Day: September 6, 2016

Hospitality Industry: Tips on Preventing Back Injuries

Preventing Back Injuries
Preventing Back Injuries

Hotel staff face many of the same injury risks as warehouse and shipping workers — especially when it comes to the repetitive tasks of moving equipment and supply carts. Proper techniques and ergonomic hospitality industry carts help reduce the risk of back injuries and upper body fatigue.

Here are some tips from Oklahoma State University researchers that hospitality staff should keep in mind when training and managing employees:

Store all items on shelves. Supply closets should always make use of shelving to keep items up off the ground.

Place heavy items in the easy lifting zone. The heaviest items should be placed at waist level to reduce back strain when picking them up. Items close to the floor or above the head should be the lightest weight items.

Bend at the knees. Like a baseball catcher getting into position, workers should squat to pick things up by bending at the knees with the feet at shoulder width.

Get a good grip. Reaching out and grabbing things with the fingertips sends more stress through the upper body than firmly grasping objects with the whole hand.

Face forward. When loading up a cart, workers should face the item being picked up and then turn (not twist) to face the cart.

Use motorized carts. Hotel workers who push or pull supply carts up and down the hallways face back injury risk from long-term, repetitive stress. Hospitality industry carts with motorized operation take this out of the equation.

For help reducing back injuries among employees, follow our blog for materials handling tips and check out DJProducts.com for info about ergonomic hospitality industry carts.

Top Warehouse Hazards and How to Solve Them

Prevent Warehouse Accidents
Prevent Warehouse Accidents

Injuries may seem like just another part of the job at warehouses, but in most cases it doesn’t have to be that way! Proper training, tools, and technique help avoid what the folks at Premier Handling Solutions have identified as some of the top warehouse safety hazards:

• Slips & Falls: Use guardrails and non-slip floor pads. Train workers to know that most warehouse slips don’t happen because of spilled liquid, and they don’t need to be working at height to fall — debris and awkward maneuvering often lead to slips and falls.

• Equipment Danger: Workers get comfortable with their tools, but everyone should remain aware that heavy machinery must be handled carefully. Use button-operated industrial tugs with brakes and other automated equipment that is easy to control.

• Lifting, Reaching, Carrying: Carrying and moving items causes musculoskeletal stress — especially when performed repetitively. Learn proper lifting techniques and design tasks to avoid awkward movements like grabbing heavy items from above shoulder level. Use motorized equipment rather than manual push carts.

• Lack of Safety Protocol: Employees should have tools and knowledge to help deal with fires, hazardous waste, and other emergency situations. Hold meetings regularly and post signs with important info in easy-to-see locations.

These hazards can all be minimized with smart planning, regular training, and tools that reduce the physical risks of warehouse jobs.

Our industrial tugs can be used to move tons of weight, including customized solutions for parts, pallets, lumber, or towing other equipment. Our tuggers and cart pullers are operated with a push of a button — starting, stopping, and maneuvering easily to prevent many of the biggest hazards in the warehouse.

Warehouse Safety Tips Include a Focus on Education and Ergonomics

Proper Ergonomics can Keep Your Employees Safe, Healthy and Happy
Proper Ergonomics can Keep Your Employees Safe, Healthy and Happy

Warehouse management needs safe, repeatable processes in order to reduce injury risks. It’s not enough to rely on brute strength and lumbar belts! This is why warehouses implement proactive changes — from stepping up training protocol to bringing in automated equipment like our industrial tugs.

Educating Workers About Warehouse Safety

Train and frequently remind your workers about the most common warehouse injuries. Key issues for your team to discuss:

• Slips and falls: Messy warehouses cause falls, often when workers carry items and cannot see the ground below.

• Forklift and equipment injuries: Even after training and certificates are obtained for operating heavy machinery, each worker should review instructions periodically.

• Unreported dangers: Workers should have an avenue for reporting hazards like chemical fumes and faulty equipment.

• Untrained staff: Don’t skimp on training or let veteran employees miss safety meetings.

Ergonomics to Prevent Warehouse Injuries

Ergonomics refers to tools and methods that have been designed to suit a task. The more you manage ergonomics, the fewer injuries you can expect.

Warehouse equipment is one obvious area to consider ergonomics. For example, you might see a warehouse worker hunched over while strenuously pushing a wheeled cart. This almost guarantees a back injury. Ergonomic industrial tugs remove most of the physical burden and let the worker stay in a comfortable position.

Lifting techniques can also be designed for ergonomics. Heavy items that get moved should be a few feet off the ground so the worker does not have to bend all the way over repetitively.

Next steps: refresh safety training at your warehouse and bring in motorized industrial tugs for better ergonomics.