Health and safety: Backache to reality

Backache is a frequent complaint among licensees and their staff. Pamela Brown, hospital director at Sketchley Hall, gives some advice on how to avoid it.

Readers of The Publican must certainly be aware that their occupation places them and their staff at extremely high risk of back injury. Pubs have a number of hazards that can cause the unwary agonising back pain, contributing to the 11 million working days lost to backache last year, representing a cost of £500m to UK business.

Now the Health and Safety Executive is reacting to the national crisis by urging employers to inform their staff of the risks in the workplace.

A typical day in a publican's life reveals the enormity of the problem. Drink and food deliveries arrive and once offloaded from the lorry they need to be stored in the cellar or kitchen. Many beer barrels weigh around 162lbs and moving them into their correct position involves bending, pushing and pulling, all of which strains the back if not done correctly.

Further drink deliveries might arrive throughout the day, which can involve a busy publican going up and down stairs repeatedly with heavy boxes.

The rest of the day is spent either sitting at a desk working on administrative duties or standing for long periods serving and socialising with customers. Poor posture through sitting at a desk or standing for prolonged periods strains the spine and, over time, can lead to chronic pain in the middle or lower back. Female publicans who wear high heels create extra tension on their legs and spine, which in turn leads to back pain when they stand for many hours.

Publicans are also involved in any trouble that occurs on their premises. Dealing with conflicts and breaking up fights places them at even greater risk of injury in the workplace.

And it isn't just publicans who need to be aware of possible back injuries in the workplace - pub staff also need to know the risks and how to avoid them. Keeping the bar fully stocked means staff must frequently lift heavy drinks cases from the cellar and carry them up to the bar. The drinks then need to be displayed on shelves, which, depending on the height of the staff, are often too high or low, which means a lot of stretching and bending.

Front-of-house staff will also spend long periods standing at the bar and, when they are busy, will be rushing around serving people, turning and twisting their backs constantly.

The pub food market continues to thrive, with UK pubs now serving over one billion meals a year - and the kitchen presents a multitude of hazards to the unwary.

For example, some appliances have the potential to cause major injuries and staff who are qualified to operate this equipment will need to be trained in the safest way to use it.

Other risks to kitchen staff can be created by uneven or slippery flooring and incorrectly carrying heavy tins or packets of food. There is also cause for concern for waiting staff, who should ensure that the trays of food and drinks they carry aren't too heavy, that they have been trained to lift them correctly and that there are stands in the dining area where trays can be rested to allow staff to restore their posture and avoid spillages.

The multi-tasking and competing demands often means there simply isn't time for your staff to consider the risks to their health. However, serious back injuries can occur from the simplest cause, such as incorrectly lifting a barrel, slipping on a wet floor or poor posture while standing all day. The good news is, whether you are working front-of-house or behind the scenes, there are ways you can reduce the risk of backache.

Did you know?​

Most debilitating back pain is caused by sprains, strains and minor injuries brought about through incorrect use of your back, rather than a major incident. Although the pain often comes suddenly and can be triggered by a small movement, the causes will usually have been building up over time.

Practical measures to control risks in pubs:​

Can manual handling tasks be avoided?

• Assess the layout of the cellar, pub and kitchen to see if the amount of lifting or carrying can be reduced
• Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling whenever possible.

Can you use mechanical aids to make the task easier?

• Hoists
• Litter-picking arms
• Four-wheel trolleys
• False bottoms for deep sinks.

Can you redesign individual tasks?

• Reduce the amount of twisting, bending, stooping, stretching, pushing and pulling
• Reduce the number of times it is necessary to do the task - but without increasing the load on each occasion
• Store heavy items on shelves at waist height
• Use trolleys to move loads around
• Use team working for tasks such as moving furniture.

Can you make loads easier to handle?

• Buy heavy items in easy-to-handle cardboard boxes with sturdy grips
• Break down trays of cans before loading on to storage shelving
• Put heavy equipment such as chest freezers on lockable castors to make cleaning easier.

What can you do to improve pub working conditions?

• Replace or repair uneven slippery floors
• Provide trolley ramps at changes in floor levels
• Ensure shelving isn't overloaded
• Install automatic doors if items are frequently carried through them.

One-day back schools​

According to experts at Sketchley Hall in Hinckley, Leicestershire, part of the Priory Group and a specialist centre for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of people with back problems, many back injuries are caused by people's lack of understanding of how to care for their backs in the workplace.

In response to increased absenteeism due to back problems, the centre has launched a series of nationwide one-day intensive back schools aimed at helping employers ensure their workforces are completely informed on how to prevent back injury.

Each course will be tailored around individual companies and their employees. For example, one course may be created for desk-bound employees while another will be targeted at people with more physically demanding roles.

Carried out by a senior physiotherapist and a sports therapist the programme will focus on specific risks and provides attendees with a combination of practical exercise sessions and a theory element which concentrates on movement and pain, the psychology of pain, stress management, relaxation and pain control.

All courses will be run at Sketchley Hall or in health suites of hotels around the country giving people access to a gymnasium and swimming pool.

Readers who are interested in a free trial session and/or the back schools should contact Kathryn Hill at Sketchley Hall on 01455 890023 or email sketchleyreception@prioryhealthcare.com