The obligation
PCBUs must eliminate or minimise MSD risks from hazardous manual tasks, applying the hierarchy of controls. Failure to comply with the Code of Practice may be used as evidence in court proceedings.
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and WHS Regulation 2017, PCBUs must identify hazardous manual tasks and manage associated MSD risks. The hierarchy of controls applies: first eliminate the risk, then minimise it through substitution, engineering, administrative controls, or PPE. The Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice provides the compliance benchmark.
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- What
- PCBUs must eliminate or minimise MSD risks from hazardous manual tasks, applying the hierarchy of controls. Failure to comply with the Code of Practice may be used as evidence in court proceedings.
- Source
- safework.nsw.gov.au
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manual handling
MSD
PCBU
hierarchy of controls
Official sources
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 (NSW). It is made under Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW). The relevant provision is Hazardous manual tasks > PCBU obligations.
What does this WHS obligation require?
PCBU duty to manage hazardous manual task risks is a WHS obligation under Hazardous manual tasks (NSW). In short, PCBUs must eliminate or minimise MSD risks from hazardous manual tasks, applying the hierarchy of controls. Failure to comply with the Code of Practice may be used as evidence in court proceedings.
What changed recently?
PCBU duty to manage hazardous manual task risks was last updated on 3 September 2026.
