QF cabin crew 'off sick' claim

[Melburnian1]

I lifted this from TripAdvisor:

The crew also told me that a much higher percentage of flight attendants are off work with rotator cuff problems resulting from rearranging the heavier overhead luggage to accommodate as much as possible as well as trying to close the lockers. They now have a procedure where two flight attendants close each locker.

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Is there any truth to this? It related to a domestic journey.

I had to look up 'rotator cuff' as by no means am I wishing to become some silly 'Dr Google':

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder. A rotator cuff injury can cause a dull ache in the shoulder, which often worsens when you try to sleep on the involved side

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Is this allied to having a 'frozen shoulder?'

 

[Pushka]

I lifted this from TripAdvisor:

The crew also told me that a much higher percentage of flight attendants are off work with rotator cuff problems resulting from rearranging the heavier overhead luggage to accommodate as much as possible as well as trying to close the lockers. They now have a procedure where two flight attendants close each locker.

--------

Is there any truth to this? It related to a domestic journey.

I had to look up 'rotator cuff' as by no means am I wishing to become some silly 'Dr Google':

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder. A rotator cuff injury can cause a dull ache in the shoulder, which often worsens when you try to sleep on the involved side

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Is this allied to having a 'frozen shoulder?'

I had a frozen shoulder and there can be multiple causes. It wasn’t over use for me. But it was extremely painful and the freezing process where the pain is, lasted for several weeks. Then the shoulder “locks” and you cannot raise it above shoulder level. Not so painful but it’s pretty useless. And then it does the process of unfreezing.

I do think that it could very much cause repetition injury. For one passenger it’s just one bag being put up but they have to sort through multiple bags every flight. Many of the lockers though aren’t the ones where the luggage sits in the lid.

 

[Melburnian1]

...I do think that it could very much cause repetition injury. For one passenger it’s just one bag being put up but they have to sort through multiple bags every flight. Many of the lockers though aren’t the ones where the luggage sits in the lid.

Pushka while there's minimum height requirements for flight attendants, when I observe them, if I'm not mistaken they have to in many cases rise up a bit (and lean in) to push the lockers closed, so that to must be at least slightly taxing on one's joints. However I'm no physio (although like you I've had a frozen shoulder and didn't find it enjoyable).

 

[eddie 73]

Based on observations the article seems factual.

I noticed the QF FA’s doing the duo push closing bins for the past two weeks.

Also noticed the new red stickers, inside all bins, stating bags are to be placed ‘wheels back and on the side’, obviously trying to help reduce FAs having to reposition bags to maximise stowage space.

 

[DC3]

... there's minimum height requirements for flight attendants, when I observe them, if I'm not mistaken they have to in many cases rise up a bit (and lean in) to push the lockers closed ...

QF = minimum height 163cm (5'4'') ?

 

[kileskus]

It seems quite plausible. The rotator cuff muscles help stabilise the shoulder because the shoulder joint is shallow. There are four muscles and each attaches (via tendons) to nearby areas and in the spaces between bones around the shoulder. Repetitive overhead use of arm (e.g. by swimmers or house painters) can cause one of these spaces to become smaller, compressing and inflaming the tendon that runs through it, eventually leading to pain and limited mobility.

In OSCEs (the ones I've done so far, at least) when someone presents with shoulder pain and has an occupation that involves overhead movement, it's kind of a dead giveaway.

It's called swimmer's shoulder/subacromial impingement. A frozen shoulder, on the other hand, involves the actual joint capsule itself, though the symptoms can be similar.

 

[love_the_life]

It's an easy injury to get and can last for a very long time, and permanently weaken the joint. I did it just opening a car door from the wrong angle. The immediate pain was severe but even years later if I get it 'just so' I get the sharp stabbing pain again. Not surprised that it is a problem with FAs having to have arms above the shoulder line and the propensity of passengers to bring on more and more carry on.

 

[Matt_01]

Although not 100% certain, I am pretty sure VA have been using 2 FA's to close bins for a while.

 

[drron]

Shoulder injuries are one of the commonest injuries around the world for FAs and a lot comes from the shutting of overhead bins.
I am surprised no one has yet come up with a way of closing the bins so shoulder injuries are minimised or work out the best way to close bins without getting injured.

 

[love_the_life]

QF = minimum height 163cm (5'4'') ?

Well that lets me out then. Glad I wasn't planning on a new career.