Hospitality Manual Handling Training & Injury Prevention
Customised training, risk assessment, and injury prevention education designed specifically for hospitality teams, delivered by experienced WHS professionals.
What Is Manual Handling in the Hospitality Industry?
In hospitality, manual handling tasks are everywhere—from lifting crates and trays to prolonged standing, awkward postures, and repetitive tasks like polishing glassware or moving furniture. When performed without proper technique, these movements can lead to injuries such as strains, sprains, and fatigue-related musculoskeletal issues.
Common risk factors include:
- Repetitive or sustained movement
- High or sudden force
- Awkward posture or restricted movement
- Manual lifting or pushing of stock and equipment
- Slippery floors and fast-paced environments
Practical training from Corporate Work Health can reduce risk and support a more productive team. It also helps give peace of mind to both workers and management that everyone is safe and well looked after.
Book a Free Online Session With Our Experts
Our WHS experts have worked extensively with venues, restaurants, and hotels across Australia. We offer free video consultations to discuss your workplace’s needs and create tailored training content for your staff.
Book online by selecting your state, or contact us directly to arrange a time that suits your operations.
Who’s Responsible for These Risks in Hospitality?
In a hospitality setting, responsibilities are shared. Venue owners, managers, and supervisors all play a role in identifying and minimising manual handling risks under WHS laws. Staff also have a duty of care to manage their safety and report concerns.
Proactive consultation and staff involvement help identify hazards early, before they lead to injuries, disruptions, or compliance issues. A strong safety culture protects your people and encourages confidence and wellness in the workplace.
Read More: Fines & Penalties
Recent Fines For Non Compliance In The Construction Industry
In 2022 there were 120 employers who were fined for safety breaches in Victoria by Worksafe. Construction accounted for 47 of those employers (More than 120 employers fined for safety breaches in 2022 | WorkSafe Victoria)
SafeWork NSW is warning businesses they will face fines and potential prosecution if they fail to report incidents after the workplace regulator this year issued 140 compliance notices and over $55,000 in fines for breaches with one-third of all offences occurring in the construction industry. (SafeWork warning follows upward trend in failure to notify and disturbance of scenes | SafeWork NSW)
Fines for non-compliance with WHS:
Specific penalties for non-compliance:
- Worksafe QLD Penalties | WorkSafe.qld.gov.au
- Safe Work Australia Penalties under the WHS laws | Safe Work Australia
What Does The Code Of Practice Say About Manual Task Risk Management In Construction?
This Code provides guidance on how to manage the risks associated with hazardous manual tasks that have the potential to cause an MSD in the workplace using the following systematic process:
- Identify hazardous manual tasks—find out what could cause harm.
- Assess risks, if necessary—understand the nature of the harm that could be caused by the hazard, how serious the harm could be and the likelihood of it happening. This step may not be necessary if you are dealing with a known risk with known controls.
- Eliminate risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
- Control risks—if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, implement the most effective control measures that are reasonably practicable in the circumstances in accordance with the hierarchy of control measures, and ensure they remain effective over time.
- Review control measures to ensure they are working as planned.
Access More Resources
- Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks
- Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks
- Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work
Why Manual Handling Training Matters in Hospitality
The hospitality industry sees some of the highest rates of soft-tissue injuries due to the job’s physical demands. From kitchen hands and waitstaff to housekeeping and bar teams, injury can lead to time off work, reduced morale, and increased costs.
Even small changes—like better lifting techniques or smarter workflow layouts—can significantly reduce injury risk. That means happier staff, fewer claims, and improved service delivery.
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