The Serving area of a restaurant
offers teen workers an opportunity for direct interaction with the customer, while learning food
service and money handling skills. Teen workers in this area may also
be exposed to the following hazards:
Teens often work serving food in
restaurants. Serving food and bussing tables, especially while
assuming awkward postures, may lead to back, neck, and shoulder
strains and sprains. Specific potential hazards include:
Balancing or lifting too many plates or glasses while serving
or clearing tables.
Balancing or lifting heavy trays above shoulder height.
Lifting large, overfilled containers of dirty dishes.
Repetitive reaching across tables to serve customers or to
clear tables.
Moving and lifting tables and chairs to accommodate customers.
Avoid over-reaching across tables or booths.
Possible Solutions
Teen
Safety Solutions
Employers have the primary
responsibility for protecting the safety and health of their
workers. Employees are responsible for following the safe work
practices of their employers.
Avoid awkward postures if you must carry trays, plates, or
beverages. Serving with awkward postures such as
unsupported elbow and finger postures can increase your risk for
injury.
Limit the number of plates or items
you will carry, realizing that carrying more than a couple items puts
excessive strain on your arms and back and may lead to
injury.
Unsupported elbow and finger postures
Better carrying posture
Moving tables with help
Use both hands to carry items such as coffee pots or water jugs
and carry them with your elbows close into your body.
Move the glass or cup to you, when pouring, rather than
overreaching with a heavy coffee pot or water jug to fill a glass.
Carry plates with your elbows close
into your body to lessen the strain on your arms and back. Avoid
bending at the wrist or extending upward at the fingers. Your shoulder,
arms, and hands should be in a neutral position rather than
bent at the wrist or extended upward at the fingers.
Balance the tray on both your arm and hand.
Alternate carrying tasks from hand to hand.
Balance the load evenly, placing heavier items in the center
of the tray.
Make sure trays are serviceable
and clean and dry and without defect before using.
Stand by the person you are serving if possible, rather than
reaching across tables and over people. In booths, pass the
plates along, requesting that the people sitting closest to the edge of the
booth assist you in passing the plates.
Get help to move tables and chairs, rather than lifting alone.
Employer Solutions
Employers have the primary
responsibility for protecting the safety and health of their
workers. Employees are responsible for following the safe work
practices of their employers.
If space permits, provide serving
carts to carry food, rather than requiring workers to carry heavy
trays overhead.
If space permits, provide workers with
a server's station close to the serving area. This will decrease
the distance that items need to be carried.