Bottled Water Delivery

Volume 1, Number 29

Drivers deliver single round, five and three gallon bottles of water, cases of bottled water, and other products to residential and commercial customers.

Bottles are stored on racks in the truck ranging in height from 30 to 80 inches (from road level to the neck of the bottle). The necks of the bottle on the top rack are approximately 80 inches from road level, which is well above the 60.5 inch shoulder height of a large North American male. Men or women of shorter stature may not even be able to reach this level. Reaching and lifting above shoulder level increases the load on the shoulder muscles thus increasing shoulder fatigue, thus increasing the likelihood for injury. Reaching above shoulder height also increases the risk that the bottle may fall and strike the employee, as the employee may not have full control over the weight of the bottle.

The bottles are often grasped and carried by the short neck of the bottle, approximately three inches long. This length does not allow use of the stronger power grip. Thus, a pinch grip is used to pull the bottles from the racks. The inability to use the stronger power grip reduces the grip strength available for pulling. Carrying the bottles by the neck puts the wrist in extreme ulnar deviation. This increases the chance of the bottle slipping and puts the employee at high risk of wrist and arm injury. Bottles are frequently carried on the shoulder, increasing the chance of shoulder injuries. Controls to consider include:

• Different types of handles. They are lightweight, easy to carry, and latch onto the bottle’s neck.

Images courtesy of www.waterzilla.com

• Switching to different types of bottles with molded handles on the side or built into the top encourages the use of a full power grip, thus eliminating the need to carry the bottles on the shoulder.
• Provide customers with a bottle rack or stand at the delivery site so that bottles can be delivered at a height of approximately 36 inches to reduce bending. Empties could be stored on the lower shelves for pick-up, reducing heavy lifts from low levels. This also keeps bottles in one area and may reduce the amount of carrying the driver must do.
• Attempt to reduce the distance the drivers must reach to access bottles on the rack possibly by a roller type system to move the bottles forward. Reaches should be limited to no more than 16 to 17 inches horizontally.
• Work to eliminate the top shelf of the bottle rack to reduce lifting above shoulder height.
• Allow more opportunities for rest breaks. Encourage employees to take an additional five minute break every hour.

Related Links

OSHA water beverage delivery eTool: www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/beverage/water_delivery.html

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