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Musculoskeletal Disorder Risk Factor Assessment in Restaurant Servers

Wills, Angela C
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1377866531

Abstract Details

2013, MS, University of Cincinnati, Medicine: Occupational Safety and Ergonomics.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have the potential to impact a tremendous number of the waitresses and waiters in the United States, yet very little is known about the ergonomic risk factors that these workers routinely encounter. Many of the traditional risk factors for MSDs can be commonly found for wait staff such as lifting and transferring heavy loads, reaching for items (e.g. horizontal trunk moment arm), repetitious tasks, and standing for long periods of time on their feet. The objective of the study was to document the potential risk factors that restaurant servers are commonly exposed to on a typical shift. Twenty servers from three different restaurants within the Midwest metropolitan area were observed by direct observation methods including direct measurement of weight lifted on trays; observation of postures when transferring trays, quantification of sitting and walking by an ActivPal, and workload perception and current body region symptom through a simple survey. The results show that servers carried 16.4 kg per hour or 6.3 kg per tray, which is relatively low compared to other industries. There were more than 90% of the servers who reported standing more than 5 hours, but less than 8 hours during their shift. Objective measures by the ActivPal confirmed a large amount of time on their feet (76% of time standing or walking). The body region with the greatest increase in discomfort at the end of the shift was the upper back (increasing by 55%). The next highest changes in discomfort were in the neck (at 45%) and lower back (at 50%) regions. Also, almost 70% of the servers carried a tray of food in front of themselves, potentially resulting in poor and awkward postures. In all, the current study provides a glimpse into the demands on the servers. Generally, while the number of trays served was not particularly high, the average load represents a risk, especially when peak times could require many more trays served. All indications from the perceptions of the servers were that the workloads observed were lower than normal. The bottom line was that the weight transferred, time standing and walking, and the awkward postures place waitresses and waiters at risk of MSDs. While no direct link can be drawn from the current study, these stressors may result in the increased pain at the end of the shift that was observed. The results of the study provide a foundation for future work investigating risk factors for servers.
Kermit Davis, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Susan Kotowski, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
51 p.
Occupational Safety
Waitresses; low back; ergonomics; shoulder; prolonged standing

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Wills, A. C. (2013). Musculoskeletal Disorder Risk Factor Assessment in Restaurant Servers [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1377866531

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wills, Angela. Musculoskeletal Disorder Risk Factor Assessment in Restaurant Servers. 2013. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1377866531.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wills, Angela. "Musculoskeletal Disorder Risk Factor Assessment in Restaurant Servers." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1377866531

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1377866531
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© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12