Tag Archives: Repetitive Stress Injuries

by | May 11, 2011 · 2:24 pm

Hospitality Industry Employee Issues: California Legislature Considers Legislation To Require "Fitted Bed Sheets" To Reduce Housekeeping Injuries But Costs To Hotels Would Be Significant

“…Supporters of the bill argue it will reduce worker injuries by eliminating the need for workers to repetitively lift extremely heavy mattresses when making beds…”

“… They contend that flat sheets cause workers to strain their backs, shoulders and wrists, and are often responsible for repetitive motion injuries…” 

“..But the California Hotel and Lodging Association says replacing existing sheets to comply with the bill could cost between $30 million and $50 million…”

“…Hotel operators argue they will need to purchase new equipment in order to launder the fitted sheets. They also say fitted sheets will have to be replaced more often, that the elastic in fitted sheets breaks down faster than fabric, and that fitted sheets cost more to iron, fold and store…”

The California Legislature is considering a bill that would regulate what type of sheets can be used on hotel bed mattresses across the state. State Bill 432, sponsored by Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), also calls for the use of long-handled tools like mops and dusters so housekeepers do not have to get down on their hands and knees to clean bathroom floors.

“Just by using fitted sheets you could cut the number of lifts in half, and we think that would go a long way in preventing worker injury,” said Leigh Shelton, a spokesperson for UNITE HERE, a union that represents California hospitality workers.

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by | March 24, 2011 · 7:42 am

Hotel Industry Employee Injury Risks: Video From The "Health And Safety Authority" In Ireland Demonstrates "Risk Factors" Associated With Housekeepers Handling Of Laundry

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

  • Manual Handling Case Study 15 Handling Hotel Linen
  • On Screen Text: Manual Handling: Handling of linen in a hotel bedroom
  • Hotel employee removing linen from hotel bedroom
  • Scene 1:
    A hotel employee has just finished changing the linen on a bed. He walks out of the hotel room and down a corridor to throw the linen into an already-full black bag. He then throws the bag over his shoulder and down the corridor further, and throws the black bag into a lift. The lift is already full of other black linen bags.
  • On Screen Text:
    Need to carry out a risk assessment of this task
    Look at how the job is carried out
    Collect information: Load weight, etc
    Identify risk factors with the job
    Make changes to improve the job
  • On Screen Text:
    Risk Factors/Problems
  • Scene 2:
    Still image of character throwing the bag into the lift. Large Red “X” marks indicate the risk factors with the job.
    Load is too heavy
    Load is too large
    Difficult to grasp
    Physical effort is too strenuous
    Bending and twisting of the trunk
  • On Screen Text:
    The new system of work: Assess risk to reduce and reorganise manual handling
  • Scene 3:
    The hotel employee put the used bed linen into a linen trolley, rolls the trolley out of the room and down the corridor to the waiting lift. He rolls the trolley into the lift.
  • On Screen Text:
    Manual Handling : Assess to avoid, reduce or reorganise

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by | September 15, 2010 · 7:31 am

Hotel Industry Risk Management: “Optional Linen Service” And Other “Green Programs” Can Help Reduce “Repetitive-Use Injuries” And Chemicals Usage At Hotels

Categories include promoting environmental awareness through new employee training and workshops,  ….waste reduction, energy and water efficiency and air quality as well as green cleaning and housekeeping practices which include optional linen service – who really needs their sheets changed every day? Similar programs in Virginia Beach, Va., and Ocean City, Md., have been embraced by merchants and tourists alike.

The local tourism and hospitality industries have a vested interest in conservation of natural resources. Aside from the money hotels, restaurants and attractions can save reducing, reusing and recycling, preserving the environmental quality of our area preserves tourism itself. The South Carolina Green Alliance, a partnership between the South Carolina Hospitality Association and the state DHEC, is devoted to helping state lodgings, attractions and eateries go green. The program made its debut last year, and although only a handful of local business are listed on the Web site (greenalliance.com), Tom Sponseller, president of the state hospitality association, says that more are coming. “We have another 30 or so restaurants and hotels that will be added. We’ve only been doing this a short time, and the whole process from implementing changes to filling out the application to it being approved through DHEC can be a bit lengthy.”

Part of the process is working with local businesses to implement changes to reduce the large scale impacts the hospitality industry has on the environment. Businesses in the hospitality industry, as well as their suppliers, can go to schospitality.org for an application listing nine categories in which points can be earned. Depending on how many points earned, a Palmetto tree is awarded, with one Palmetto indicating a business has adopted and is beginning to implement a green plan, to three Palmettos, which indicates a high level of eco-initiatives have been adopted and utilized.

While only a small number of local businesses have made it through Green Alliance certification, that doesn’t mean our local hospitality industry isn’t taking the steps necessary to become more eco-friendly. The Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association (MBAHA) is working with the state program, and encourages its members to take those important first steps in going green. “Our industry wants to get more involved, and it’s a question of figuring out how to do that,” says Stephen Greene, president of the MBHA. “As a group, we’ve been moving forward, but it takes a lot of time and training,” In cooperation with efforts of the state and local hospitality associations, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has encouraged its members to go green. As part of its Going Green program, the Chamber works to provide education, resources and support to its members in implementing energy conservation and waste reduction practices.

Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/09/09/1681777/oily-residue.html#ixzz0zbrCTJX5

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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 | June 17, 2010 · 7:05 am

Hospitality Industry Employee Injury Prevention: “Hands-On” Training Of Latino Employees On “Injury Prevention”, In Both English And Spanish, Will Lower Injury Rates And Save Companies Money In Long Run

“… the company provides monthly, hands-on training to workers in both English and Spanish. The company, which owns franchises of Carl’s Jr., Green Burrito, Papa John’s and Denny’s, has mostly Latino workers.”

“…Gonzalez said providing hands-on training lowered the company’s injury rate by 20 percent this past year.”

Recent data show that Latino workers are more prone to workplace-related fatalities and injuries.

Safety consultant Art Pedroza offered companies an alternative to medical payouts and legal fees: train the workers how to not hurt themselves.

“Latino workers are exposed to more risks and mortalities in the workplace than other workers. That’s more reason to emphasize how to keep them safe,” said Pedroza, outgoing president of the Orange County chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers. He spoke at a chapter meeting held Wednesday at the Anaheim Park Hotel in Fullerton.

For more:  http://www.ocregister.com/news/workers-253791-pedroza-latino.html?cb=1276780048

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