Use the New Zealand manual handling assessment charts (NZMAC) to help identify high-risk lifting, carrying, and team handling tasks.

It will help you understand the level of risk for the most common risk factors associated with these tasks. It will also help to identify where control measures could be put in place to eliminate or minimise the risks of discomfort, pain, or injury.

Originally developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the United Kingdom, WorkSafe New Zealand has adapted the tool for use in Aotearoa New Zealand. To reflect these changes and to differentiate from the original HSE version, we have called our document The New Zealand manual handling assessment charts (NZMAC). The risk factor categories, descriptions, and scoring system remain largely unchanged from the original tool.

The NZMAC is currently only available in PDF format.

Alternatively, you could use the HSE’s online UK MAC tool(external link)

Development of the NZMAC

For more information on how the manual handling screening tools were developed, read Development of hazardous manual task risk assessment for use in Aotearoa New Zealand