Orchard Manual Handling: Review the Task Before Repeating the Lift

Source checked: 18 September 2026. Victoria. General information; assess the circumstances of the actual work.

When several workers find the same transfer awkward, the problem may be the task layout. A box that must be lifted from ground level, carried around an obstacle and placed above shoulder height creates several opportunities for improvement. Repeating a lifting reminder does not change that route.

Observe one complete cycle

WorkSafe Victoria’s agriculture guidance points to suitable mechanical aids, smaller material sizes, equipment maintenance and arranging work at appropriate heights. Use those principles to observe a complete cycle: where the load starts, how it is gripped, how far it moves and where it finishes. Include the frequency of the task, not just the weight of one item.

Choose a practical change

An operational review might consider changing where containers are staged, shortening the carry, using an appropriate handling aid or altering the work height. Assess the proposed change before introducing it: equipment can bring its own hazards, and access routes must still remain clear. Consult the people who perform the task; they can explain where the difficulty occurs during a busy period.

A hypothetical packing example

A team repeatedly moves empty containers from a low stack to a sorting bench. Moving the supply point closer and providing an assessed, suitable presentation height may remove unnecessary bending and carrying. Before making the arrangement permanent, check stability, access, replenishment and interactions with other workers. An improvement for one workstation should not create an obstruction for the next.

Verify under normal demand

Try the revised arrangement at a representative work pace and ask for feedback. Record defects and assign maintenance responsibility for any aid. Do not use a single kilogram figure as proof that a repetitive task is safe. The aim is a work design that reduces awkward handling and remains usable throughout the shift.

Official guidance and related reading

WorkSafe Victoria guidance. For the wider planning process, see Orchard Tech’s harvest workforce checklist.

About the author

Hari Yellina is Chief Executive Officer at Orchard Tech. His articles cover agricultural workforce planning, labour hire and practical workplace responsibilities.

Featured image: AI-generated illustration of an invented scene; it does not depict an Orchard Tech site or employee.