The HSA published a Guide to Manual Handling Risk Assessment in the Hospitality Sector. The guide, which has been prepared in consultation with the Irish Hotels Federation and the Vintners Federation of Ireland, discusses prevention by avoidance and/or reducing manual handling tasks and then explains what is involved in manual handling risk assessment.
A vast number of manual handling tasks are carried out in the hospitality sector, some of which constitute hazardous manual handling for example turning mattresses, moving furniture such as trestle tables, beds etc, handling kegs, bottle bins, customers suitcases. Frequently these tasks are made more hazardous by the constraints of the work environment e.g. old buildings, heavy antique furniture, lack of space for trolleys/ lifts etc.
As approximately one third of all reportable accidents year on year are due to manual handling activities this document should provide effective guidance to this sector on reducing injuries associated with manual handling.
For further information see www.hsa.ie, a free download of the document is available in the publications section.