Safe Work Habits and Exercises at Workplace
The law requires employers to ensure the health and welfare of all their employees and other people at the workplace—this is referred to as ‘duty of care’. This means that employers are responsible for maintaining premises and equipment so they do not pose risks to people. Employers also have to provide information and training as needed to ensure employees health and safety.
Employees also have responsibilities under legislation. They should:
• Comply with employers’ systems for ensuring health and safety.
• Take part in hazard identification and risk control processes.
• Not put themselves or others at risk of injury or illness.
This may include wearing personal protective equipment and reporting accidents and injuries that happen in the workplace.
Performing some manual tasks can be hazardous, potentially causing musculoskeletal disorders which can lead to death, injury or disease.
Manual task means a task comprised wholly or partly by any activity requiring a person to use his or her musculoskeletal system in performing his or her work and can include the use of force for lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying or otherwise moving, holding or restraining any person, animal or item.
Hazardous Manual Tasks may lead to a variety of injuries and conditions including:
• sprains and strains of muscles, ligaments and tendons (for example, shoulder muscle strain (rotator cuff tear)
• back injuries, including damage to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, spinal discs (for example, ruptured discs), nerves (for example, sciatica), joints and bones
• joint injuries or degeneration, including injuries to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, hands and feet
• bone injuries (for example, fractures)
• nerve injuries (for example, carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrist)
• muscular and vascular disorders as a result of hand-arm vibration, and
• soft tissue hernias (for...