Sprains and Strains
Mopping, washing dishes, clearing tables, and emptying garbage can all expose restaurant workers to strains and sprains. These tasks usually involve repetitive reaching, overreaching, and lifting. This can cause neck and back strains and sprains, especially if performing these tasks with awkward postures.
Possible Solutions
You can take the following precautions to help prevent strains and sprains while washing dishes:
- Place an object such as a plastic basin in the bottom of the sink to raise the surface up while washing items.
- Rearrange work spaces, so it is easier to reach for supplies used continuously and to prevent over-reaching and awkward back, shoulder, and wrist postures.
- Reduce overhead reaching; try to keep reaches at chest to waist level.
- Don't overload dish racks.
- Rack heavier items, such as plates, closest to you.
- Empty and sort cutlery bins before they are full.
- When heavy-duty cleaning, use tools with good grips.
- Vary your activities to space out repetitive tasks.
- Vary your technique to use different muscle groups; alternate between left and right hands.
Safe Work Practices
Provide carts to put dirty dishes on, rather than having workers carry them.
Your employer can implement the following safe work practices to help prevent injuries during table clean-up:
- Use containers to carry dirty dishes. Be careful not to overfill containers.
- Provide small rather than large containers to limit the amount of dirty dishes that can be stacked and carried at one time.
- If space permits, provide carts to put dirty dishes and heavy bussing containers on, rather having workers carry them.
- Choose carts with large wheels that roll easily. This will prevent strain/sprain injuries to employees from pushing or pulling heavy carts.
- If space permits, decrease the distance workers must carry containers. Provide close "stations" to put bussing containers on. They should be located near the serving and clean-up area so the worker does not have to return dirty dishes all the way to the kitchen area.
- Leave outdoor furniture outside at night. This may substantially decrease the amount of lifting required to set up and break down outside eating areas.
- Instruct employees to get help when moving tables and chairs or other heavy objects, rather than lifting alone.
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2-3. What precautions can you take to prevent strains and sprains while washing dishes?
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