The Drive-thru area of a restaurant offers young
workers an opportunity for direct interaction with the customer, while
learning food service and money handling skills. Young workers in this area
may also be exposed to the following hazards:
Employee exposure to strains and sprains
from tasks that require repetitive motions. Tasks such as
excessive reaching, lifting, and leaning out of drive-thru
windows to hand customers their orders may lead to
injuries.
Possible Solutions
Young Worker Solutions
Employers have the primary
responsibility for protecting the safety and health of their
workers. Employees are responsible for following the safe work
practices of their employers.
Avoid twisting while lifting.
Avoid overreaching. Walk food out to customers if they are
parked too far away for you to safely reach from the drive-thru
window.
Stay fit to help avoid injuries.
Employer Solutions
Employers have the primary
responsibility for protecting the safety and health of their
workers. Employees are responsible for following the safe work
practices of their employers.
Drop box
Rearrange workstations to provide for easy access to items used
most frequently and to enable employees to keep their elbows
close to the body.
Redesign drive-thru windows to alleviate employee reaching. Rather than having employee reach across a
window to deliver food, install a drop box to put orders into to deliver orders to customers. Customers then reach into the drop box to get their order.
Rotate workers through the drive-thru area to limit their
exposure to excessive reaching and lifting and the development
of musculoskeletal disorders.
Additional References
Ergonomics. OSHA's ergonomic strategy for success.
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