Safe carrying protects you, your colleagues and your guests. You will use a small round drinks tray for glasses and larger trays for plates and clearing. Every carry depends on balance, good posture and knowing your limits.
Why it matters
Dropped trays cause cuts, burns and slips, and can hurt guests. Poor lifting habits also lead to back and wrist injuries over time.
Key ideas
Heavy in the centre
Put tall, heavy items in the middle, over your hand, and lighter ones around the edge.
Carry on your palm
Balance a drinks tray on your flat palm and spread fingers, close to your body.
Know your limit
Two safe trips are faster than one dropped tray.
Step by step
- 1
Check the tray is clean and dry.
- 2
Load heavy items in the centre, with handles turned inward.
- 3
Bend your knees and lift close to your body.
- 4
Walk steadily and call 'behind' when passing people.
- 5
Unload a little from each side to keep the tray balanced.
Do
- Follow the team's usual walking routes to avoid collisions.
- Clean spills at once, or guard them until someone can.
- Hold hot plates with a dry cloth.
Common mistakes
- Don't overload a tray to save one trip.
- Don't stack dirty plates so high you can't see ahead.
- Don't carry glasses with your fingers inside them.
The situation
You are carrying six drinks through a busy bar when a child runs across your path.
What a professional does
You stop, keep the tray level and close to your body, and wait. If a glass does fall, you never try to catch it. You guard the broken glass and call a colleague to help.
Useful phrases
“Behind you!”
“Hot plate, coming through.”
Pro tip
Practise carrying a tray of glasses filled with water during quiet times.
Quick check
Where do the heaviest items go on a tray, and why?
Think about it, then show the answer
In the centre, over your supporting hand, so the tray stays balanced and doesn't tip.