You have started a new job as a storeperson at Lakeside Events, a small company that hires out equipment (tables, marquees, speakers and lighting). On your first day, your supervisor gives you an excerpt from the workplace procedure titled “Manual Handling and Equipment Movement (Excerpt)”.
Manual Handling and Equipment Movement (Excerpt)
Purpose: Reduce injuries and damage when moving equipment.
Who this applies to: All staff and contractors moving items in the warehouse or at event sites.
Key terms
- Load: Any item being lifted, carried, pushed or pulled.
- Team lift: Two people lifting the same item at the same time, following one person’s instructions.
- Trolley: Any wheeled aid (flatbed trolley, hand truck, or pallet jack).
Step-by-step procedure
1. Check the load label for the item’s weight and handling notes.
2. Plan the path: remove trip hazards; check doorways and ramps.
3. Use a trolley when the load is bulky, awkward, or when you must move it more than 10 metres.
4. If you must lift, use safe lifting technique: stable stance, bend knees, keep load close, avoid twisting.
5. Team lift required when:
- the load is over 18 kg, or
- the item is long/awkward (over 1.2 m), or
- you cannot see over/around the load while moving.
6. Do not lift above shoulder height. If storage is above shoulder height, use a step platform and move items in smaller parts.
7. If pain or strain occurs, stop immediately and report to your supervisor.
Equipment label examples
- “Folding table: 14 kg. Carry close to body. Avoid twisting.”
- “Speaker: 22 kg. Team lift recommended.”
- “Marquee leg bag: 19 kg. Team lift required. Do not stack above shoulder height.”
Warehouse notes
- The main roller door is flat.
- The side entrance has a ramp and is marked: “Ramp gradient 1:10. Keep left.”
- Aisle 3 is narrow (one trolley wide).
A worker needs to move a speaker (22 kg) from near the main roller door to a storage spot 15 metres away in Aisle 3. They say: “I can carry it myself because I’m strong, and it’s quicker than getting a trolley.”
Using the procedure, explain two reasons why this plan does not follow the workplace requirements.
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Create Free Account Log inThis is a free VCE Units 3 & 4 VM Literacy practice question worth 4 marks, testing your understanding of Key elements of complex texts. It falls under Accessing and understanding informational, organisational and procedural texts in Unit 3: VM Literacy Unit 3. Submit your answer above to receive instant AI-powered marking and personalised feedback.
In Unit 3 of VM Literacy students work through the areas of study 'Accessing and understanding informational, organisational and procedural texts' and 'Creating and responding to organisational, informational or procedural texts'.
In this area of study students will become familiar with and develop confidence in understanding and accessing texts of an informational, organisational or procedural nature. These texts should reflect real-life situations encountered by students and be representative of the sorts of texts students will encounter in a vocational setting or workplace, or for their health and participation in the community. Students will learn to recognise, analyse and evaluate the structures and semantic elements of informational, organisational and procedural texts as well as discuss and analyse their purpose and audience. Students will develop their confidence to deal with a range of technical content that they will encounter throughout adulthood, such as safety reports, public health initiatives, tax forms and advice, contracts, promotional videos and vocational and workplace texts.
key elements of specific complex texts
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