Category Archives: Training

by | August 18, 2011 · 5:35 am

Hospitality Industry Employee Risks: Hotel And Lodging Groups Remain Opposed To Pending California Legislation "Mandating The Use Of Fitted Sheets"

“.. Senate Bill 432.. would create “new occupational safety and health standards for all hotels, motels and other similar transient lodging establishments in California…”

“.. It would mandate the “use of fitted sheets … on the bottom sheet on all beds” at such lodging. And it would mandate the “use of long-handled tools,” such as mops, to reduce stooping “to clean bathroom floors, walls, tubs, toilets and other bathroom surfaces…”

 “A 2009 report in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that housekeepers have higher (7.87 per 100) injury rates than other hotel workers…”

The California Hotel & Lodging Association pointed out that the medical study didn’t even mention fitted sheets as culprit in the injuries. And it charged it would cost up to $50 million to replace the regular sheets with fitted sheets. Mr. Hayes said the high number is “a bunch of nonsense” and that Sen. De Leon and other legislators are working on the bill to “find a way to implement it without added costs,” within the hotels’ economic structure.

He said the major hotels are in favor of working for a compromise bill. But the association remains adamant against any bill. And he said that, as only about 10 percent of housekeepers are unionized, including the sheet rules in future contracts wouldn’t help much.

For more:  http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-08-16/news/29897915_1_sheets-housekeepers-hotel-workers

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by | August 9, 2011 · 7:39 am

Hospitality Industry Guest Safety Risks: Child Drowns In Missouri Hotel's Hot Tub As "Water Slide" Distracts Adult Supervision

“…The death of a 3-year-old who drowned in a hotel hot-tub is being ruled an accidental drowning….the boy’s grandfather was watching two older siblings at a water slide when he noticed Parker was underwater in the hot tub and pulled him out…”

Police say 3-year-old Parker Wilson of Rosendale went underwater in a hot tub at the Ramada Inn last Monday. Wilson was at the water park with his siblings and their grandparents.

Emergency workers performed CPR on the boy but he later died at the hospital.

For more:  http://stjoechannel.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=216927

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by | August 2, 2011 · 6:38 am

Hospitality Industry Employee Injury Risks: California Legislation Requiring "Fitted Sheets" On Hotel Beds To Reduce Heavy-Lifting By Housekeepers Is Up For Vote This Month By State Assembly

“…(California) SB 432.. would require hotels to use fitted sheets instead of flat sheets to reduce the amount of mattress lifting housekeepers must do. The legislation also would require hotels to provide long-handled mops so housekeepers won’t have to clean bathrooms on their hands and knees as they do now…”

The state Senate has passed a bill proposed by Sen. Kevin de LeÏŒn (D-Los Angeles) that would help prevent or reduce housekeeper injuries. It comes up for a vote in the Assembly this month. But the bill is facing stiff opposition from the hotel and tourism industry, which says it will increase costs and stifle growth.

A representative of the hotel industry, led by the California Hotel and Lodging Assn., told a Senate Committee that if SB 432 passes, California hotels will have to spend an additional $15 million or more to buy fitted sheets to replace the sheets for 550,000 beds at $25 per sheet. But hotels generally replace their sheets annually..

For more:  http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-cohen-maids-20110802,0,7847167.story

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by | August 1, 2011 · 6:08 am

Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: Major Hotel Operator Improves Staff Training And Procedures After "Gang-Led Child Prostitution Ring" Investigation Results In Indictment Of California Hotel Owner

“…The investigation resulted in an April federal indictment of 38 people, including suspected gang members and the owners of a Wyndham-franchised Travelodge in Oceanside, authorities said…”

Hotel operator Wyndham Worldwide will improve its staff training and procedures after authorities cracked down on gang-led child prostitution rings in California hotels, a probe that drew media and activist attention to the chain, a hotel spokesman said Friday.

Wyndham is expanding its years-long efforts to fight child sex trafficking by reviewing its operating practices in partnership with the nonprofit ECPAT-USA (Ending Child Prostitution and Trafficking), said Michael Valentino, director of communications for Wyndham Worldwide.

Southern California authorities recently completed an 18-month investigation into allegations that three rival Crips gangs collaborated to prostitute girls and women out of California hotels through Internet-arranged meetings.

 A CNN story in June prompted one activist to lead a 14,000-signature online petition drive on Change.org, an activist platform, demanding that Wyndham reform its business policies.

“As long as human trafficking and exploitation continue to be supported by those profiting from this tragic practice, we believe no member of the travel and tourism industry can ever guarantee these events will not occur in the future,” Valentino told CNN in an e-mail Friday.

For more:  http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/01/hotel-chain-boosts-staff-training-to-fight-child-prostitution/

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by | July 19, 2011 · 4:54 pm

P3 Hospitality Industry Risk Report: "Sales/Group Contracts" Discussed By Todd Seiders, Director Of Risk Management For Petra Risk Solutions (Video)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r_sKI3wIPg&feature=email]

Petra Risk Solutions’ Director of Risk Management, Todd Seiders, offers a P3 Hospitality Risk Report – ‘Sales/Group Contracts’. 

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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by | July 17, 2011 · 8:10 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: Nevada Hotel Guests Exposed To "Bacteria Causing Legionnaires' Disease"; Water Treatment Capabilities Increased

“…Spokeswoman Stephanie Bethel of the Southern Nevada Health District said Thursday that six cases of the sometimes-deadly form of pneumonia have been reported among Aria guests by the Centers for Disease Control….”

The hotel says in a letter to guests that it added additional water treatment and the latest tests show no detectible levels of the bacteria.

The Aria Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip is warning guests who stayed during a two week window that they may have been exposed to high levels of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.

Bethel says all six people were treated and have recovered. Hotel officials say water tests in several guest rooms between June 21 and July 4 detected elevated levels of the bacteria Legionella.

For more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9748294

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by | July 15, 2011 · 6:36 am

Hospitality Industry Federal Law Compliance: Hotel Management Must Have Comprehensive Knowledge Of "Americans With Disabilities Act" (ADA) Regulations

For more:  http://www.ahla.com/knowledge/

 

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by | July 14, 2011 · 7:14 am

Hospitality Industry Guest Credit Card Security: Tips For Securing Hotel Computer Systems Against Credit Card Data Theft (Video)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCmZ9DlrI9o]

Sue Zloth, is a member of the HFTP PCI Compliance Roundtable, provides key tips for securing guests’ credit card data at the 2011 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) conference.

  • Change default passwords on all new information systems
  • Do not allow remote access into hotel computer systems
  • Minimize areas where credit card data is stored

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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 6, 2011 · 8:23 am

Hotel Industry Pool Safety: Risks Of Dangerous "E. Coli" Outbreaks In Hotel Pools Increase As Chlorine Levels Decrease, pH Levels Rise Due To "Sunlight, Dirt And Material From Swimmers' Bodies"

“Because of the risk for outbreak of illness, it is essential that public pools and water parks follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for adequate chlorine and pH levels.”

Sunlight, dirt, debris and material from swimmers’ bodies can all reduce chlorine levels in pool water. That is why chlorine levels must be routinely measured. As pH goes up, the ability of chlorine to kill germs goes down, so pH levels also need to be tested. Specific regulations regarding testing timetables and testing procedures would prevent illness.

“…E. coli O157 can cause severe dehydration, hemorrhagic colitis (may require removal of part of the colon), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), sometimes referred to as E. coli kidney failure. In addition to uremia and renal failure, HUS can cause seizures, strokes, encephalopathy, acute respiratory distress syndrome, heart attack and heart failure, blindness, paralysis, pancreatitis and death…”

E. coli attorney Fred Pritzker is calling for better regulations for public swimming pools after fifteen people were sickened at the Opelika SportsPlex and Aquatic Center in Opelika, Alabama. Parents should be able to bring their children to a public swimming facility without the children getting exposed to E. coli O157 or another dangerous pathogen,” said Pritzker. “Better regulations regarding chlorine and pH testing would help prevent E. colioutbreaks.”

To date, thirteen children and two adults who either played in the Splash Park or swam in the pool at the Opelika SportsPlex and Aquatic Center between June 4 and June 22 were identified with severe gastrointestinal illness consistent with E. coli O157 poisoning. Five children have been confirmed positive for E. coli O157:H7 infection.

Four children were hospitalized, and two remain hospitalized. “Based on the information that we have now, it appears that the common source of exposure was the Aquatic Center,” said State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson.

For more:  http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110630006874/en/E.-coli-Lawyer-Calls-Regulations-Wake-Opelika

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