Moving Housekeeping Cart - Push or Pull?

Hotel Housekeeping Cart is often loaded with a lot of things. Is pushing or pulling it safer? How to prevent workplace injury in this situation?  If you have any question, feel free to email at  info@strainlesswork.com // Website //Free download of Common Housekeeping Musculoskeletal Disorders List //Instagram //Facebook Private Group
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Transcript

In this episode, I will be sharing on moving housekeeping cart -Pushing or pulling - which is better? 

You are listening to housekeeping ergonomics that retain manpower where we give bite-size actionable tips on ergonomics, exercise, and massage for housekeepers. 

If you want to know more about ways to prevent injury, this is the place. And now your host, Daisy Kwok.

Hello, everyone.

Moving Housekeeping cart - pushing or pulling? Which is better?  I'm your host, Daisy Kwok. 

Today we are going to talk about Housekeeping Cart.

This is definitely one of the most exciting topics for me. A few years back, I had the chance to work with housekeeping. My job that time was to help to prevent injury and provide treatment if they have any joint or muscle pain. 

However, I was so new, so I made myself a promise. I had to learn how to make up a room, at least the basic. Coz I was so new, not competent enough to make a good pillow. So I guess I could, at least offer to park the cart in the corridor when my buddy was inside the guest room. I wanted to park the cart for her by the room door. 

I tried to move it a little bit. I couldn't move the cart.

 I was thinking, I must be too weak. Also. Carpet, cart weight are the reasons, too. It was not easy, but I still need to figure it out. The handle is a little high for me. At last, I managed to count 123 go.

I cheated a little. When I said Go, I don't actually push with my hands. I had to push it with my knees at the same time. Once it's started moving, it got easier afterward, I feel like I'm in a supermarket, pushing my cart loaded with groceries. 

If you're with me now, let's keep this picture in your mind. Try to push your housekeeping cart as if you are in a supermarket. There are times when your parking skills is not good enough, and the space between the cart and the wall was like 30 or 40 degrees.

I'm sure you know what I mean if you work in housekeeping.

Never attempt to drag the cart with your palm facing up and to pull sideways. This is an instant formula to have the risk of shoulder sprain because that is a very weak grip.

Often, room attendant showed me the site of wrist pain, near the base of the little finger, where they will feel a tiny groove that might hurt. That is a site we call the triangular fibrocartilage complex that helps to keep forearm bones stable. 

If it's injured, it might cause a chronic wrist sprain, which can last for a long time. 

If you have such pain, first talk with your doctor or physiotherapist.

The second thing, review your hand grip and the way you move your cart. It is the same thing as punching.

When you give the strongest punch, it’s always forward in a full fist.

When we turn around the corner or we need to give a U-turn, it’s all right to pull a little.

Otherwise in other times, think of walking in the supermarket again. 

Try pushing hands gripping fully on the bar. No phone in your hand, no pencil in your hand.

So is pushing or pulling your cart better now?

 I think you will have the right choice.

 I respect housekeeping room attendants. Their hard work,  their focus, their caring is my motivation to create this podcast.

If you're working as room attendants, or cleaners and listening now.

Let me know your challenge at work. Simply search Facebook Pain-Free Housekeeper Group. Or you may drop me an email at info@strainlesswork.com, where you can find the information in the podcast description

I am Daisy Kwok, host of this podcast

Housekeeping Ergonomics that retains Manpower.

It means a lot to me if you would consider subscribing to it. Until then, Take care!

Housekeeping Ergonomics that Retains Manpower

is the production of Strainless Work.