The obligation
Employers must ensure risks of musculoskeletal disorders from hazardous manual handling tasks affecting employees are eliminated, or where not reasonably practicable, controlled.
Under the OHS Act 2004 (Vic) and the Hazardous Manual Handling compliance code, employers must: identify hazardous manual handling tasks; assess the associated risks; implement control measures to eliminate or, where not reasonably practicable, reduce those risks to the lowest level. The code provides a hierarchy of controls and requires review of controls when there is a change to tasks, systems, or plant.
- What
- Employers must ensure risks of musculoskeletal disorders from hazardous manual handling tasks affecting employees are eliminated, or where not reasonably practicable, controlled.
- Source
- worksafe.vic.gov.au
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employer duty
risk control
musculoskeletal disorder
OHS Act 2004
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Which WHS law does this come from?
Employer duty: eliminate or control musculoskeletal disorder risks from hazardous manual handling is a WHS requirement set out in Hazardous manual handling (VIC). It is made under Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (VIC). The relevant provision is OHS Act 2004 (Vic) > Compliance Codes > Hazardous Manual Handling > Employer Duties.
What does this WHS obligation require?
Employer duty: eliminate or control musculoskeletal disorder risks from hazardous manual handling is a WHS obligation under Hazardous manual handling (VIC). In short, Employers must ensure risks of musculoskeletal disorders from hazardous manual handling tasks affecting employees are eliminated, or where not reasonably practicable, controlled.
What changed recently?
Employer duty: eliminate or control musculoskeletal disorder risks from hazardous manual handling was last updated on 3 September 2026.
