Hotels rely on efficient operations behind the scenes to deliver a seamless guest experience. From transporting luggage to delivering food and beverages, lifts play an important role in the daily movement of people and goods. Choosing the right type of lift is essential for operational efficiency and safety.
Addressing manual handling challenges
Manually transporting heavy goods through corridors is a risk to public safety, increasing the likelihood of collisions. Carrying goods up staircases also increases the risk of slips, trips and falls, resulting in musculoskeletal injuries affecting the back, shoulder and knees.
The Health and Safety Executive reported that 511,000 workers are suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders, with 7.1 million working days lost due to these conditions, showcasing the impact of poor manual handling practices.
Work-related illness and non-fatal injuries have risen in recent years, with 680,000 workers affected in the latest statistics. Within this, manual handling remains stubbornly high and one of the leading causes of workplace injury, accounting for 17% of all incidents, according to the latest Health and Safety Executive report 2024-2025. As well as personal suffering due to injury, the consequences of an incident can lead to reduced productivity and increased costs for businesses.
Installing a service and goods lift is one of the most effective ways of reducing the risk of injury and strain. Goods lifts and service lifts are designed for different purposes. Understanding their differences helps to make informed decisions when planning new installations or upgrading existing systems.
What is a goods lift?
A goods lift is specifically designed to transport heavy goods and loads up to 15 metres, such as beer barrels and kegs, bins, catering supplies and cleaning equipment between floors safely and efficiently while minimising manual handling. These lifts are built with high load capacities and durable finishes that can withstand frequent movement of equipment, stock and supplies in low- to medium-rise buildings. There are a range of goods lifts to choose from based on load requirements. For example, a trolley service lift and platform goods lift move loads of 300- 500 kg safely over floors, whereas a heavy-duty goods lift can hold up to 2000kg and two people.
What is a service lift?
A service lift is designed to support hotel operations by transporting smaller loads quickly and efficiently. Dumbwaiters are a type of service lift that is used for transporting food, glassware, crockery and small supplies. They are commonly used in boutique hotels, buildings with dining areas and multi-level restaurants. With a load capacity of 50 to 100kg, dumbwaiters facilitate the safe delivery of goods between floors, eliminating the need for carrying loads up and down stairs and reducing the risk of slips, trips and falls.
Selecting the appropriate lift depends on the hotel's operational requirements rather than on size or budget alone.
Ensuring safer manual handling
For hotels, dumbwaiters and good lifts provide a practical solution, protecting employees, safeguarding customers and improving operational efficiency. For business owners, investing in a lift solution is a commitment to safer manual handling.
Stannah offers a practical and easy-to-follow guide with step-by-step advice on identifying risks, improving lifting techniques and creating a safer workplace. The guide also includes a risk assessment template and a ready-made business case to help secure investment in safer manual handling solutions.
Download the free manual handling guide.
