Piping product

Use solutions with the least risk

Various types of products need to be piped, including sausage roll, quiche and cannelloni fillings or icing on cakes. These tasks can require static postures and sustained application of force with one hand.

The following solutions can help employers control risks to employees piping products in different situations. These solutions may help eliminate or reduce the risk of employees developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD).

Solutions are listed in order, from those considered most effective to those considered less effective.

Employers should make sure employees use the handling solutions with the least risk, so far as reasonably practicable.

Solutions with reduced risks are an alternative only if least-risk methods are not reasonably practicable.

Employers should start implementing risk controls for the heaviest or highest-volume products first.

The following guidance also describes high-risk actions that can cause an MSD. Employers have a duty to eliminate or reduce the risk of MSDs so far as is reasonably practicable, and should make sure employees do not perform high-risk actions, if practicable.

Consultation

So far as reasonably practicable, employers must consult with employees and any health and safety representatives (HSRs) when identifying hazards and providing risk control measures. Consultation should include discussions about how employees will pipe products, making sure that risk control measures do not create new hazards. WorkSafe has guidance on consultation, including consultation with HSRs.

Squeezing piping bags with one hand

High-risk actions that can cause an MSD

• Excessive bending of the wrist and squeezing with one or both hands:
  • more than twice per minute or
  • more than 30 seconds at a time

  for more than 30 minutes continuously or more than 2 hours over the whole shift. These actions may occur in the situations listed or in combination with other work activities.

Potential source of risk

• Squeezing product out of the piping bag with one hand.

Handling solutions

Preferred solutions with the least risk

• Install automatic depositing or piping machines. Some can fill liquid or chunky product in both small and large portions.

Solutions with a reduced risk

• Use hand-operated automatic feeder machines.
• Clamp or tie the ends of piping bags. As product is pushed out of the bag, roll and re-clamp the top of the piping bag.
• Use a piping nozzle of sufficient diameter and ensure product is at the right consistency.
• Provide arm supports for fine decoration of cakes.
• Ensure lighting is adequate for the task.
• Introduce appropriately designed job rotation in combination with other risk controls that improve postures and movement.

  Note: Job rotation does not eliminate manual handling hazards. WorkSafe has guidance to help eliminate or reduce the health and safety risks associated with job rotation.

Height of workstation when piping product

High-risk actions that can cause an MSD

• Bending back and neck forwards or sideways more than 20 degrees:
  • for more than 30 seconds at a time for more than 30 minutes continuously or
  • for more than 2 hours over the whole shift

  These actions may occur in the situations listed or in combination with other work activities.

Potential source of risk

• Height of the workstation.

Handling solutions

Preferred solution with the least risk

• Install automatic depositing or piping machines. Some can fill liquid or chunky product, in both small and large portions.

Solutions with a reduced risk

• Provide workstations with height-adjustable seating fitted with a back rest.
• Provide height-adjustable benches or stands with turntables with or without a tilting mechanism.
• Provide arm supports for fine decoration of cakes.
• Ensure lighting is adequate for the task.
• Introduce appropriately designed job rotation in combination with other risk controls that improve postures and movement.

  Note: Job rotation does not eliminate manual handling hazards. WorkSafe has guidance to help eliminate or reduce the health and safety risks associated with job rotation.

Your legal duties

Employers

The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) requires employers to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health, so far as reasonably practicable. An employer contravenes this duty if they fail to:

• provide or maintain plant or systems of work that are, so far as reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health
• make arrangements for ensuring, so far as reasonably practicable, safety and the absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage or transport of plant or substances
• maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, each workplace under the employer's management and control in a condition that is safe and without risks to health
• provide, so far as is reasonably practicable, adequate facilities for the welfare of employees at any workplace under the management and control of the employer
• provide information, instruction, training or supervision to employees of the employer as is necessary to enable those employees to perform their work in a way that is safe and without risks to health

Employers also have an obligation to consult, so far as is reasonably practicable, with employees and any HSRs on matters related to health and safety that directly affect them, or that are likely to directly affect them. This duty to consult also extends to independent contractors, including employees of the independent contractor, engaged by the employer in relation to matters over which the employer has control.

Employees

While at work, employees also have duties under the OHS Act to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and the health and safety of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions in the workplace. Employees must also co-operate with their employer's actions to make the workplace safe and comply with the OHS Act and Regulations.

The WorkSafe website has guidance about the occupational health and safety (OHS) responsibilities of employers and employees.