury claims in the workplace. Whether you are lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, or carrying, the stresses on your body can be immense, especially if you have poor technique or are using the wrong equipment for the task. The list of injuries is long, and includes: - Back, neck, and shoulder injuries - Sprains and strains to other parts of the body - Hernias All these injuries fall under the broad category of Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD’s). Unfortunately, some of these MSD’s can sometimes become chronic conditions that can be debilitating and hinder your quality of life. However, injuries need not always occur. Blackwoods has implemented S.A.M. (Stop, Assess, Move) in its workplaces. It is a process that entices greater thought before moving an object, and then applying the correct procedures and equipment during the moving.  Rigging and lifting specialist [Bullivants](https://www.blackwoods.com.au/bullivants/b/557580/brand), only knows too well the importance of safe manual handling for its employees. Mark Laws, Regional Operations Manager, Bullivants says, > *“Pacific Scissor Trolleys are great examples of how we can apply techniques like S.A.M. to reduce manual handling injuries. Using hydraulic foot pedals and ergonomic levers, these trolleys are designed to lift and shift loads up to 500 kilograms."* It is the duty of every employer to make their workplace safe. The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (2017) of Victoria, have specific duties about identifying and controlling risks of injuries from manual handling; this includes the handling of hazardous materials. If possible, risks should be eliminated, but this is not always reasonably practical; in these situations, employers must consider: - Changing the workplace layout, the workplace environment, or the systems of work. - Changing the things used in the hazardous manual handling, such as characteristics of the load or equipment used. - Using mechanical aids - A combination of the above. ![Workplace Safety: Manual Handling](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/table.png?width=250&name=table.png) ![Workplace Safety: Manual Handling](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Apr-20-2022-11-50-18-09-AM.png?width=400&name=image-png-Apr-20-2022-11-50-18-09-AM.png) [SHOP BULLIVANTS](https://www.blackwoods.com.au/bullivants/b/557580/brand) [![11.Bullivants](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/11.Bullivants.jpg?width=300&height=150&name=11.Bullivants.jpg)](https://www.blackwoods.com.au/bullivants/b/557580/brand)   [Mining](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/tag/mining) [Construction](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/tag/construction) [Logistics](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/tag/logistics) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## **Read related articles** [![Working at heights mandatory inspections](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hubfs/Bullivants%20(1).png)](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/working-at-heights-mandatory-inspections) #### [Working at heights mandatory inspections](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/working-at-heights-mandatory-inspections) ![Picture of Bullivants](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/images.jpg?width=30&name=images.jpg) [Bullivants](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/author/bullivants) : 2 June 2026 We all have a duty of care to prevent injury or harm to staff, contractors, and visitors in the workplace. The identification of workplace hazards... [Lifting & Manual Handling](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/tag/lifting-manual-handling) [Read More](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/working-at-heights-mandatory-inspections) [![Safe, compliant load restraint solutions from Bullivants](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hubfs/EOFY%20Bullivants%20Header.jpg)](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/safe-compliant-load-restraint-solutions-from-bullivants) #### [Safe, compliant load restraint solutions from Bullivants](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/safe-compliant-load-restraint-solutions-from-bullivants) ![Picture of Bullivants](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/images.jpg?width=30&name=images.jpg) [Bullivants](https://blog.blackwoods.com.au/author/bullivants) : 6 May 2026 From transport through to storage, effective load restraint plays a critical role in keeping people safe, protecting equipment, and ensuring cargo... 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To ensure safety and efficiency, lifting and hoisting equipment must not only... 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