Topic: Written policy/procedure regarding safety for maintenance when hauling appliances?

I had a maintenance person express his concerns about hauling appliances to 2nd story apartment homes. Does anyone have any written policy/procedure regarding safety for maintenance when hauling appliances?

Do your job or will find somebody that will

Two people and a dolly, minimum.

Appliance dolly..not all dollies are the same..

May be a dumb question, but I’ll ask. Is there liability insurance at the property, what about insurance that covers your employees? There may be requirements in that?

There isn't. I've looked for easy, and specific info from OSHA too. That's why I thought I would ask. I thought maybe somebody had that in their job description or manual. I was just looking for something quick.

Linda Danielson makes sense! You would think that would be written somewhere in insurance contract. That so surprising!

Workers comp claim it a injury occurs. They need appliance dolly and back belt support at the minimum.

I would say appliance dolly and back belt Support, as well as making it a two person job. These things are not light, and stairs add a whole other risk. A lot of appliance companies will provide delivery to the apartment and haul away the old appliance for a small fee. A fee that is a lot less than what it would cost us if our employee hurt himself.

Exactly, Nancy Harper Casteel. Ours are delivered to the apartment by the company delivering. Also an appliance dolly Is a must, most helpful.

Dolly with a strap - appliance dolly only

There should always be two people whenever moving appliances up or down stairs.
If in the event one person slips, the other can hold the appliance and keep it from being damaged. Because we all know that buying another refrigerator is just not in the budget.

We require an Appliance Safety course as one of our mandatory online classes as a new hire. We also have mini fridges for weekend emergencies that are way easier to manage on call. Moving appliances is a requirement but there should always be two with the appropriate safety equipment on full size pieces.

They should also wear back support when lifting anything heavy. Plus appliance dolly and extra person as already mentioned.

It's their job!!

Safety first!

And it's your job to fill in the work man's comp filling when your maintenance is out with back trouble!

Make sure you order a few back braces through HD Supply to have on hand for heavy lifting. Always send 2 team members for appliances and using a hand truck is key!

All, your company has some responsibility for safety. The negative comments about maintenance teams is demeaning. Please do all you can to protect your very important team.

Amen. No griping. Solutions only and within laws and regulation.

Yes it’s in the safety process along with appropriate equipment to the task.

Under no circumstances should any Maintenance Personnel ever be moving appliances up and down 1 or more flights of stairs by themselves. Even if they say “I got this”. It only takes once and that liability raises insurance rates not to mention the property damage liability associated with any damage.... Hence the term...”ACCIDENT” . Under no circumstances should any Maintenance personnel allow somebody under them “ to earn their wings” by allowing the “Newbie” to have to “prove” themselves. All of us knows the significant differences between say a Dishwasher versus a Range or a Refrigerator versus a Hot water tank. One mistake, one slip on a stair and you have a serious situation on your hands and Investigators will be looking at Corporate Liability

My maintenance person doesn't want to at all... I always have 2 men and an appliance dolley. My maintenance person is, in fact, trying to convince the others to say no.

Linda Danielson You mean to say he does not want to move any appliance? At all!?

William D. Bedor yes. That's why I am asking about polices, etc

Let me ask you.... Where it states “Job Description” or “Job Duties” or “ Job Responsibilities” is it part of the Job Requirements?

Another words is it not outlined in the Companies Policies and Procedures when they agreed to take the job.

I’m so glad that everybody lives in a fairytale world where they’re always fully staffed in a resident calls at 2AM In the fridge raider stopped working after they just spent $500 on groceries

You make a very valid point Jason, and its an important one as well. So you are “On Call” and a refrigerator goes out at 2:00AM and its your firm belief that you should go find one... possibly from say a vacant and bring that refrigerator to the Resident and do it at say 2:00AM!?

Very valid point and I love your drive to help your customers, for sure. I’m not sure I would want my engineer to move a fridge in the middle of the night. That would not be on our list of “emergencies” that can’t wait for morning and more help. I would rather pay for the groceries or have my engineer move the food to a vacant until we could get this resident taken care of in this scenario.

Nancy Harper Casteel great response. I am looking to draw the correlation between what Management would expect versus what is say common sense versus how the emergency on call would respond.

Appliance dolly with two people always. There is no evidence that a backbelt will prevent a back injury, you still need to follow proper lifting procedures, lift within your capabilities. Better yet, a power dolly thru HD Supply. Depending on your company price structure with HD, it is a $1600-$2000 investment. This appliance dolly takes all the strain off the back, our company has made it mandatory for our maintenance teams.