Work area design
A work area may include work benches, conveyors, furniture, equipment and vehicles. The layout of an area where a particular job is based is critical to preventing musculoskeletal injuries and ensuring an efficient job and workplace.
Layouts that do not match the worker and the demands of the manual tasks will cause awkward and static postures. These include work areas where you have to continually reach or bend for items, or a work surface that is too high or low.
Ways to control hazards
Design
- Place materials, tools, controls and maintenance items in front of you, and between waist and shoulder height.
- Operate controls at about elbow height without bending or twisting the body.
- Design supply and disposal areas so workers do not have to twist their bodies.
Working heights and reaches
- Maintain a working height at about elbow height (although it is higher for precision work and lower when force is needed).
- If you must reach frequently, check that you reach no more than 30cm to the front of the body (in a seated position) and no more than 50cm to the front of the body (in a standing position).
- Use height adjustable furniture, trolleys, tables and block raisers.
- Adopt working postures that reduce the need to reach.
Space
- Provide enough space for equipment and functional movement.
- Design facilities to allow enough room for team handling tasks. Increase functional space using privacy curtains.
- Make doorways and corridors wide enough to accommodate mobile equipment.
- Allow sufficient work space so equipment can be used safely.
- Have consistent floor levels where people and equipment are wheeled, pushed and pulled (this includes lift levels).
- Use lightweight furniture or furnishings with castors so access areas can be easily cleared.
People handling equipment
- Install locking devices on equipment that may be unstable.
- Use lightweight, well maintained equipment with large low-resistive wheels.
- Provide a storage area for handling equipment that is close to the work area.
- Conveniently locate attachments and aids so people can easily assist themselves if necessary.
Motor vehicles for people handling
- Use vehicles with:
- tailgates that accommodate wheelchairs
- sliding doors for easy access
- sufficient interior room to manoeuvre and secure people
- enough headroom for a variety of heights.
Workstations
- Use adjustable workstations to suit different people, or a workstation height to suit tall workers (and raise shorter workers via moveable platforms or benches).
- Make reaching distances suitable for shorter workers.
- Provide knee and leg clearance under work surfaces that suit larger workers.
Seating
- Use an adjustable seat with a swivel base.
- Choose seats with a contoured backrest and a lumbar curve (except where the backrest interferes with work).
- Use arm rests (if hand activity is not continuous).
- Use a foot rest (if feet do not reach the floor).
More information on work area design is provided in the Manual Tasks Advisory Standard 2000 (now known as a Code of Practice).
More information on work area design for people handling is provided in the Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People Code of Practice 2001 .
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