and other manual tasks

1. WATCH YOUR BACK a guide tolifting and other manual tasks in thehotel*industry

2. Chapter 1: Manual (Handling) Tasks • What are manual tasks? • Commonly known as manual handling, manual tasks are essentially any workplace activity that require the use of force by a person. • Primarily lifting but includes pushing, pulling, grasping, throwing, striking, restraining, lowering, holding etc. • Why do we need this manual tasks guide? • About 50% of workers compensation claims in Queensland relate to what’s called ‘musculoskeletal disorders’ – these are injuries caused by manual task activities at work. • You need to know about this guide if you work in a hotel in Queensland. 

3. Chapter 2: Manual Task Injuries • Are there any Queensland manual task laws? • Yes – there is a legislated health and safety ‘duty of care’ for everyone in the workforce. • There’s a Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2011 which we also have to adhere to. • How are injuries caused while doing a manual task? • By either a sudden trauma such as a direct blow or over-exerting yourself when you’re lifting an object, or • Wear and tear over a long period of time when you’re doing the same thing all the time.

4. Chapter 2: Injuries continued….. • What sort of injuries are normally caused? • Some of the more common injuries sustained are ligament sprain, muscle strain, herniated disc, hernia and soft tissue injury. • Injuries to the back, shoulders and wrists are the most frequent. • The spine is strong but quite vulnerable to different forces. • Refer to the guide (pages 6 – 11) for more detail. Wrong way! I’m using my back instead of my legs • What sort of activities can cause these injuries? • Load handling: frequent or repetitive lifting, or lifting too quickly specially loads that are too heavy for you. • Awkward body positions including over-reaching or twisting the body. • Lifting loads too far away from the body. • Bending over and using your back instead of your legs. 

5. Chapter 2: Injuries continued….. • How do you prevent getting injured when doing a manual task? • Use mechanical aids like trolleys, pallet jacks and carts • Use other workmates to help you (a team lift). • Keep the correct posture by using the natural curves of the spine. • Keep your back straight and lift with the legs. • Don’t try and lift too much. Using a trolley is the way to go! Legs bent back straight Keep the load close to the body   

6. Chapter 3: Hazards in Hotels • What are the main manual task hazards in a hotel? • Young persons – especially young casual staff as there is a tendency for less ‘ownership’ of a workplace and sometimes this, combined with a lack of maturity, reduces the capacity of their antennae to detect ‘danger’. • Stacking above shoulder height – a very frequent practice, especially with cartons in cool rooms or in storage. This results in an ‘unnatural’ twisting or bending of the back, or over-reaching which can cause injury. • Use a ladder to access or just stop the practice or paint a line around the store room and don’t allow stacking above that height. No worries mate ten feet tall and bulletproof! I think I need a ladder? Too high   

7. Chapter 3: Hazards continued…. • Moving kegs or cartons – a 50 litre keg weighs more than 65 kilos so they’re heavy and awkward: • Never lift a full keg on your own – a keg trolley or a keg lifter is preferred. • Use other people to help you lift kegs i.e. team lifting. • Rolling kegs along on their bottom edge or on their side is acceptable. • Avoid double stacking without assistance (mechanical). • Use a trolley to move cartons – don’t overload. • Use your legs when lifting cartons, not your back Don’t double stack Rolling along is O.K. Single lift – no!   

8. Chapter 3 – Hazards continued…. • Behind the bar – when you’re carrying trays of glasses keep them close into your body. • Avoid twisting or turning your back when reaching below or behind the bar for glasses or other products. • Be careful when reaching up to dispense spirits from raised nip pourers. • In the kitchen – avoid standing for long periods working at benches or sinks that are too low. • The recommended height for a bench is just below elbow level. • A spring loaded plate dispenser mitigates having to carry large quantities. • Use trolleys or carts to carry filled heavy pots or containers Only a few at a time

9. Chapter 3 – Hazards continued…. • Housekeeping – these functions are repetitive, require over-reaching and involve twisting/turning movements. • It is a good idea to ‘warm up’ before starting physical work. • Always use your knees when bed making to support yourself. • Squat or kneel as you clean under tables and difficult places to clean and don’t use your back all the time. • Use a trolley to carry or distribute clean and dirty linen. • Vacuum cleaner ‘backpacks’ are generally recommended. • The office – seating posture and ergonomics are important. • Change your seating position often. • Support your lower back. Posture is important Use your knee for support Kneel beside the bed – don’t use your back

10. Chapter 4 – Risk Management • Risk management – this is a process to follow to identify, assess and manage workplace hazards. The process (SAM method) is: • Spot the hazard – identify the problem manual task(s). • Assess the risk – prioritise the hazard(s). • Make the changes – use the ‘hierarchy of controls’ to fix it: • Eliminate. Remove the hazard entirely. • Substitute. Replace the hazard or change for a lower risk option? • Isolate. Stop access to the hazard. • Engineer. Physical solution such as using mechanical means. • Administrative solution. Implement training or introduce a procedure. • Personal Protective Clothing i.e. steel capped boots – as a last resort. • Solutions to fix it include: • Purchase better designed equipment, change the load size, use trolleys or jacks, lower storage heights, team lifting, changing work postures, rotate the task, maintain workplace equipment or employment screening.

11. Chapter 5 – Mechanical Aids • Mechanical aids (trolleys, pallet jacks and carts) are used to help minimise your exposure to manual task risks. • Assess the load – is the mechanical aid suited to the tasks? • Mechanical aids – need to be light and kept close to where work is done. • Training – workers need to know the correct way of operating the device. • Maintenance – mechanical aids must be well maintained.

12. Chapter 6 – Lifting & Moving Techniques • Training – lifting is the most common example of incorrect technique. • Training staff in proper lifting techniques should be considered in conjunction with other options. • SINGLE PERSON LIFT • Assess the load • Where is the load going? • Do you need help? • Is there a clear path? • What is the best way to lift the load? • Do I need to rest during the lift? • Don’t overdo it! 

13. Chapter 6 – Lifting Continued…. • Keep the load close to your body (and waist). • Heaviest side to the body and move your feet for balance. • Keep your back straight – bend at the knees. • A straight back keeps the spine in its neutral position. • Keep a firm hold on the load – hug it close to the body. • Turn with your feet and not with your hips. • Your shoulders in the same direction as your hips. • Look up and ahead when you are travelling. • You need to see where you are going. • Keep a straight back when placing the load down. • Bending the knees again. Keep it close to the body  No twisting!

14. Chapter 6 – Lifting Continued…. • Team lifting – is essentially an extension of individual lifting, but you have assistance from one or more persons. • Team lifting is a solution if you don’t have suitable mechanical means. • Use a team lift if the load is awkward in shape, or • The load is large but not necessarily heavy, or • The load will obscure your vision when carrying it. • You need to make an assessment: • Pick someone of similar height. • Pick a male if you can (males are physically stronger). • Avoid very young or very old people. • Injuries can occur if – the load is not distributed evenly, the lifters don’t coordinate the lift or only one person bears all the weight.

15. Chapter 6 – Lifting Continued…. • To complete a team lift: • Communicate when lifting and carrying the load • You must have adequate numbers for the load. • Ensure there is enough room for all the lifters. • Someone should be in control and pace yourselves. • Apply the single lift procedure (for team lifting). • Pushing v Pulling • The three parts to this are starting the load in motion, sustaining it and stopping – it’s the starting that’s the most difficult. • It is better to push than pull as it involves less lower back work. • Individual circumstances can also dictate what you do. Pushing too high and upright  

16. Chapter 7 – Warm Up Exercises • Simple stretches can aid reducing the risk of injury • The following set of exercises are a guide only(refer to the handbook pages 28 – 29 for more information).

17. Chapter 7 – Warm Up Continued….