Category Archives: Injuries

by | July 18, 2011 · 9:23 am

Hotel Industry Building Safety Risks: The 30th Anniversary Of The Kansas City Hyatt Regency "Skywalks Disaster" Is Remebered For The 114 Killed, 200 Injured From "Failed Building Engineering Plans"

“…Plans had both walkways hanging from the same vertical support rods. But a revision had the lower skywalk hanging from the upper one on separate rods. That increased the load on the upper skywalk and added to the stress on the bolts, which were doomed to pull free of the welded box beams to which the rods were attached. The flaw was obvious in hindsight…”

“…There were no criminal charges, but the engineers lost their licenses. There were about $140 million in judgments and settlements…”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=715wyClHTVw]

 Thirty years ago today the music stopped when the skywalks in the elegant Hyatt Regency hotel lobby suddenly crashed down on a crowd of people enjoying big-band tunes and a night out. The 114 people killed in the disaster will never age. The injured, the victims’ loved ones and the rescuers, however, are three decades older.

A broken water pipe threatened to drown those trapped. Electrical wires were sparking. People were crushed beyond recognition.

The hours went by as Ortega and dozens of other emergency responders — firemen, emergency medical technicians, citizens — carried bodies either to a temporary morgue or a makeshift emergency room. A man’s leg was amputated by chainsaw in order to free him. Ortega saw a police officer try to pull a screaming man out and his arm came off.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/16/3018298/the-hyatt-disaster-30-years-later.html#ixzz1STcYIVOk

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by | July 11, 2011 · 5:12 pm

Hotel Industry Employee Risks: The "National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health" (NIOSH) Releases Statistics And Goals For Reducing Injuries To Hotel Room Cleaners

Nearly 1.8 million people worked in the traveler/accommodations industry in 2008, including more than 400,000 hotel room cleaners.

Most cleaners are women, and many are immigrants and minorities who perform tasks including dusting, vacuuming, changing linens, making beds, scrubbing bathrooms, cleaning mirrors, and disposing of trash.

Hotel cleaners face hazards such as the following:

  • ergonomic hazards that include bending, pushing carts, and making beds;
  • trauma hazards that include slips, trips, and falls;
  • respiratory, dermal, and possibly carcinogenic hazards from chemicals in cleaning products;
  • mold and microbial contaminants;
  • infectious agents; and
  • occupational stress due to heavy workloads, lack of adequate supplies, job insecurity, low pay, and discrimination.

Organizations and individuals can help improve the safety and health of hotel cleaners in the United States:

  • Identify and evaluate hazards and adopt inter¬ventions to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses in the hotel environment.
  • Evaluate the quality and ensure maintenance of equipment used in hotel cleaning operations.
  • Encourage the use of ergonomic carts and vacuum cleaners, and long-handled tools like mops and scrub brushes; and inform suppliers about the best equipment for cleaners.
  • Conduct research on guest practices that would improve the work environment for room cleaners.
  • Partner with OSHA, NIOSH, labor, and oth¬ers to study why disparities exist in injury rates among room cleaners and what remedies are effective, and to quickly implement available remedies

For more:  http://ohsonline.com/articles/2011/07/08/niosh-fact-sheet-highlights-safety-health-concerns-among-hotel-cleaners.aspx?admgarea=news

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by | July 10, 2011 · 5:20 pm

Hospitality Industry Fire Risks: Maryland Hotel Suffers Over $3 Million In Structural And Content Damage As Fire Alarms Successfully Assist Evacuation, Limiting Injuries

A four-alarm fire that injured three people and caused several million dollars in damages to a Days Inn hotel in Catonsville began in a locked storage room, Baltimore County fire investigators said Sunday.

Guests said they heard fire alarms go off, then encountered heavy smoke in the hallway.

The cause of the fire on the seventh floor at the Days Inn at 5701 Baltimore National Pike is still under investigation, said Elise Armacost, director of public information for the Baltimore County Fire Department and Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Authorities contradicted earlier reports from hotel patrons blaming the fire on smoking materials.

Fire dispatchers were notified of an alarm at the Days Inn at 8:14 p.m. Saturday. Engine 13 of Westview station arrived first and found billowing smoke. The fire escalated to four alarms and involved nearly 70 pieces of equipment, including units from Howard and Carroll counties, Baltimore city and other jurisdictions, officials said.

Firefighters evacuated about 160 patrons from the building and the guests were relocated to other hotels and motels.

Two guests suffered minor injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals. One firefighter was treated at the scene for minor injuries.   Fire investigators estimate that the fire caused about $2.5 million worth of damage to the hotel and about $1 million to the hotel’s contents.

“We heard the fire alarm go off, then stop, and go off again,” said Omar Oliver of Landover, who was visiting with Theresa Tolson and had rented a third-floor room.

“We called downstairs and they said it was nothing, just somebody playing with the fire alarm,” Oliver said. “Then the TV went out and we started to smell smoke.”

At least one guest was evacuated from an upper floor down a fire department ladder.

For more:  http://elkridge.patch.com/articles/four-alarm-hotel-fire-began-in-locked-storage-room

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by | July 1, 2011 · 10:17 am

Hospitality Industry Structural Risks: Texas Hotel Remains Closed As Repair Crews Replace "Glass Balcony Panels" Which Had Fallen And Injured Guests By Pool

“…12, two-man repair crews have begun to remove glass balcony panels. By 5 p.m. Thursday, about 600 glass panels on the north, south, east and west sides of the building had been removed from the balcony frames and secured. Meanwhile, temporary engineered wood panels were prepared for installation on each balcony…”

At about 8 p.m. Wednesday, barricades, flashing police car lights and TV station vans surrounded the normally life-filled W Austin Hotel and Residences. The luxury brand is usually a beacon of fun, sending the sounds of music, drinking and conversation down the busy Second Street District.

Engineers and experts continue to investigate why glass came tumbling down from the tower, forcing one of Austin’s most talked about destinations to close just before the busy July Fourth weekend.

For more:  http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/big-picture/2011/06/w-austin-hotels-life-after-falling.html

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by | June 27, 2011 · 11:35 am

Hospitality Industry Fire Risks: Florida Hotel Is Nearly Destroyed By Fire Caused By Faulty Electrical System And Faulty Sprinklers, Extinguishers Fail To Work

“…the building had a series of problems, including a broken sprinkler system, empty fire extinguishers and smoke detectors without batteries…the building had electrical problems, too, including a sparking outlet in his room. The motel capped the outlet instead of fixing it…”

“…the fire spread from single room, got into the attic and raced throughout building, destroying nearly everything…”

A fire that caused the roof to collapse and burn through a wing of a 430-room Kissimmee motel late Sunday is still burning this morning. Eight people, including two firefighters, have been hospitalized from injuries caused by the blaze at the Vacation Lodge, which essentially functioned as an apartment complex.

The fire investigation, which will likely start Tuesday, will look into the alleged problems with the sprinkler system. Micheal White, who paid $135 a week to live in Room 1230, said he heard an explosion in Room 1305 before the fire broke out.

He said the motel has been in news recently after the water was shut off for 27 days for nonpayment.  He did not know if complex was built with firewalls designed to contain fires.

For more:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/os-kissimmee-hotel-fire-20110626,0,2952712.story

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by | June 19, 2011 · 7:16 am

Hospitality Industry Guest Safety Risks: Child Dies From Fall From 5th Floor Balcony Of A Florida Hotel; Balcony Had 4-Foot High Railing With Tightly-Spaced Bars

“…Family members said the girl was on the balcony with two adult relatives and was playing with an inflatable toy, Bernstein said. The toy became wedged in the railing and she slipped through and fell…”

“…detectives were trying to determine how the child could have fallen from the balcony, which is secured by a 4-foot-high railing with tightly spaced bars that extend to the floor…”

A toddler who fell from a fifth-floor balcony at an Oceanfront hotel Friday night died Saturday. The girl fell from a balcony at the Sandcastle Oceanfront Resort Hotel and landed on a patio of the Ammos Authentic Greek Cuisine restaurant, said Officer Adam Bernstein, a police spokesman.

The names of the toddler and other family members are being withheld to give the family time to inform relatives and friends, Bernstein said. The girl’s family lives in Staunton.

“Everything right now is pointing toward horrific accident,” Bernstein said. “At this point, there’s no indication of any foul play or neglect.”

For more:  http://hamptonroads.com/2011/06/child-dies-after-falling-oceanfront-balcony

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by | June 17, 2011 · 7:00 am

Hotel Industry Guest Safety: Texas Hotel Guests Injured When "Glass Panels" Fall From 24th Floor To Pool Deck Recalling Fatal "Window Accident" In Atlanta

“….two glass panels fell from balcony railings of two unoccupied condominium units on the 24th and 25th floors and landed in the pool area…”

The hotel’s general manager, Drew McQuade, told the newspaper that four people were treated for cuts and other injuries.

“It was not packed, but there were a fair amount of guests at the pool,” McQuade said. “We feel fortunate that there were not more people injured.”

The incident, which occurred June 10, recalls the May 28 tragedy at the W Hotel in Midtown in which two women fell through a glass window in their 10th floor hotel room. LaShawna Threatt, 30, was killed in that incident and Cierra Williams, 28, was critically injured. Witnesses said the two women were engaged in “horseplay” when they crashed through the window.

McQuade said engineering experts were investigating the incident.

For more:  http://www.ajc.com/news/glass-panels-fall-from-979520.html

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by | June 12, 2011 · 6:24 am

Hospitality Industry Guest Security: Texas Hotel Management Faces Questions On How A Man Stole A "Master Key" And Entered A Guest Room Before Assaulting Guests

“What shocks me most … This guy had a master key and just walked right into the kids’ room high and started swinging at them,” Hernandez said. “Thankfully the kids were screaming and (coach Joseph) Rosendo was nearby to help.”

Attempts to contact Clarion management for a comment on how they lost a master key and the attack itself were unsuccessful Saturday. Hernandez said at least it wasn’t the hotel room with his female athletes.

The coach of the Lubbock Warriors spoke out, voicing many concerns about the hotel’s security and the legal system after his squad was attacked early Friday morning, hours before a boxing competition.

Nicodemus Alvarado, 18, allegedly attacked members of the team while he was drunk and high on cocaine after using a stolen master key to gain entry into their hotel room at the Clarion on the 4300 block of West Wall Street about 12:20 a.m. Friday, police said.

Besides issues with the hotel’s security, Hernandez also raised questions about the legal system in general after he learned of Alvarado’s past.

Alvarado was arrested less than three months ago during an unrelated incident on the exact same charges: First-degree felony for burglary of habitat with intent to commit another felony and for possession of a controlled substance.

He was arrested for the first set of felonies following a March attack on a woman. He allegedly pushed his way into her residence and began assaulting her after he disconnected her emergency call to police, according to the March arrest affidavits.

Despite his $56,000 bond, Alvarado eventually was released from the county lockup. According to clerk of court records, Alvarado was only adjudicated for the misdemeanor charge of interfering with an emergency call during the March 6 incident. It was not known, as of press time Saturday evening, under what circumstances the felony charges were dropped or dismissed

Read more: Coach criticizes hotel, legal system after attack – Mywesttexas.com: Top Stories http://www.mywesttexas.com/top_stories/article_90772213-c4f4-5716-994b-a4279a012afb.html#ixzz1P4TArI00

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by | June 10, 2011 · 9:14 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: Arkansas Hotel Evacuated After High Levels Of "Carbon Monoxide" Sickens Family Of Four; Traced To A Faulty Swimming Pool Heater

“…Fire Department officials say a North Little Rock hotel was evacuated after a family of four was hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning…traced to a faulty swimming pool heater…”

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Friday that Fire Department Capt. J.R. Pflasterer said the carbon monoxide was found at unsafe levels throughout the hotel Thursday He said it was traced to a faulty swimming pool heater.  Pflasterer said 64 people were forced to leave the Comfort Inn and Suites after the family went to a hospital about 8 a.m. He said about 10 of those evacuated reported headaches or dizziness.

Pflasterer said carbon monoxide levels returned to normal Thursday afternoon. The hotel’s telephone number was continually busy Friday morning, so it could not be learned when it would reopen.

For more:  http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/852f6fb07d9149cb9238e0adf171f81b/AR–Carbon-Monoxide-Ark-Hotel/

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by | June 9, 2011 · 6:13 am

Hospitality Industry Risk: "Petra Risk Solutions" Releases "P3 Hospitality Risk Report" Video On "Innkeeper's Limit Of Liability"

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/52513786 w=630&h=354]

Petra Risk Solutions’ Director of Risk Management, Todd Seiders, offers a P3 Hospitality Risk Report – ‘Innkeeper’s Limit of Liability’. 

  P3 ( Petra Plus Process) is the Risk Management Division of Petra Risk Solutions – America ’s largest independent insurance brokerage devoted exclusively to the hospitality marketplace.

 For more information on Petra and P3 visit petrarisksolutions.com or call 800.466.8951.

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