Instead of ‘how to lift’ training, do this!

How to lift training does not reduce strains and sprains and you cannot use it to demonstrate work health and safety (WHS) compliance.

The most effective way to manage the risk of strains and sprains is through work design, not training.

Talk to your workers and investigate the hazards to understand the sources of risk and how work can be redesigned to control the risk.

Best practice

To effectively prevent strains and sprains, you must take a risk management approach and implement the highest level of risk controls.

This means eliminating the hazards through design and engineering solutions, rather than implementing administrative controls such as manual handling training. Controls that rely on human behaviour and worker supervision are the least effective way to reduce WHS risks in your workplace.

If an injury has occurred, investigate the incident and control the risks from hazards before your worker returns to work. This will ensure your worker returns to safe and healthy work as well as reducing the potential for further injury to them and others.

You must:

• consult with your workers to identify the tasks and hazards that cause them the greatest strain or difficulty and to understand what work practices contributed to the incident
• identify workplace hazards and assess the risk to your workers
• implement controls that either remove the hazard or reduce the risk of injury as far as reasonably practicable. This means doing what you are reasonably able to do
• review your control measures in consultation with your workers regularly as risk management is an ongoing process
• train workers about hazards and risks in the workplace and how to control those risks with the equipment and safe systems you have provided. For example, you may provide training in how to use, maintain and report issues with mechanical lifting aids.

Why this is important

Strain and sprain injuries are the most common work-related injury, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all work injuries. In 2022/23, there were more than 46,000 workers’ compensation claims made in Queensland for strain and sprain injuries, at a total cost of $901 million.

If you don’t address bigger picture WHS, this may also result in a worker returning to a hazardous job with uncontrolled risks. This can lead to a delayed return to work or re-injury.

Recent research shows many workplaces still rely on ineffective strategies aimed at stopping back strains and sprains, such as ‘how to lift training’, instead of high order controls. ‘How to lift’ training doesn’t reduce strains and sprains and cannot be used to demonstrate WHS compliance.

Failing to have effective WHS controls may lead to warnings or penalties for your business, increased risk of work-related injuries, poor return to work outcomes and increased workers’ compensation premiums. Codes of practice provide information on specific issues and help you achieve the legal standard for WHS.

A safe and supportive workplace with a positive workplace culture is important for both injury prevention and management and improving rehabilitation and return to work (RRTW) outcomes. Prioritising workers’ safety and wellbeing will also create an environment where workers feel protected and valued.

What actions can I take now?

Review your current approaches to ensure they align with legislative requirements and modern best practices.

• Educate your teams about the problems of traditional ‘how to lift’ training programs and the importance of a comprehensive approach to health and safety.
• Consider the broader systems context when investigating a workplace incident.
• Adopt good work design practices and a culture of open communication about health and safety concerns.

Your toolkit

Access resources provided by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland to improve your WHS systems.

• Read the position statement (PDF, 0.27 MB) endorsed by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on ‘How to lift’ training and frequently asked questions (PDF, 0.12 MB).
  • For more detailed evidence, read the latest research published in the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics.
• Check your existing work processes and systems using this simple hazardous manual task systems self-assessment tool.
• After an injury, use the Manual tasks risk management worksheet (PDF, 0.23 MB) or the Slips, trips and falls at level incident worksheet (PDF, 0.1 MB) to identify health and safety issues and why they occurred.
• Use the Safety fundamentals toolkit to see how well you’re doing. You can download an action plan as a document and change it to suit your business.
• For tailored, free and independent support and advice for your business, register for Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s Injury Prevention and Management Program.