*

a guide to lifting

and

other manual

tasks

in the hotel* industry

developed for small business by the

queensland

hotels association

funded by

the

dep

artm

en

t

of

justi

ce

an

d

att

orn

ey-

gen

era

l

workplace health

and safety

Queensland

UPDATED: 2016

Page 1 of 29

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

MANUAL TASKS: SOUNDS SPANISH TO ME?

I’ve heard of manual handling but what’s a manual task? 3

So, why do we need to know about this in the hotel industry? 4

Are there any laws in Queensland about manual tasks? 4

Chapter 2

MANUAL TASK RELATED INJURIES: HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU AND YOUR BODY

How are injuries caused when you carry out a manual task? 6

This is the serious stuff: what can be injured? 6

Muscles are like rubber bands 7

Your back is strong but vulnerable 7

Forces on the spine 8

What sort of stuff can cause this type of injury? 9

How to prevent or stop getting injured 10

What’s the impact of a manual task related injury? 10

Chapter 3

WHAT ARE THE MANUAL TASK HAZARDS IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY?

Young persons 12

Stacking above shoulder height 12

Moving kegs and cartons 13

Behind the bar 14

In the kitchen 15

Housekeeping 17

Page 2 of 29

The office 18

Chapter 4

HOW DO WE ACTUALLY MANAGE THESE RISKS

Risk management 21

Spot the hazard 21

Assess the risk 21

Make the changes 21

Things we can do to fix it: in order of preference 22

Chapter 5

MECHANICAL AIDS TO HELP YOU LIFT AND MOVE

Trolleys, pallet jacks and carts 23

Chapter 6

LIFTING TECHNIQUES: LET’S DO IT PROPERLY

Training 24

Single person lifting technique 24

Team lifting 26

Pushing v pulling 27

Chapter 7

EXERCISES TO HELP YOU WARM UP

Stretching 28

The Queensland Hotels Association is the peak industry body for hotels in Queensland.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is the prime government health and safety

authority in Queensland and a Division of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

Page 3 of 29

Chapter 1

MANUAL TASKS: SOUNDS SPANISH TO ME?

I’ve heard of manual handling but what’s a manual task?

Well, it’s not actually Spanish – that’s Manuel. ‘Manual tasks’ is better

known as manual handling. This was the common term for lifting,

moving, carrying, pushing and pulling things by applying force. The

term has been changed in Queensland to recognise that there’s a

wider definition that includes a whole range of tasks, not just

‘handling’, which sounds a little restrictive.

Many of you will relate the old manual handling term with lifting

things that could result in potentially hurting your back. This is

probably the most common association but there’s certainly a lot

more to it than that. However; back injuries are pretty common,

sometimes serious and they generally take quite a while to get over.

Lifting things incorrectly can often be the cause. But ‘lifting things’ is

only one small part of this.

There is an official definition of manual tasks – it goes like this:

‘Manual tasks are workplace activities that require

the use of force exerted by a person to grasp,

manipulate, strike, throw, carry, move (lift, lower,

push, pull) hold or restrain an object, load or body

part’. That covers just about everything you can

think of?

What that basically means is that any task that involves physical

activity by anyone would be classed in this category. In fact, when

you relate this meaning to everyday life you are actually ‘doing’ a

manual task hundreds of times a day. So, when you are behind the

bar pulling a beer, or bending down and taking a can from the fridge,

or struggling with a full beer keg……you are carrying out a manual

task. I guess that even as you click your mouse as you read this

guide there is an ‘exertion of force’ occurring, however slight.

In fact, administrative staff sometimes sustain injuries to their hands,

wrists, back, neck or elbows while working at their computers,

Page 4 of 29

generally over long periods of time. This can be due to poor posture,

incorrect seating height, bad design (it’s called ergonomics) and the

like. This is ‘part and parcel’ of manual tasks.

So, why do we need to know about this in the hotel industry? I guess we all know that manual tasks can cause injuries if you don’t

do it the right way. What you probably don’t know is the extent of it.

About 50% of all workers compensation claims in the hotel industry in

Queensland are manual task related. Now, that’s a lot of injuries to

persons working within our industry and a lot of lost time and money

as well.

Most of it is about strains and sprains: we call it ‘musculoskeletal

disorders’. You can obviously determine what it’s all about by just

interpreting the word, which loosely means ‘muscles and bones’, and

the term encompasses joints, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, nerves

and tissue.

Disorders that affect the musculoskeletal system

cause pain or discomfort in the bones, joints,

muscles, etc. They can affect all age groups

potentially causing disability and impairment. These

disorders can be temporary or permanent,

widespread or localised to a certain part of the

body.

You’re reading this guide now because the government, business,

employers, and employees want us to reduce the injury rate in our

industry. The purpose of developing the guide is to help people

understand how these injuries are caused and how to prevent them

occurring.

What you need to do is take it all in, learn from it and hopefully

implement the stuff that is of relevance to you.

Are there any laws in Queensland about manual tasks? There are laws in Queensland that are applicable to manual tasks.

Essentially, the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 is in force to

Page 5 of 29

provide protection to all parties against death, injury or illness in the

workplace; and likewise by work-related activities. It’s all about

preventing, reducing or minimising the risk to workers and others.

There is a ‘duty of care’ on all duty holders, whether

employers or employees, who are legally required

to ensure the health and safety of all concerned. In

a hotel context it covers everybody from the

licensee, to the manager, bar managers, venue

managers, supervisors, bar staff, restaurant staff,

yardman etc.

There is also a Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2011 – this

was developed by Safe Work Australia for Workplace Health and

Safety Queensland, the statutory body that oversees health and

safety in the State. In effect, this code has the force of law and

provides ‘official’ guidance. The code underpins the correct way of

doing things and contains all the good technical gear.

Using a

trolley

is the

way to

go!

Page 6 of 29

Chapter 2

MANUAL TASK RELATED INJURIES: HOW THIS

AFFECTS YOU AND YOUR BODY

How are injuries caused when you carry out a manual task? The thing about manual tasks is that an injury can generally be

caused in either one of two ways:

By a sudden trauma such as a direct blow on a limb or the body

when you’re lifting or moving something, or over-exerting yourself

when you’re lifting a load that is beyond your capabilities – maybe

you’re just using the wrong technique; or

Wear and tear over a long period of time on

certain joints or body parts when you’re doing

the same thing all the time – like a lower back

injury caused by unloading beer cartons in a

certain way, every day.

Actually, it is usually the second one of those that is the most

common. A well known example is ‘tennis elbow’, which is in fact a

repetitive strain injury that tennis players frequently get but you can

pick it up over time doing any sort of recurrent physical activity or

work.

This is the serious stuff: what can be injured?

Ligament sprain: A sprain is an injury to a ligament. A ligament is

the thick, tough, fibrous tissue that connects bones together.

Commonly injured ligaments are in the ankle, knee, and wrist, and

can be injured by being stretched too far from their normal position.

Muscle strain: A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. When a

muscle contracts it pulls on a tendon, which is in turn connected to

your bone. Muscles are made to stretch, but if stretched too far can

cause a strain.

Herniated or bulging disc: Discs can rupture, especially when

operating under pressure, causing the centre to break through the

wall of the disc and place pressure on the nerves that branch out

disc conditions

Page 7 of 29

from the spinal cord. This results in a herniated disc which causes

back or neck pain – it’s often called a ‘slipped disc’ or a ‘pinched

nerve’.

Hernia: This is the rupture of some part of the abdominal wall, which

enables an organ to protrude through the wall caused by a sudden lift

or effort.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A painful disorder of the hand caused by

pressure on the main nerve that runs through the wrist.

Muscles are like rubber bands The muscles you use when carrying out a manual task are those in

our arms, hands, legs and the core of our body (the lower back and

abdomen). Most muscles work in pairs, one contracts while the other

relaxes. This results in movement. Your muscles are like bundles of

fine, elastic ‘rubber bands’. They have their own blood supply and are

therefore capable of letting us know when an injury has occurred and

can heal themselves. This sort of injury is commonly known as a soft

tissue injury.

You can put a fair bit of strain on muscles during

the course of normal daily activities, with sudden,

quick heavy lifting, or even just routine and

repetitive manual work.

Static Muscle Work: Static muscle work involves a muscle in constant contraction

without producing any movement. Examples of this include holding a load away from

the body or standing in one place operating a foot pedal. Static muscle work cannot be

maintained for long periods. Excessive static muscle work repeated frequently over

long periods can contribute to joint, ligament and tendon deterioration.

Dynamic Muscle Work: Dynamic muscle work involves muscles contracting and

relaxing. For example, turning a wheel or repetitively pulling a beer tap. Dynamic

muscle work, in contrast to static muscle work, enables a fresh supply of blood and

oxygen to reach the muscle tissues and can be performed over a long period without

muscle fatigue occurring.

Your back is strong but vulnerable

The spine is a strong and flexible column of 33 vertebrae bones. The

spine is not only the main support column for your body; it is also the

protective structure for your body’s main communications channel –

strained muscle

Page 8 of 29

the spinal cord.

The spine is curved and in profile looks like an elongated letter ‘S’ in

shape. The S shape of the spine:

Absorbs energy and protects the spinal cord against impact;

Helps maintain balance in the upright position; and

Absorbs shocks when a person walks.

The discs between each vertebra are essentially the

spine’s shock absorbers, giving toughness to the

spinal column as well as flexibility. When a body is

standing up straight, the various parts of the disc

are under the same amount of pressure. However;

when the spine is flexed, extended or bent over,

one part of the disc is under increased compression

whilst another part is under tension. Damage to

these discs tends to occur over time.

Forces on the spine

Each spinal segment is subject to different loads and forces including

loads from the weights being handled. The pattern of any injury to

the spine is directly related to the amount of force present at the time

of injury. It is therefore important to understand these forces and the

types of injury that results. There are four types of forces acting on a

spinal column.

Compression: A downward force that when applied on the vertebrae compresses the

discs and causes them to bulge out from under the vertebrae. An example of this could

be where you are carrying a beer carton on your shoulder down a flight of stairs, and

for some reason you trip and miss a stair. The heavy landing will send a shockwave up

from your feet and another down your spine from the weight on your shoulder. Where

the shockwaves meet along the spine, the disc(s) in that region become compressed.

Tension: Tension pulls apart the vertebrae on one side of the disc whilst compressing

the other. This is commonly seen in the workplace when you bend over to reach for

something, say under a counter to grab a glass tray or reach up to grab an item off a

high shelf. Low back pain can be experienced with this type of injury.

Shear: This involves the application of force parallel to the vertebrae. On bending

forward, there can be a tendency for the vertebra to slide forwards on the one below.

Shear forces are most commonly experienced in the lower back region. This type of

S shape of the spine

Page 9 of 29

injury is normally associated with a person experiencing trauma.

Torsion: The twisting movement of the spine can place high levels of strain on

surrounding ligaments and muscles. This could lead to a soft tissue injury. This

movement could also lead to a degeneration of the discs due to wear and tear. This is

commonly seen in the workplace when you twist around to grab something from

behind you.

When you’re carrying out a manual task a combination of

compression, torsion, tension and shear forces can occur during the

whole action.

What sort of stuff can cause this type of injury? The back, shoulders and wrists are the most frequently injured parts

of the body. Some of the common work-related activities that can

cause musculoskeletal injury include:

Load handling – frequent and repetitive

lifting with a bent or twisted back;

Lifting quickly or pushing/pulling heavy

loads;

Lifting loads that are too heavy for you;

Static working positions with the back bent,

or continuous and sustained sitting or

standing;

Awkward working positions including

overreaching to grab items on high shelves;

and

The twisting of the body to grab items from

behind.

Repeated or sustained exertions including gripping

either with or without force;

Static postures involving the neck, shoulders and

arms while lifting or carrying heavy loads;

Lifting loads away from the body;

A sudden jarring of the muscles and joints; and

Lifting loads beyond your capacity.

Uppe

r

body

and

limbs

B

a

c

k

Wrong

way!

I’m

using

my

back

instead

of my

legs

Page 10 of 29

Squatting or kneeling for long periods of time;

Sudden jarring of the muscles and joints; and

Again, lifting loads beyond your capacity.

How to prevent or stop getting injured There are plenty of things you can do to prevent being injured. When

you think about it, a lot of this is ‘commonsense’.

Organise the work area to reduce bending, twisting and stretching;

Use mechanical aids like trolleys and carts;

Use other people to help you lift heavy things (team lift);

Warm up cold muscles before starting any manual work;

Lift and carry heavy loads properly, by keeping

the load close to the body and lifting with the legs

– not the back;

Don’t try to lift too much – this is very common

practice;

Keep a correct posture using the natural curves of

the spine;

Take frequent breaks and rest – warm up again if you take an

extended break; and

Keep fit and maintain a good weight.

What’s the impact of a manual task related injury? Musculoskeletal injuries can have a negative impact on both the

person and the workplace. For the individual (and dependent upon

the severity of the injury) it can result in:

Lost income and possible loss of employment;

Reduced performance;

Disruption to family life, social and recreational activities;

Increased and ongoing medical expenses;

Ongoing pain and discomfort associated with the injury; and

Psychological and emotional stress.

Lo

w

er

li

m

bs

That’s

better!

Legs

bent

back

straight

Keep

the load

close to

the

body

Page 11 of 29

For the workplace the impact could be:

Lost productivity;

Increased training costs;

Increased staffing costs e.g. labour hire;

Increased WorkCover premiums;

Increased absenteeism; and

Potential breakdown of teams and individual relationships.

To reduce this risk, young persons in particular

need a thorough induction when they start their

employment to highlight manual task dangers and

other health and safety hazards they will find in the

workplace. Ongoing training is recommended.

Hopefull

y I’ve

got a

license

to drive

this

thing?

Wrong

techniq

ue

again?

Page 12 of 29

Chapter 3

WHAT ARE THE MAIN MANUAL TASK HAZARDS IN

THE HOTEL INDUSTRY?

Young persons

Probably the biggest potential manual task hazard in

the hotel industry is actually young casual staff. The

reality is that young casuals are more prone to this

type of injury than anyone else. That’s due to a

number of factors. The casualisation of the

workforce means that there is generally a higher

staff turnover rate. As a consequence, casual staff

have less ‘ownership’ of a workplace than

permanent staff members and may be less

motivated to stick to formal procedures, or in fact to

undertake training. There is also sometimes a reluctance to

train casuals due to the repetitive costs involved as staff regularly

changes.

The maturity factor is also an influence with young persons, especially

young males, who sometimes see themselves as ‘bulletproof’. As a

result, they may not give the necessary thought into how they carry

out a particular function. For example, a more experienced staff

member may think twice about lifting a heavy load, either obtaining

assistance or perhaps using a trolley or other mechanical aid. A

younger inexperienced staff member may not – a ‘no worries, she’ll be

right’ attitude.

Stacking above shoulder height Working in a hotel environment will generally involve some form of

lifting or moving stock, or stacking chairs, or carrying trays of glasses

or plates etc. One of the most common hazards in a hotel is stacking,

loading or retrieving cartons either in a cellar, cold room, storage area

or bottleshop floor. Frequently, cartons are required to be stacked on

shelves or on the floor for display or storage purposes. It has been a

relatively common practice amongst hotels to stack cartons above

I think I

need a

ladder?

No

worries

mate

ten feet

tall and

bulletpr

oof!

Hey,

that’s a

bit

easier

Page 13 of 29

shoulder height on the floor. Fortunately, this practice is disappearing

as hoteliers and staff become more aware of appropriate manual task

standards. Stacking cartons above shoulder height is not

recommended. When reaching above shoulder height, the back is

usually arched and there is some degree of unnatural bending and

twisting involved, which makes the load difficult to control and

increases the risk of injury.

There are ways to prevent or discourage staff from stacking over the

proper height. Paint a line or attach some tape around the storeroom

or cold room wall at an average shoulder height and restrict them

from stacking above it. If you have to stack above that height,

perhaps to reach up to shelves, use steps or a ladder (with rubber feet

especially if there is any condensation about). It is a lot better if you

can transfer the heavier items to more accessible mid-level shelving

so you don’t have to overreach.

Moving kegs and cartons

Cellars and cool rooms are always areas that contain

potential hazards. They are frequently restrictive in

size and sometimes have very low ceilings. This can

mean there is often little room to move and stock

can be stacked higher than at an acceptable level.

Most cool rooms are wet under foot with condensation on walls and

floor. Many cellars are also used as storage areas, so there are lots of

things that you can trip over, bump into or hurt yourself on. Not all

cellars have decent lighting and many of the floors are old and

uneven. This is where you’ll generally find the keg room, cool room or

an area where the kegs are stored.

Kegs are always an issue, especially when you’re dealing with the full

ones. They are very heavy and because of their size and shape, quite

awkward. A 50 litre aluminium keg weighs in excess of 65 kilos. Never

lift a full keg on your own. Team lifts are OK if they have to be lifted,

but they shouldn’t really be manually double-stacked unless there is a

mechanical means available i.e. keg lifter. For moving over short

distances, it is common practice to tilt them on an angle and roll the

keg along on the bottom edge. This allows the weight to remain on

the ground via this edge. It’s just a matter of keeping the right

Too

high

Single

lift –

no!

Don’t

double

stack

Page 14 of 29

balance as you roll the keg along. This is an acceptable and practical

solution for moving a keg. You just have to watch out that you don’t

lose control of the keg or over-twist and cause yourself an injury.

Rolling a keg along on its side is really a thing of the past, unless you

are using a slide in a controlled roll down into a cellar.

Best case scenario for all keg movements is to use a

trolley, keg lifter or pallet jack. There are many

types of keg trolleys on the market. Probably the

best is the combined trolley and lifter variety. It is

standard practice for breweries to use a mechanical

means to unload kegs from a delivery truck. That

means that it is unlikely in this day and age for hotel staff to have to

lift kegs off the back of trucks. It’s a similar situation with cartons –

both are generally palletised. To reduce the need to double stack kegs

in the cold room it could be more practical to alter delivery

arrangements with more frequent drop-offs that would reduce the

need to store larger quantities.

It’s the same process with cartons as it is with kegs. Don’t over-stack

them and if possible, keep the cartons loaded on pallets to prevent

double handling and repetitive lifting. If you work in a bottleshop there

is no avoiding having to lift beer cartons. When you do lift, only carry

the number of cartons that are comfortable for your body type and

bend your knees, not your back. Always use a trolley or other

mechanical aid if available for quantities.

When using trolleys take into account:

Make sure trolleys with tube tyres are properly inflated;

Don’t overload the trolley – it can either be too heavy to control or

you can’t see where you’re going;

Be careful when rolling over uneven surfaces or pushing up slopes;

and

It’s better to push a trolley than to pull it along.

Behind the bar Pumping beer from the taps is a repetitious task; however, there are

few reports of it causing strain injury. If there are any concerns it may

Too

many

cartons

It’s

bending

those

knees

again

Yes,

yes,

yes!

Page 15 of 29

be better to alternate hands in order to reduce the load on your

dominant one.

Inserting or taking out trays of glasses from a fridge

or from a glass washing machine can sometimes be

difficult. It’s a task that requires frequent bending

and the use of your back, especially if below knee

height. Dependent under the circumstances, the

load can sometimes be situated away from your

body as you carry out this manoeuvre. Keep the load as

close to your body as possible and bend the knees, not the back.

Repetitively twisting around behind you, like reaching into fridges, can

also be an issue.

Traditionally, spirit bottles are located over the bar either at the front

or rear of the bar area. They are often found attached to shelves at

above shoulder height to assist nip dispensing operations. Having the

spirit bottles above the bar allows for more space behind the bar.

Unfortunately, it means staff (especially those of smaller stature) can

be constantly reaching above shoulder height to fill spirit glasses. It’s

probably not the weight of the glass that’s an issue, just the potential

overreaching. In recent years it is becoming more common to use

freestanding measured nip pourers, which means that spirit bottles

can be kept behind the bar in a more accessible position. Repetitive

overreaching and twisting or turning is not a recommended practice.

Picking up empty glasses from around a bar is better done by using a

tray, not stacking them all the way up your arm. Make sure you keep

the tray close into your body. Don’t try to hold it above your shoulder

or head as you move around a bar that’s crowded. You should either

move sideways using your elbows to lead, or don’t use the tray, just

pick up a few glasses at a time.

In the kitchen In the kitchen (or sometimes behind the bar), the risk of injury

increases as loads are held further away from the core of the body.

This is most evident when employees reach into display fridges, ovens

or dishwashers while cleaning or accessing food or drink. Bending

forward to pick up loads from a low level may also cause strains,

Right

height

for a

little

bloke!

Way to

go!

Mmmm

mm!

Page 16 of 29

particularly to the lower back. Review where items are stored in the

pantry – ideally, the heavier items should be accessible between knee

and chest height.

When you’re working at benches or sinks for long periods of time,

awkward and static postures can become hazardous especially if the

working heights are not at the right level. Deep sinks can be a

problem if the bench is situated too low: it means you are bending

over the whole time. You can place a pot or similar item in the bottom

of the sink to bring the work area up a bit to lessen the bending.

Probably the best work bench height is just below elbow level. When

working at benches:

You should be able to stand upright in a comfortable position;

Only slight neck bending should occur and regular position changes

and stretching are recommended;

If practical, work equipment and product needs to be accessed

within arms reach to avoid twisting or stretching;

Use a foot rail or footrest to shift body weight from one leg to the

other. This can help to relieve lower backache if you’re standing for

long periods; and

There is a product called anti-fatigue matting which is designed to

reduce pressures and strains caused by standing or sitting in one

position over time.

Carrying large numbers of plates and crockery can

also be risky as they can be heavy, fragile and often

hot. This is especially so for persons with a light

frame. A spring-loaded, heated plate dispenser can

eliminate that risk to some extent. When carrying food on

trays place one arm under the tray and the other supporting the tray.

This will lessen the pressure on the wrists and hands.

Pots containing hot liquid or oil are generally heavy and risk spillage

which can cause scalding. Large chemical or detergent containers also

need care as there is a risk of chemical spillage or a burn hazard, in

addition to potential sprain or strain injury. The use of trolleys, carts

and other mechanical aids is recommended. You should slide heavy

pots onto a kitchen trolley if it’s the same height as the bench – less

Only a

few at a

time

Page 17 of 29

risk of injury. Make sure that the mechanical aids are well maintained

(pressure in the tyres, wheels lubricated etc). There are other ways to

reduce the injury risk as well like buying smaller containers, reduce

double handling by having the load directly delivered to the kitchen,

contract out functions like fryer management and oil replacement, or

eliminate the need entirely by doing the task a different way i.e.

commercial pot soaker instead of heavy duty pot washing.

For storage requirements or just to use as rubbish bins, the ‘wheelie

bin’ variety is the best for ease of movement. Don’t overfill them.

Housekeeping Most small trading hotels do not provide accommodation; however,

there are a number that do, especially in regional or rural areas. This

‘housekeeping’ information is essentially for a small accommodation

operation; however, the processes are recommended in any hotel

situation i.e. cleaning, laundry etc. In many cases housekeeping

functions are repetitive, require overreaching and involve twisting and

turning movements. There are ways that you can minimise the risk of

hurting yourself.

It is common practice for housekeeping staff, especially in the larger

establishments, to ‘warm-up’ as a group before starting work. This

allows the body to adapt quicker to the rigours of the type of work

involved and prevent potential muscular injury. A stretching routine is

recommended in all housekeeping situations – in fact, it’s a good idea

before you do any type of physical work.

Bed making: To prevent overreaching when you’re

making a bed, place one knee on the bed to obtain a

more central position. Kneeling, squatting or half

kneeling should be used to tuck in the sheets.

Bed linen: Use a linen trolley (which includes a dirty linen bag) when

changing the sheets or towels. Do not overfill linen trolleys or bags –

linen bags can get quite heavy especially when they’re full of wet

towels.

Laundry: When you’re removing laundry from a front loading washing

machine put the laundry basket directly under the door and squat or

Use

your

knee for

support

Kneel

beside

the bed

– don’t

use

your

back

Page 18 of 29

kneel down to reach into it. This action reduces twisting and turning

movements that can impact on your back.

Cleaning: Some cleaning tips to avoid injury include:

Vacuum cleaning – for commercial premises light backpacks are

recommended as they allow your torso to bear the weight in a more

natural manner and reduces the need to twist and turn as you drag

along a floor-based wheeled vacuum cleaner. Keep your body as

upright as possible (straight back) and use your feet positioned

forward and back. Squat or kneel as you vacuum under furniture and

beds.

Mopping the floor – use a wheeled wringer bucket if

possible as it means you can push it around the floor

with your mop and you don’t have to bend down all

the time. Likewise, when you are using the wringer,

a foot operated or downward pressure style is easier

to use. When you’re filling the bucket, it’s better to

use a hose so you don’t have to lift a full bucket

down from the tap. Don’t overreach when you’re mopping, just

use short strokes and squat or kneel when you’re mopping under

furniture.

Sweeping the floor – it’s the same as when you’re mopping under

furniture; squatting or kneeling when you sweep under tables, chairs

or those hard to get at areas will help you to avoid bending and

twisting your back.

General cleaning – when you wipe or polish tables or other flat

surfaces try not to overstretch to reach the centre, just brace yourself

on the furniture as you lean, or go around the other side if at all

possible. Using a long handled duster is a better option than climbing

up a ladder, as long as you don’t have to twist or lean backwards

awkwardly. Make sure you squat or kneel when cleaning shower

cubicles or toilets.

The office Office–based work, where you are generally seated and there’s a low

level of physical activity, can be detrimental to your musculoskeletal

Knees

again

Use a

long

handled

attachm

ent

Page 19 of 29

system, as indeed can lifting, pushing and pulling. Static muscle

loading occurs when the muscles are held in the one position for long

periods in a state of contraction, for instance if you are sitting in one

position for a long period of time. In this situation the muscles have

no chance to relax to allow blood flow to provide oxygen and remove

wastes from the tissues. Long term effects can include damage to the

musculoskeletal system. Static loads are associated with arthritis,

inflammation of tendons, degeneration of joints, muscle spasms and

disc problems.

The correct design of workplaces and equipment can improve the

stress on the body, reducing the risk of injury and chronic pain. For

instance, poorly designed chairs that can’t be adjusted provide little

back support and can cause employees to adopt poor postures and

movements.

Workstations that can’t be adjusted can result in unnecessary

reaching, bending and exertion of force. The correct placement of

furniture in a work area can prevent staff from twisting or reaching

objects that may cause problems. Standing up and moving to a

position within easy reach of an object is preferable to overstretching.

Proper shelving at the right height is also preferable. Avoid storing

frequently used items near floor level or above shoulder height.

Sitting for too long in any chair will lead to fatigue

and stress on the spinal column. Change your seated

position frequently and get up and about on a

regular basis. A chair needs to maintain the curves

of the spine by providing adequate support to the

lower back. The backrest should be sufficiently padded and

contoured to fit and support the small of the back, and needs to be

adjustable. The recommended seat height is having both feet on the

floor with your knees at an equal level as your hips.

The height of a desk can be important as well. Modern computer

friendly desks are generally set at the right height to use a computer

with an adjustable chair, or even an adjustable keyboard tray. The

older style desks aren’t. You need to be comfortable with relaxed

shoulders, arms parallel to the ground with straight wrists and hands.

Posture

is

importa

nt

Page 20 of 29

The computer screen should be centred directly in

front of you at arm’s length. The top of the screen

should be about 5-7cms above eye level. The

position of the screen may vary for those people

who wear glasses.

Was that 10 or 11

pots?

Rollin’

……

Rollin’

……

Rollin’

……

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Chapter 4

HOW DO WE ACTUALLY MANAGE THESE RISKS?

Risk management

Risk management is a process we follow in order to identify, assess

and manage workplace hazards. A hazard is defined as

something that has the potential to cause us harm

e.g. a work task where a large number of beer

cartons has to be moved from the storeroom to the

bottleshop – it could be a potential hazard if there

was no trolley available. We recommend using the S.A.M

method to manage the risk.

Spot the hazard Identify the problem manual task issues which are likely to, or have

caused injury. Employers should generally do this in consultation with

employees. Workers who are actually doing a particular job are

usually very aware of the risks attached, and will often have good

ideas for solving the issue. They also intimately know the workplace.

Assess the risk In the 2nd part of the process, we are looking at ranking the hazards

we’ve identified in order of the greatest risk posed to our health and

safety. Sometimes these are hazards which early action is required,

for instance, it might be a minor issue that has suddenly developed

into a significant hazard for various reasons. There are different ways

of assessing hazards – one of the most common is by inspecting the

workplace, examining the manual tasks, equipment and processes.

This can be done by using checklists and the like.

Make the changes Once we have assessed the manual task hazards and found our top

priorities, we now need to fix them. We can use what’s called the

‘hierarchy of controls’ to help us work out how we are going to fix the

problem. The hierarchy of controls includes a number of ‘fixes’

including:

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1. Elimination – can we remove the manual task hazard or do away

with it entirely?

2. Substitution – can it be changed for something safer? e.g. can a

large load be substituted by many smaller loads?

3. Engineering or isolation – is their an ‘engineering’ solution for the

problem? e.g. use a mechanical aid (a trolley for instance) when

moving a large load?

4. Administration – training is always a good option, in this case to

show staff how to lift or move items safely.

5. Protective clothing – what protective equipment is suitable for staff

to use? e.g. steel capped boots for heavy lifting tasks.

By following this simple process, we are able to

minimise our exposure to these hazards, and make

sure we meet our obligations to provide a safe and

healthy workplace. There are other solutions to manual task

problems.

Things we can do to fix it: in order of preference Other things you could do to decrease the risk include:

Purchase better designed equipment

Changing the size of the load

Using trolleys, pallet jacks or carts to move loads

Lowering the storage heights for frequently used items

Team lifting where appropriate

Changing work postures and providing rest breaks

Rotating, sharing, organising or modifying work tasks

Maintain workplace equipment

Employment screening

Better workplace design

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Chapter 5

MECHANICAL AIDS TO HELP YOU LIFT AND MOVE

Trolleys, pallet jacks and carts

Mechanical aids are used to help minimise our exposure to the risks

associated with manual tasks. There are a wide variety of

mechanical aids available on the market, so consideration

must be made as to tasks being undertaken when selecting

and purchasing equipment.

For the worker, once you have assessed the load, the following

considerations must be made when selecting which mechanical aid to

use:

Consider the nature of the load – is the mechanical aid suited to

the task? For example, you’d transport 4 cartons of beer using a

normal wheeled trolley. But you’d transport 24 cartons of beer on

a pallet using a jack if it was practical (one trip, room for the jack

to easily access, trained on the jack).

The mechanical aid should be as light as possible and kept close to

where the work is to be done. Light equipment is easier to use and

staff are more motivated to use it if it’s accessible.

Are you trained in the use of the equipment? Workers need to be

properly trained in the use of a mechanical aid. For instance, you

cannot and should not operate a forklift truck without the proper

training and certification.

Is the mechanical aid in good working order and available for use?

Equipment should be well maintained. Faults should be reported

for fixing as soon as they are discovered.

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Chapter 6

LIFTING TECHNIQUES – LET’S DO IT PROPERLY

Training

Training is just one of many controls we can put in place to minimise

our exposure to the risks associated with manual tasks. This should

be considered after all other options for reducing your exposure to

the risk have been exhausted, or in conjunction with other options.

The critical matter with manual tasks is to do it the

right way. Lifting is the most common example of

incorrect technique and the one that causes the

most problems. It’s about having the right

technique. And here it is:

Single person lifting technique

Assess the load – think before you lift:

Where is the load going to be placed?

Do you need help with the load? Seek assistance from another

person or use a mechanical aid.

Is there a clear path? Remove things you’re potentially likely to

trip over.

Think about the best way of lifting the load.

For a long lift, such as floor to shoulder height - consider resting

the load mid-way on a table or bench in order to change grip.

Don’t overdo it - ensure you don’t lift more than you know you are

capable of handling.

Keep load close to your waist

Minimise the distance between the lower back of the handler and

the centre of gravity of the load during the lift.

Keep the load close to the body for as long as possible.

Have the feet slightly apart with one leg slightly forward to help

maintain balance (alongside the load if it is on the ground).

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Be prepared to move your feet during the lift to maintain a stable

posture.

Keep the heaviest side of the load next to your body.

The distance of the load from the body at waist height is an important

factor in determining the overall load on your spine and back

muscles. The further away from the body the load is, the higher the

potential is for musculoskeletal injury.

Keep the back straight – bend at the knees

Keep the back straight - this will keep the spine in its neutral

position where it is most effective in supporting the body.

Bend your knees not your back when picking up a load.

Don’t flex the spine any further as you lift - this can happen if you

begin to straighten your legs before starting to raise the load.

Keep a firm hold on the load close to the body

Try hugging the load close to the body if possible.

This may be better than gripping it tightly with your

hands. This ensures you have suitable control over

the load.

Move smoothly

Avoid jerking or snatching at the load as this can make it harder to

keep control of the load and can subsequently increase your risk of

injury.

Turn with your feet not with your hips

Keep your shoulders level and facing the same direction as the

hips.

Turning by moving your feet after lifting the object is better than

twisting and lifting at the same time.

Keep your head up when travelling

Look ahead, not down at the load, when you are moving along.

Then you’re able to see where you are going and prepare you for

any sudden changes – like avoiding another person suddenly

coming across your path.

Keep it close to the body

No

twisting

!

Page 26 of 29

Place the load down and then adjust

If the load shifts while you’re carrying it, put it down first, and then

adjust it into the correct position.

Team lifting

Team lifting is essentially an extension of individual

lifting, except you have assistance from one or

more persons to carry the load. Where possible, a

mechanical aid should be used prior to attempting a

team lift. If you don’t have a trolley, pallet jack or cart, a team lift

is the way to go. You’d use a team lift in these circumstances:

The load is awkward in shape.

The load is large in size, even though it may be of a light weight.

The load will obscure your vision when you are carrying it.

The load is of a weight where it will be difficult to carry without

help.

If you establish that it’s better for someone to help you carry the

load, you need to make an assessment on who that would be.

Sometimes you don’t have much of a choice with that, but if you do:

Pick someone of similar height.

Pick a male if you can – whether you like it or not males are

physically stronger than females.

Pick someone who is strong, rather than someone who isn’t.

Avoid very young or very old people.

Remember, when undertaking a team lift, the potential for

musculoskeletal injury still exists. Musculoskeletal injury may occur

during a team lift if:

The load is not distributed evenly,

Workers do not lift at the same time,

Workers adjust their hold when moving along,

A worker hasn’t adjusted their level of exertion to match those of

the others,

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The task involves the load being moved up or down a sloped

surface or stairs which results in one or more workers bearing the

full weight of the load.

To complete a team lift:

Communicate when lifting and carrying the load,

Make sure you have an adequate number of persons to assist in

carrying the load,

Make sure you have enough room for all persons to comfortably lift

and carry the load,

Appoint one person to control the lift,

Apply the Single Person Lifting Procedure for Team Lifting,

Pace yourselves,

Where possible use a mechanical aid for the load.

Planning the lift and having a good hold on the load is particularly

important for team lifting.

Pushing v pulling

There are three parts to pushing and pulling –

starting the load in motion, sustaining it and then

stopping it. The first and last require the most

effort. It is better to push than to pull as it involves less work from

the lower back muscles and you can see where you’re going. With

pushing, it is preferable to have your elbows bent and apply the force

above the waist – for pulling, below the waist.

However, individual circumstances can dictate the best way forward.

For example, a pallet jack is easier to drive and control by pulling it

along; however, it is probably better for you physically to push it.

That’s something for you to make a risk assessment on at the time.

Sometimes basic physics come into play. Think of a rugby scrum

where the maximum effort is exerted as the players are crouched low

and force is applied when they push. It’s the same principle when

pushing a heavy object – go low and hard with a straight back, not

high and soft.

Pushing

too high

and

upright

Page 28 of 29

Chapter 7

EXERCISES TO HELP YOU WARM UP

Stretching

Simple stretches can aid in reducing the risk of

suffering an injury.

The following are examples of stretches that could be undertaken.

Please note that these are only meant as a guide.

Medical advice may be required prior to undertaking any of the below stretches. If any

of the following stretches cause you pain or discomfort, stop the stretch immediately.

Neck stretch. Place your left palm on the right ear and carefully apply slight pressure towards the left shoulder while pushing your head upright. Release and repeat other side.

Shoulder stretch. Take your right arm straight across your chest and curl the left arm around your elbow, gently pulling on the right arm to deepen the stretch in the shoulders.

Switch sides and hold for about 10 seconds.

With arms straight, clasp your fingers in front of you while keeping your back upright. Gently push your hands away from you until you feel a stretch across the back of the shoulders. Hold for about 8-10 seconds.

Triceps stretch. Place your arm above the head and cradle your elbow with a hand. Gently pull elbow down behind the head. Hold for about 10 seconds and then change sides.

Standing side stretch. Place your right hand on your right hip; bend your upper body to the left and hold for several seconds. Bring the body back to the original stance. Repeat on the other side.

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Stand with your feet hip-width apart and firmly planted on the ground. Your hands should be supporting your lower back and keeping your chin to your chest. Gently arch your back. Hold for 15 seconds. Repetitions

Forward bend for lower back and hamstrings. Gentle bend towards your toes but don’t touch them. Bend your knees if you don’t want your hamstrings stretched. Usually need to be fit for this one. Repetitions

Stand with one foot in front of the other. Bend the front leg while keeping the back leg straight – push your back heel to the floor. Bend your forward knee until a comfortable stretch is felt in your back calf. Hold for 15 seconds. Repetitions

Acknowledgements:

Canungra Hotel

Hotel Maleny

Robina Tavern

Logan City Tavern

Clarion Hotel (Mackay)

Central Hotel (Bundaberg)

Trinity Beach Tavern

Bracken Ridge Tavern

Nicholas Lane (QHA)

Stuart Riley (SR Photography)