A participative hazard identification and risk management (APHIRM) toolkit workshops

APHIRM toolkit

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by hazardous manual handling are the most common injury in Australian workplaces.

We’ve worked with La Trobe University on a participative hazard identification and risk management (APHIRM) toolkit to support your workplace in preventing injuries, particularly MSDs.

Developed for Victorian employers and OHS professionals in medium to large workplaces, the free online toolkit helps you:

• identify the physical and psychosocial hazards in your workplace that increase risk of MSDs
• engage employees in the risk management process
• design actions to address specific hazards
• monitor progress and review outcomes.

About MSDs

MSDs can include:

• sprains and strains
• back injuries
• soft-tissue injuries to the wrists, arms, shoulders, neck or legs
• soft-tissue hernias
• chronic pain.

When environmental and psychosocial hazards combine, the risk of MSDs increases.

Environmental hazards are things like:

• vibration
• heat and humidity
• cold and wind
• slippery and/or uneven floor surfaces
• obstructions
• poor lighting.

Psychosocial hazards are things like:

• high job demands, including workload and pace
• low job control
• poor support from supervisors, managers and colleagues.

Introductory workshop

Ready to implement the toolkit in your workplace? We recommend attending an introductory one-hour workshop, which can help you learn:

• more about the toolkit
• how to use it effectively alongside other resources
• how it can benefit your workplace.

Toolkit benefits

By using the APHIRM toolkit you can:

• reduce injuries
• improve staff wellbeing and morale
• improve staff engagement
• reduce absenteeism
• create a safer place to work.

Eligibility

The workshops are designed for Victorian:

• employers, managers and supervisors with OHS responsibilities
• medium and large sized businesses including full-time, part-time and casual employees.

Case study

Watch how Productivity Matters used the APHIRM toolkit to improve food service outcomes and staff wellbeing in Victorian hospitals.

Workshop dates

Note: places for each session are limited and restricted to eligible applicants only.