Drink crates, barrels, sacks, trays, trolleys, mattresses and bed linen: hospitality is a great handler of loads. Overexertion and musculoskeletal disorders (pain in the back, neck, shoulders and wrists) are among the main causes of sick leave in the sector.
What Real Decreto 487/1997 says
Manual handling of loads means any operation of carrying or supporting a load by one or more people: lifting, placing, pushing, pulling or moving. Real Decreto 487/1997 orders the employer to:
- Avoid manual handling, with mechanical means or better organisation, whenever possible.
- If it cannot be avoided, assess the risk and take measures to reduce it.
- Inform and train about the risks and the correct way to handle loads.
The royal decree does not set a single maximum weight. The INSST Technical Guide gives guidance: from 3 kg the task deserves a careful look, and in ideal conditions you should not go above 25 kg. In worse conditions (load far from the body, twisting, repetition), the sensible limit goes down.
Factors that increase the risk
- A heavy, bulky load or one that is hard to grip.
- A load far from the body, or above the shoulder or below the knees.
- Twisting the trunk and awkward postures.
- Repeating the same movement many times.
- Slippery floors or steps.
- Lack of rest and hurry.
Good practice
- Use trolleys, ramps and hand trucks and ask for help with heavy things.
- Split the load: two small boxes are better than one big one.
- Bring the load close to your body, bend your knees and keep your back straight.
- Turn with your feet, not your waist.
- Put the heaviest items between hip and chest height, on the middle shelves.
- When delivering barrels and crates, work as a team and plan the route.
Housekeeping in a hotel
The INSST considers hotel housekeepers one of the groups most exposed to accidents and occupational diseases. The most frequent accidents are overexertion and crushing or knocks, and the most affected areas are the back, the spine and the upper limbs.
The tasks with the heaviest load:
- Making beds: bending over, lifting mattresses, stretching heavy sheets.
- Cleaning the bathroom: stooping, kneeling or with arms outstretched.
- Pushing the loaded trolley along long corridors or over carpets.
- Vacuuming and mopping: repetitive movements.
- Changing and carrying dirty linen, which weighs more than it looks.
The INSST also notes that the pace (rooms per shift), monotony and lack of autonomy add to the physical load.
How to reduce the load in housekeeping
- Beds: use both hands and bend your knees, not just your waist. Work from one side of the bed, and alternate. If possible, use high beds or beds on wheels.
- Bathroom: use long handles and a stool or knee pads so you are not bent over; alternate postures.
- Trolley: load it in order, heaviest at the bottom, and do not fill it so much that it is hard to push.
- Dirty linen: do not drop it all into one big bag; spread the weight.
- Breaks: alternate tasks and take short breaks.
Speak up early
Persistent pain is a signal, not a nuisance to put up with. Tell your manager and ask for an appointment with health surveillance. A back injury treated in time heals better.
What the employer must do
Assess the load in your job, provide the means (trolleys, adjustable beds), organise the work at a reasonable pace and give practical training. A general video is not enough.