This document provides tips for food service workers to improve safety when performing various tasks. It discusses proper techniques for sweeping, mopping, lifting buckets, pushing carts, emptying trash, and cleaning. Key recommendations include avoiding awkward postures and twisting, lifting with the legs, getting help for heavy loads, and using personal protective equipment. The goal is to reduce injuries by focusing on ergonomics and following safe practices.

1. Food Service General Safety
Working Safer and Easier

2. Workplace hazards can be costly as workers may suffer
injuries. You can make a difference by implementing these
tips:
1. A Safe and Healthful Workplace
2. Commitment to Safety and Health
3. Effective Communication
4. Training
5. Use of Personal Protective
Equipment

3. Decreased Injury Risk
Increased Productivity
Decreased Mistakes
Increased Efficiency
Decreased lost work days
Decreased Turnover
Improved Morale

4. SWEEPING

5. Sweeping floors may involve awkward positions of the wrists and
prolonged contact pressure on the hands. In addition, the back and
neck are often in an awkward forward bent posture.
Avoid bending or twisting Keep wrists straight. Get closer to the work.
your wrists.
Tips and Improvement Ideas
Do not bend your back. If needed, bend your knees and not your back.
Wear knee pads if available and kneel down to get closer to the work.
.

6. Pad the broom handle
if possible.
Avoid bending your back. Remain upright and keep
elbows close to your body. A curved handle allows a
straight wrist.

7. MOPPING

8. Mopping floors may involve awkward positions of the wrists and
prolonged contact pressure on the hands. In addition, the back and
neck are often in an awkward forward bent posture.
Tips and Improvement ideas
• Place a “Caution: Wet Floor” sign in the area.
• Select mop heads that do not readily shed
loose threads.
• Consider smaller mop heads. They are lighter
when wet, and easier to squeeze.
• If you have an adjustable mop, then adjust the
length of the mop handles to the height of your
forehead to reduce bending.

9.  Alternate mopping styles. Swing mop in a
horizontal figure 8 direction
 If possible pad the handle or use a padded
mop handle to cushion and improve your
grip.
Stand upright and keep
elbows close to your
body.
Avoid extreme reaches
to the right and left.

10. Alternate right and left hands at
the top of the mop handle.
RIGHT
LEFT

11. Tips and Improvement ideas
 Bend your knees and keep your back straight as you push the mop
wringer handle down.
 If possible use a mop bucket raised off the floor to reduce the
bending and force needed to wring the water out.
 While squeezing the mop, place your foot in front of the wheel to
prevent the bucket from moving.

12. Tips and Improvement Ideas
• Use the smallest amount of cleaning
solution possible.
• With bent knees, lift the bucket
keeping it close to your body.
• Keep your back straight and do not
twist.
• Rest the bucket on the edge of the
sink while dumping water.

13. Dump water while resting Bend your knees and
the bucket on the sink.
keep your back straight
while lifting the bucket.

15. Trying to lift too much
Twisting and Bending while lifting
Reaching and Lifting

16. STEP ONE
Test the load to get an indication
as to how heavy the object is.

17. Step Two
Stand close to the load with
your feet spread apart about
shoulder width, with one foot
slightly in front of the other for
balance.

22. Step Seven
To place the object
below the level of
your waist, follow the
same procedures in
reverse order.

23. For difficult lifting tasks, keep these options
in mind:
Ask a co-worker for help.

24. When pushing a cart:
 Stay close to the load
 Don’t lean forward
 Use both arms

25. If you must pull the cart:
Face the object squarely, with one foot at least 12 inches in front of
the other.
Keep your back straight
Bend your knees slightly and pull in a
smooth motion.

27. Food service employees come in contact with chemicals daily, and there
are some chemicals in the kitchen which are potentially dangerous.
Each kitchen staff should take precaution when using chemicals.
DO
Read Labels
Know what chemical to use
Know the dangers of the chemical
Know how to use the chemical
Know how to dispose of the chemical
Know where MSDS sheets are (SAISD plant operations website)
Use PPE ( Personal Protective Equipment)
DON’T
Mix Chemicals
Bring Outside chemicals in the school
Spray chemicals toward others
Use Chemicals without proper PPE

28. Remember:
Don't assume that garbage bags weigh the same each time
Injuries can occur when lifting an unexpectedly heavy can.

30. Emptying the Trash
Always wear gloves
Check the weight of the can by tilting or pushing it.
Grasp the lip around the rim of the can; use two hands if
the can is heavy and avoid bending your wrists.
Change hands to pick up and lower trash cans.
Empty trash cans frequently to avoid accumulating heavy
Loads.

31. Always lean the garbage tilt dumpster forward when emptying the trash.
When going downhill, Never stand in front the tilt dumpster.
Use both hands when pushing the garbage tilt dumpster.
Ask a Co-Worker for help in emptying the garbage tilt dumpster.
Do Not overload the garbage tilt dumpster if possible.

32. Food Carts / Slips, Trips & Falls
When cleaning a Food Carts with water ,Wash them outside if
possible, and then allow them to dry before bringing them inside the
building.
Make sure the area where you are washing the food cart has no
traffic, and always remember to put a wet floor sign in the area.
Avoid dripping water from the cart in any area where there is
traffic.

33.  Don’t lift objects over your head.
 Don’t twist your body when lifting or
setting an object down.
 Don’t reach over an obstacle to lift a
load. Move whatever is in the way or go
around it.
 Slow down, Don’t Rush and Pay attention to what
your doing to avoid mistakes.
 Use your PPE
 When wiping down tables always wring your towel out
over the bucket to avoid water dripping on the floor.

34. Look at the risk factors you encounter at home and at
work –think ergonomics. Ask yourself:
 “What awkward postures do I encounter?”
 “Can I readjust sitting/standing positions to maintain
neutral postures?”
 “Do I use excess force on my job? If so, how can I
reduce or eliminate that force?”
 “When lifting is required, am I following the right
steps to lift correctly?”
 “Do I have any other ideas to make my work space or
tasks more ergonomically comfortable?”

35. Thank You, and Let’s All Think Safety