Baristas are getting ground down by poor tamping technique a Canadian study finds

A new study, which is available to read in the journal Ergonomics, suggests that there is about to be an epidemic of injuries relating to repetitive strain disorder amongst those baristas who work long hours in the numerous coffee shops that populated our streets and shopping centres.

The research, conducted by academics at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, found that over a third of the people they interviewed reported that they had suffered back pain that was linked to the nature of their job.

Throw in shoulder aches – seemingly linked to the tamping procedure – and it appears that baristas are on the verge of breaking down at any moment.

In comparison with other occupations, you would have thought that brewing up espressos and creating flat whites would be a fairly placid activity – apart from the stresses caused by customers who either demand perfection or reel off more and more ludicrous beverage combinations with every passing day. But apparently it isn’t.

“You don’t think of it as being very physically demanding,” says Professor Diane Gregory, who specialises in kinesiology at the Canadian university.

However the results from the survey paint a different picture.

Nearly sixty baristas were interviewed as part of this research and just under three-quarters (73%) of those that responded reported lower back pain whilst around two-thirds (68%) complained of shoulder pain. Half attributed these niggles and ailments as a by-product of their occupation.

One such example noted that he got sore wrists and hands and is aware of others in the profession suffering from back and shoulder pain. He noted that he believes it is down to a poor tamping technique. “We were told right off the bat…If you do it improperly there is a great risk of hurting yourself,” he said.

A small sample size was filmed whilst at work. “Watching them do it was incredible,” Professor Gregory mused, before noting that the participants often ‘put their arms in very awkward [positions].”

It is worth noting however that many other people who work in the service sector are susceptible to back problems due to the combination of a poor posture and long hours where they remain upright, and these issues could account for some of the stresses and strains placed on the body.

But not all, a study conducted by Sprudge found that 55% of baristas that they asked complained about repetitive strain injuries and joint pains which, alongside a number of other issues raised, does suggest that workers in coffee shops do run the risk of picking up physiological problems whilst on shift.

We best not mention that somebody in Australia was awarded almost A$600,000 (roughly $560,000, or £333,000) for long-term injuries sustained whilst frothing milk.

photo:wikicommons