B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Attendant Airline Total 37; Flight Attendant Number Of Acft Qualified On 6; Flight Attendant Total 37; Flight Attendant Type 75
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Aircraft
This is an everyday occurrence involving the B777. I am concerned for the safety of our passengers and inflight crews traveling and working on the B777s. This airplane has overhead bins that are over 6 feet high. When bags are placed in the bins the flight attendants have to close these bins before the doors can be closed. The weight and height of the bins cause injuries and long term back and shoulder problems. These bins often come open during the takeoff and landing of the flight due to the difficulty with the closing of the bins. I was hurt in 2009 and wrote to [my airline]; AFA; OSHA and the FAA. I would like to have this problem addressed to prevent injuries. [My airline] wants to prevent injuries but will not address this serious problem. It is not in my job description to be able to lift 75-150 lbs over my head into a 6 foot high ceiling. I am 5 ft. 2 inches and when I was hired you could not be 6 feet tall with or without high heel shoes. Most of the flight attendants that I fly with have this height and are not able to lift these weights. [My airline] will have to offer reasonable accommodations or anyone under 5 feet 5 inches will be disabled from performing this task. This design prohibits us from being the safety professionals that our Company and our Unions expect us to be. I have reviewed the Americans with Disabilities Act under Title 1.
B777 flight attendant expressed concern about the possibility of injury to flight attendants when placing bags in the overhead bins that require a long reach.