Category Archives: Injuries

by | August 22, 2010 · 8:17 am

Hotel Industry Fire Risks: Hotel Managment Must Have “Properly Maintained Fire Escapes, Exit Lights, Fire Extinguishers And Smoke Alarms”

“…inspection reports obtained by the newspaper showed the apartments did not have properly maintained fire escapes, exit lights, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms…”

The lawsuit filed by the families of Gerardo Reyes Perez and Humberto Hernandez Vanegas, who both died in the apartment building fire, was dismissed with prejudice, according to online court records. A dismissal with prejudice means the lawsuit cannot be refiled against building owner Corazon Peterson, also known as Corazon Moen, and her insurance companies.

A second wrongful death lawsuit has been dismissed against the owner of the Independence Hotel Tap that burned in February 2009, killing three men. The suit was dismissed after a “minor” settlement.

But the amount of the settlement is unknown. Judge John Damon approved an order to seal documents related to the case, including the settlement paperwork, and Moen as well as attorneys representing both sides of the suit did not respond to calls for comment.

The Hotel Tap building failed its last three fire inspections prior to the blaze that also killed Ronald Stuart Beck Sr. His family also filed a wrongful death suit, which was dismissed in June.

Moen denied the failed inspections when questioned by the Winona Daily News last year, saying smoke alarms and fire extinguishers were in the building at the time of the fire. But inspection reports obtained by the newspaper showed the apartments did not have properly maintained fire escapes, exit lights, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.

The families of Perez and Vanegas contended in their lawsuit that none of the issues were addressed at the time of the February blaze, saying the building was in “general disrepair.”

The suit specifically cites anguish experienced by Perez’s brother Jose Reyes Perez and sister Blanca Morales. The pair were “at the scene of the blaze at its pinnacle and could only watch as the building burnt uncontrollably, and knowing their brother was inside, unable to escape,” the suit states.

Moen in her answer filed in March acknowledged the failed inspections but said the problems were fixed before the fire.

For more:  http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/article_34815248-ada3-11df-bd70-001cc4c002e0.html

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by | August 13, 2010 · 10:07 am

Hotel Industry Health Risks: Hotel In Minnesota Has Laundry Chemical Sicken 6 Employees

A mix of laundry chemicals at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Eagan sent six employees the hospital…

Paramedics were called to the hotel at 2700 Pilot Knob Road around 10:30 a.m. after a hotel worker collapsed near the pool. Two laundry chemicals were found nearby – Destainer (Sodium Hypochlorite solution) and Sour 21 (Hydrofluorosilicic acid), which when combined form a corrosive chemical that can be fatal if ingested.

The six employees were taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Five were treated and released, with one staying overnight for observation.

The hotel was evacuated. 59 guests were registered for a stay at the hotel at the time of the incident, but not all were there at the time.

For more:  http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/laundry-chemicals-eagan-crowne-plaza-collapse-aug-6-2010

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by | August 11, 2010 · 7:24 pm

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: OSHA Inspectors Can Cite “Willful Violations” If Management Ignores Employee Complaints

A “willful” violation can occur if the employer knew that he was violating a standard or if he was reckless. A good way to convince an OSHA inspector of recklessness (and thus willfulness) is to ignore employee complaints of danger, or worse, accident reports.

A lawyer knowledgeable on OSHA issues will serve as a buffer between the agency and the company’s management. He can make sure that responses to document requests are neither too broad nor too narrow.

A careful employer will review employee complaints, accident reports and minutes of safety meetings, and make sure that every item properly is evaluated and if found to be a problem, either fixed or scheduled for fixing with alternative protective measures implemented in the interim. Employers should not allow unaddressed items in such documents to smolder in their files, ready to be fanned into willfulness by an OSHA inspector.

For more:   http://ehstoday.com/standards/target-new-osha-sheriff-1339/index1.html

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by | August 10, 2010 · 3:27 pm

Hotel Industry Employee Injury Risk Management: Hotel Management Must Increase Training To Reduce Repetitive-Stress Injuries To Housekeepers

“Anybody who runs a hotel has to be crazy,” Davis said, not to address any problems that can lead to injuries among employees because of the implication for worker’s compensation.

Hyatt housekeepers had the highest risk of injury, according to the study. The lowest risk were with the Hilton chain. The problem is housekeepers are prone to repetitive-stress injuries from continually doing such things as changing sheets, washing bathroom floors and vacuuming.

Service workers, especially hotel housekeepers, have higher rates of on-the-job injuries, according to a report in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

The 2009 study analyzed injury records from 2003-05 at 50 hotels operated by the top-five hotel companies. Jobs studied included housekeepers, dishwashers, kitchen workers and banquet servers, representing 46 percent of the study population.

Since the study came out, the hotel industry nationwide has been looking at new ways to reduce injuries. Some properties have added extra employees for housekeepers don’t have to do heavy lifting.

For more:  http://www.news-journalonline.com/business/local-business/2010/08/07/hotels-seek-methods-to-reduce-worker-injuries.html

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by | August 9, 2010 · 2:10 pm

Hospitality Industry Employee Safety Training: OSHA Training Provisions Require That Management “Ensure That Employees Are Comprehending Instruction”, Specifically Lockout, Respiratory Protection And Bloodborne Pathogens

“If a reasonable person would conclude that the employer had not conveyed the training to its employees in a manner they were capable of understanding, then the violation may be cited as serious.”

OSHA’s general policy is that if an employee receives job instructions in a language other than English, training and information must also be conveyed in that language. Similarly, if employees are not literate, telling them to read training materials will not satisfy the employer’s training obligation.

OSHA adds that its training provisions contain a variety of specific requirements to ensure that employees are comprehending instruction. For example, standards covering lockout/tagout, respiratory protection, and bloodborne pathogens each require that employers take measures to ascertain the level to which the employee has comprehended the safety provisions.

For more:   http://enviro.blr.com/environmental-news/EHS-management/industrial-facility-compliance-training/Workers-Must-Understand-Training-118317/

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by | August 5, 2010 · 3:23 am

Hospitality Industry Accident Risk Management: Falls From Slips And Trips Represent One Of The Most Common Hazards In Restaurants

 Falls from slips and trips are among the most common hazards in the restaurant industry.  According to the National Safety Council, over 275,000 injuries and nearly 800 deaths among U.S. general industries were caused by slips, trips, and falls in 2008. In fact, slips, trips and falls represent the most common causes of workplace injury after motor vehicle accidents.  

Slips trips and falls can result in head injuries, back injuries, broken bones, cuts and lacerations, or sprained muscles.  In the years 2007-2008, the average workers’ compensation cost for a slip/trip/fall was $21,500.  This exceeds the average cost of other injuries by 14%!

The following are some simple ways to reduce the probability of a slip and/or fall on wet or slippery floors:

  • Install slip-resistant floor surface or use anti-skid adhesive tape in high traffic areas.
  • Use absorbent matting in entrance ways during inclement weather or in areas where walkers may pass through puddles. (Note: unanchored mats may cause slip hazards themselves. Make sure that matting lays flat and that the backing material is slip resistant.).
  • Maintain good housekeeping throughout all work areas. Utilize trash receptacles for the disposing of trash, food debris and other items which might wind up on floors.
  • Immediately clean up spills and leaks. Place caution signs to warn employees and/or patrons of slippery surfaces or other slip/trip hazards.
  • Develop written procedures to handle spills and ensure they are reported and cleaned up immediately.  Regular, frequent inspections of working and walking areas should be conducted to identify hazards which could cause slips, trips and falls.
  • Wear proper footwear for better traction on slippery surfaces.
  • Use handrails or other stable objects that you can hold on to in paths of travel.  

For more:  http://www.employers.com/business/slips-trips-falls.aspx

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by | August 4, 2010 · 3:25 am

Hospitality Industry Alcohol Sales Liability: Hotel And Restaurant Bar Owners Can Face Huge Damages From Lawsuits Resulting From Drunk Patrons Car Accidents

Make sure you have liquor liability insurance and that there’s plenty of financial space between you and your business.

“These types of cases can put a bar, a grocery store, convenience store, hotel or restaurant out of business and if they’re not careful, the people that are behind the ownership could see their houses or bank accounts put at risk,”

A recent Supreme Court ruling is going to put more pressure on businesses that sell alcohol.

Bars, restaurants, and even convenience stores could face stiffer penalties for selling alcohol to someone who ends up injuring someone else in a car accident.

On Monday, the Supreme Court of South Carolina upheld a 2003 ruling that awarded $10 million to a man who sued a bar after one of its patrons ran into him on a Greenwood highway.

“These types of cases can put a bar, a grocery store, convenience store, hotel or restaurant out of business and if they’re not careful, the people that are behind the ownership could see their houses or bank accounts put at risk,” said Christian Stegmaier, a retail and hospitality specialist at Collins and Lacy in Columbia.

For more:  http://www.live5news.com/Global/story.asp?S=12900444

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by | August 3, 2010 · 3:15 am

Hospitality Industry Food Safety: Restaurant Owners Must Improve Food Handling And Cooking Skills

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztzZJye-D58]

Foodborne diseases cause an estimated 75 million illnesses in the
United States each year. To keep you from getting sick, some area
restaurant owners are brushing up on their skills

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by | August 2, 2010 · 7:18 am

Hospitality Industry Health And Safety Risks: Hotel Owners Found Liable For $34 Million Resulting From Carbon Monoxide Leak Injuring 23 Employees At Hotel Restaurant

A Baltimore jury has awarded $34.3 million to 23 employees of an Inner Harbor steakhouse who suffered brain damage as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The plaintiffs worked for the Ruth’s Chris Steak House at the Pier V Hotel. The restaurant was evacuated on Feb. 2, 2008, after employees complained of dizziness and nausea. Carbon monoxide in the air was measured at potentially fatal levels.

Attorney Billy Murphy, who represented the plaintiffs, said Wednesday that the leak went on for weeks before the evacuation and that the hotel had removed a safety device that would have detected the problem.

The lawsuit named the hotel’s operator and owner. Murphy says Ruth’s Chris was not at fault.

Attorneys for the defendants could not immediately be reached for comment.

For more:   http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9H8A21O0.htm

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by | August 1, 2010 · 6:59 pm

Hotel Pool Liability Insurance: Hotel Owners Must Carry Umbrella Liability Insurance

“…especially with huge pools, umbrella liability insurance over and above your standard homeowners coverage is a must. Drownings, he says, can trigger court verdicts in excess of $1 million…”

Having a heart attack in a commercial pool is no exception when it comes to swimming pool liability. Goldenfarb says he just won a case in Orlando in which a drowning victim had a heart attack. Problem: The hotel pool lacked a defibrillator.

Hospital admission charges for Florida non-fatal drowning hospitalizations in 2008 tallied $16 million, according to the Florida Health Department. Commercial insurance paid just 34 percent of that.

â–  Limit alcoholic beverages around the pool. The Centers for Disease Control says alcohol use is involved in up to half of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation.

â–  Be sure life saving devices are nearby and in good condition.

■ Never rely exclusively on flotation devices or posted warning signs. They won’t deter lawyers.

â–  Keep children away from pool filters and other mechanical devices that may injure them. In case of emergency, know how to shut off these devices and clearly post the information.

For more:  http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/business/pool-owners-have-added-liability-834122.html?cxtype=rss_columnists_300796

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