Moving and Handling

Moving and handling related injuries result in the majority of the work-related injury claims for the University. Many injuries result from the lifting, twisting and movement of objects.

The risk of injury is increased significantly when objects are:

• Awkward to carry
• Large and heavy
• To be positioned or retrieved from a confined area
• In such a position that repetitive movement or twisting is required
• Positioned either too low or too high on shelves to manage easily

First, eliminate the risks where you are reasonably able to. Some examples are:

• Redesigning the task or process to eliminate the need for people to handle loads
• Using automated palletisers to load pallets
• Using conveyors to transport products in a warehouse

Where you are not reasonably able to eliminate the risk, then consider what you can do to minimise the risk. Some examples are:

• Ensuring building layout/design limits the need to push, pull, or carry equipment or loads for example, good path design, floor surfaces that allow pallets to be moved directly to storage areas
• Providing appropriate mechanical aids and equipment, and ensuring they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications
• Positioning shelving and racking in storage areas at accessible heights. Have more frequently used items on easy-to-reach shelves, and place lighter loads on the higher and lower shelves, and heavy items in the middle shelves
• Having adjustable work surfaces such as benches, desks, and conveyors, so that workers can adjust the working height to suit them and the task they are doing
• Ordering stock in smaller containers that are easier to store and lift, or ordering stock in large containers for mechanical handling only
• Ensuring workers are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods, or work that requires a significant amount of high force. Consider if mechanical or robotic equipment could be used instead. If not, organise the work so workers can take short, regular task breaks or rotate workers to less repetitive or physically demanding tasks
• If lifting must be carried out, organising the work to avoid workers lifting loads from the floor. Aim for lifting to be done between thigh and waist height

Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling - what's the problem?

Moving and handling people in the healthcare industry

Screening Tools for Manual Tasks

The New Zealand Manual Handling Assessment Charts (NZMAC)

Risk Assessments for Manual Tasks

Document Control
Version: 2
Last Updated: Apr 2025
Next Review: Apr 2028
Owner: hsw@auckland.ac.nz
Approver: Associate Director, Health Safety & Wellbeing