Under Hazardous manual tasks · made under Work Health and Safety Act 2011

PCBU duty to manage hazardous manual task risks

High severity

FEDERAL · Duties Hazardous Manual Tasks > Risk Management § 3

The obligation

PCBUs must identify, assess and control hazardous manual tasks using the hierarchy of controls to eliminate or minimise MSD risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Under the WHS Act and supported by the Code, PCBUs have a primary duty to ensure workers are not exposed to risks from hazardous manual tasks. The Code requires PCBUs to: (1) identify hazardous manual tasks through consultation and workplace observation; (2) assess risk using RULA/REBA or equivalent biomechanical tools; (3) apply the hierarchy of controls — elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE — preferring higher-order controls. …

What: PCBUs must identify, assess and control hazardous manual tasks using the hierarchy of controls to eliminate or minimise MSD risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
Source: safeworkaustralia.gov.au

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Labels

duty risk assessment hierarchy of controls PCBU MSD

Official sources

T
safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Tertiary tier · we link to the law, we never republish it
T
safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Tertiary tier · we link to the law, we never republish it

Frequently asked questions

Which WHS law does this come from?

PCBU duty to manage hazardous manual task risks is a WHS requirement set out in Hazardous manual tasks (FEDERAL). It is made under Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (FEDERAL). The relevant provision is Hazardous Manual Tasks > Risk Management § 3.

What does this WHS obligation require?

PCBU duty to manage hazardous manual task risks is a WHS obligation under Hazardous manual tasks (FEDERAL). In short, PCBUs must identify, assess and control hazardous manual tasks using the hierarchy of controls to eliminate or minimise MSD risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

What changed recently?

PCBU duty to manage hazardous manual task risks was last updated on 26 August 2026.

Where this sits

Hazardous manual tasks Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Federal Australia

About this Topic

Updates trackedMonitoring

Monitoring detail

First seenAug 2026