Safe carrying methods

Carrying heavy objects can put a strain on your back, arms, shoulders and knees because your body is struggling to support the size and weight of the object. Follow these simple pointers when you have to carry a heavy load.

Safe carrying methods Carrying heavy objects can put a strain on your back, arms, shoulders and knees because your body is struggling to support the size and weight of the object Follow these simple pointers when you have to carry a heavy load Click the each point to view the If you cannot view the interaction above, or if it takes a long time to load, have a look at this alternative Always carry the load close to your body Never carry a heavy load away from your body as this puts a lot of strain on your shoulders and back Avoid carrying a heavy load for long distances This can cause your muscles to get tired and become more vulnerable to strain and injury Use a trolley, or a similar type of equipment, to move heavy loads over long distances Back Moving heavy loads safely You may need to move loads that are too heavy for you to lift or carry In these cases, you may need to use some of these methods:  Work with someone to carry the load  Use a trolley  Use a forklift or trolley jack to lift loads that are too heavy to lift manually (over 20 kilograms) Back Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage How hazardous substances enter the body? ways hazardous substances can be harmful A hazardous substance can be any substance, natural or artificial, solid, liquid or gas, that can potentially injure or harm people in and around their workplace or home Hazardous substances can enter the body in three ways:   Inhalation (breathing in) Ingestion (swallowing)  Absorption Inhalation (breathing into lungs) Gases, vapours, mists, fumes, and dusts are all forms of chemicals and biological agents that can be inhaled Many of these chemicals give off poisonous fumes and can harm you if inhaled You should always make sure that you use a respirator when handling chemicals that give off toxic fumes, dusts or gases Ingestion (swallowing) Not to many people are going to deliberately pick up a chemical and swallow it but have you ever sprayed your lawn or garden with a pesticide and then forgotten to wash your hands before eating, drinking or smoking? Or what about siphoning petrol by mouth? These are common ways in which chemicals can be ingested Absorption (contact through eyes, mouth, skin) Chemicals can also get into your body by being absorbed though your skin, eyes, and mouth Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Three safety steps There are three simple steps you can follow at work to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries at work Have a look at these steps:   Step - Identify the hazard Step - Determine the risk  Step - Respond Step - Identify the hazard Hazards can happen anywhere and anytime You need to watch out for hazards and be able to identify them Click the PLAY button to see what happens to Larrikin Larry In the workplace, this is as simple as being on the look out for things that may cause injury or harm to a person, for example, wet floors, lifting heavy loads and operating equipment and machinery Back Step - Determine the risk Have a look at Larrikin Larry trying to cross the street Click PLAY to see what happens if Larry fails to determine the risk before taking an action Did you notice that Larry checked that the lights had changed before crossing? He also made sure that all traffic had stopped before crossing at the lights In your workplace, determining the risk involves thinking about:   how the hazard could actually harm someone and how seriously they could be hurt if you have had enough training to work safely with the hazard Back Step - Respond This step involves doing something about responding to the hazard by making it safe and reducing the risk of injury or harm Sometimes it is not possible to get rid of the hazard, so you need to ask your employer, or a safety officer, to control it to make it less dangerous There are six ways you can respond to hazards: Remove the hazard Replace the hazard with something else (such as a substance or work practice) Separate the hazard from people with the use of screens, safety barriers, or find another place away from people Use safeguards for tools, equipment, machinery or install ventilation Follow safety rules or work procedures (includes training and supervision) Use personal protective clothing and equipment Back Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Be sun safe Safety tips for working outdoors on hot, sunny days A good proportion of your daily work in aquaculture will be outdoors You may be out inspecting ponds, feeding stock, harvesting, or checking and maintaining structures around the aquaculture facility In the Australian summer, this puts you at risk of over-exposure to sunlight and heat Both of these hazards can be avoided if you know what to There are two main hazards caused by working out in the sun:   Skin cancer Heat stress Skin cancer The main cause of skin cancer in Australia is exposure to ultraviolet radiation which is found in sunlight Did you know that:   skin cancers kills more than 700 Australians each year about 125,000 Australians have skin cancer at this moment, but don't realise that they have it  skin cancers are the most common cancers in Australia  Australia has the highest rate of skin cancers in the world? The longer skin is exposed to the sun, the greater the risk of skin cancers So, if your job involves spending a lot of time in the sun, then you need to make sure you protect your skin against sun damage Protecting against sun damage Cover up Put on cool, protective clothing if you're going to be out in the sun:   Wear a shirt - preferably one with a collar and long sleeves Wear long trousers if you can  Wear a wide brimmed hat to protect your head and face from sun damage Slap on sunscreen Always put on sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF 30+) The higher the SPF number, the more protection you get Your nose, lips, ears, neck and back of your hands need extra protection, so make sure these areas are properly covered with sunscreen Remember that you will need to reapply sunscreen after a few hours out in the sun Avoid working outdoors during peak sun times During the Australian summer, the time between 10am and 4pm is peak sun time This means that your risk of sun damage if highest if you're out in the sun during this time If possible, work indoors or in the shade during this time If you need to be out in the sun, then make sure you're wearing the right clothing, and have put on enough sunscreen to protect yourself against sun damage Top Heat stress Working outdoors on hot days can cause heat stress This results in increased sweating and loss of water from the body, and can lead to exhaustion, fatigue and even heat stroke! To reduce heat stress, you should:   wear cool, cotton clothing when working outdoors wear a broad-brimmed hat  put on sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF 15+)  wear sunglasses  drink small amounts of water frequently to replace any water lost through sweating  take frequent short rests in a shaded area  avoid working out in the sun during the hottest period of the day (10am to 4pm in the Australian summer) Top Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Workplace health and safety explained What does it all mean? In simple terms, workplace health and safety aims to promote and secure the safety and health of people at work by getting rid of, reducing or controlling hazards in the workplace It is based on the following four principles: Protection for every worker A duty of care and responsibility for safety Consultation by means of committees or safety representatives discussing and resolving workplace health and safety issues Penalties in the way of fines for not following workplace health and safety legislation These principles are controlled by laws that differ from state to state In Western Australia, for example, these principles are regulated by:  Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984  Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 They are also supported by codes of practice and guidance notes These laws tell the employer and the employee what their responsibilities are when it comes to workplace health and safety If an injury or accident occurs at work because either the employer or employee have failed to understand or follow these laws, then penalties such as fines could be imposed Duties of employees employers An employee employer shall shall provide take reasonable and maintain care to a work ensure environment their own safety in which and health the employees at work and are that notofexposed any other to hazards person in (as the farworkplace as practically possible) An employee will be in breach of the OHS act if they: This can be achieved by:  fail to comply with instructions given to them by their employer  with providing regard and to maintaining OHS in the workplace the workplace so that the employees  fail are to notuse exposed protective to hazards clothing (ifand practical) equipment provided by the  employer providing personal protective clothing and equipment to as instructed employees if there is a need for them to work in a hazardous  environment misuse or damage equipment provided for safety and health in the workplace  providing information, instruction, training and supervision to the to employee enable them to work in an  fail report ato situation that they believe to environment be a hazard, and or an not be occurring exposed to injury at hazards the workplace  employee consultingshall andcooperate working with representatives and relating An withsafety their employer in matters with regard to OHS in the workplace to OHSemployees in the workplace the commissioner of any Notify If an employee fails to carry outworkplace any of theinjury abovethat (1 -resulted 3) they in can time off or the death of an employee be liable for a fine of up to $10 000 If an employee employer hires a contractor to carry work(1then fails to carry out any of theout above - 3)the and this contractor any their employees are deemed tothey be employees of causes the and death orof serious injury to another person can be liable the aemployer for fine of up to $20 000 If an employer fails to protect the employees they will be in breach Different Laws for different States or Territories of the law and liable for a fine of up to $100 000 Each or Territory has its own workplace and safety laws If State an employer fails in to Australia protect the employees and as a health result causes These laws are produced and regulated by State or Territory government the death or serious harm to the employee they will be in breach of the groups that are forasafety These000 organisations include: lawresponsible and liable for fine ofissues up to $200 Worksafe Western fails Australia If an employer to notify the commissioner of a workplace injury as stated in section they will be in breach of the law and liable for a South fine ofAustralian $25 000 Workcover Authority Northern Territory Work Health Authority Victorian Workcover Authority NSW Workcover Authority Queensland Division of Workplace Health and Safety Workplace StandardsTasmania Always check the workplace health and safety legislation of your state for more detail about the specific laws that affect your workplace Top Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage ... protective clothing and equipment Back Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Be sun safe Safety tips for working outdoors on hot, sunny days A good proportion... Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Workplace health and safety explained What does it all mean? In simple terms, workplace health and safety aims to promote... though your skin, eyes, and mouth Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Back to Hazards, Health and Safety homepage Three safety steps There are three simple steps you can follow at work