Determining optimal work surface height for Surrey Memorial Hospital food service workers

In anticipation of extensive kitchen renovations at Surrey Memorial Hospital, the median elbow height was determined for a group of 49 food service workers. From this measurement, an optimal range for work surface height of 824 mm to 874 mm was determined. This range is lower than that recommended by some ergonomics experts, and lower than the work surface height of much of the existing equipment in Patient Food Services. Work surface height should be considered when equipment is selected or modified as one possible measure to reduce the physical strain of food service work.