Manual Handling in Pubs and Clubs

Manual handling can result in fatigue, and lead to injuries of the back, neck, shoulders, arms or other body parts.

Two groups of injuries may result from manual handling:

• Cuts, bruises, fractures etc, due to sudden, unexpected events such as accidents

• Damage to muscles, bones and joints which can either be acute (develops rapidly) or chronic (develops or worsens over time)

Some types of work in the hospitality industry can affect the physical health of employees, for example, their muscles, bones and joints. These types of injuries are called musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Staff may suffer from back, neck and limb pain from carrying heavy or awkward objects including:

• kegs and barrels

• cases of bottled drinks

• dishwasher trays of glasses

• sound speakers

There are risks in handling even light loads if a repetitive task is being carried out in poor conditions. Poor ergonomics and workplace layout are a factor in many hazardous manual handling tasks.

Guidance on Manual Handling

For further guidance on manual handling, go to our Health and Safety Topics section:

• Health and Safety Topics - Manual Handling