Tag Archives: Spas

by | December 7, 2012 · 8:59 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Florida Hotel And Spa Sued For "Sexual Abuse" Of Woman During Massage; Masseuse Used "Inappropriate Draping Techniques" And Contact

“…The suit alleges masseuse failed to use appropriate draping techniques and within 10-15 minutes, Hospitality Industry Lawsuitshe was completely naked…he proceeded to “massage” her exposed breast and lower belly, saying it was a technique in which he specialized, according to her attorney…”

A woman and her attorney have filed a lawsuit against a Miami Beach spa after she claimed she was sexually abused by a masseuse. According to the lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court early Thursday morning, the unnamed woman went to the Sanctuary Hotel on South Beach with her husband on Feb. 20th and purchased a massage at the Sanctuary Spa & Salon through Groupon.

According to the suit, Fraga continued the sexual conduct by rubbing between her buttocks, legs and private parts and placed his penis in her hand. The woman has sued the Sanctuary Hotel Group, Inc.

For more:  http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/12/06/lawsuit-woman-alleges-sex-abuse-by-masseuse-at-sobe-spa/

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by | July 16, 2012 · 6:32 am

Hospitality Industry Spa Treatment Risks: Florida Hotel Sued By Woman Who Claims "Near-Fatal Massage And Treatment" Has Resulted In Two Years Of Medical Expenses

“…a spa employee slathered her in aromatic essential oils, aloe, and shea butter. But the curvy Jersey girl began to have doubts when she was wrapped tightly in a “cellophane-type material” and helped inside something called an Alpha Massage Capsule. It looked like a space-age coffin…”

“…Once inside, she couldn’t move. As the temperature soared, she started to become overheated and lightheaded. She shouted for help, but the attendant had vanished, the lawsuit says. Then Berean passed out…”

According to a lawsuit she filed earlier this month, Berean’s spa treatment (at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Miami Beach in July 2010) turned into one hot, buttery nightmare. The spa promised to leave her skin “glowing,” but Berean’s “hot butter wrap” nearly melted her instead. After two years of medical bills, she wants payback.

“She was stuck in this little heating egg,” says Berean’s lawyer, Andrew Norden. “She yelled, but nobody came to help her. Then she passed out. It was terrifying for her.”

Lawyers representing Nirvana Spa did not respond to requests for comment. Berean also declined to speak to New Times about her ordeal, but her attorney and lawsuit paint a terrifying picture of relaxation gone awry.

When the Nirvana Spa employee finally returned, she took Berean out of the capsule and unwrapped her like an aborted butterfly. Berean gradually came to, but instead of calling paramedics, the employee put the barely conscious client into the shower and left her alone again, according to the lawsuit. Berean fainted a second time and hit her head.

Berean has undergone “extensive medical care and treatment” because of the near-fatal massage, the lawsuit claims. But Natalia Bazhenova, Nirvana’s current manager who joined the spa after the incident, says the story sounds suspicious.

For more:  http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2012/07/woman_sues_nirvana_spa_on_miam.php

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by | December 10, 2011 · 8:18 am

Hospitality Industry Pool Risks: Hotel Pools And Spas Are Not Considered Safe If "Drain Covers Are Broken, Missing Or Cracked" (Video)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRLG0iICT4w]

 

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Filed under Guest Issues, Health, Injuries, Insurance, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Pool And Spa, Training

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by | August 23, 2011 · 9:45 am

Hospitality Industry Spa Safety: Hotel Spas And Saunas Usage Can Be Monitored And Regulated With New Heat-Resistant, Waterproof RFID Bracelets

“…a heat-resistant waterproof RFID bracelet -08, specially designed to be used in high temperature environment like sauna and spa hotel, etc. Incorporated with silicone and RFID tag, this heat-resistant RFID bracelet tag can be used in the sauna as admissions, payment and security…”

This waterproof RFID bracelet is perfectly used in high temperature environment, since it can survive in the extreme temperature from -30 Celsius degree to +60 Celsius degree while still maintaining high identification accuracy. With this heat-resistant contactless bracelet worn on wrist, the guests of the sauna can get in or out of the place freely and pay the fee without cash or credit card. Thus, it can guarantee the safety of the guests.

For more:  http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/162586-1313742730-heatresistant-rfid-bracelet-waterproof-for-sauna-and-spa-hotel.html

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by | December 26, 2010 · 12:06 pm

Hospitality Industry Guest Health And Safety: Hotel And Spa Owners Must Maintain Clean Workout Facilities, Pools And Spas

Gym Equipment Spreads Skin Infections

  • Staph infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, can spread through shared gym equipment, mats and towels.
  • Infections tend to occur near a cut or scrape, and on certain body parts (the armpits, buttocks, groin and neck).
  • They start off looking like a large pimple but can swell, become painful and produce pus.
  • If they spread to your bloodstream, they can be life-threatening.
  • Many clear up on their own, but seek medical attention if a fever develops or if the area becomes enlarged, red, tender or warm.

Prevention:

  • Use the alcohol spray or wipes that most gyms provide to wipe off equipment before and after use.
  • Place a clean towel over mats used for doing sit-ups, stretching or yoga.
  •  Don’t share towels with others.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
  • Shower after working out. If you have a cut or scrape, keep it covered with a clean adhesive bandage and don’t use hot tubs or whirlpools.

Dirty Pools Teaming With Bacteria

  • Poorly maintained swimming pools are common, allowing bacteria and viruses to cause outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness.
  • Inspections at 3,666 health clubs in 13 states found serious lapses requiring the immediate closing of 10 percent of the pools (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Improperly maintained circulation and filtering systems and skimpy disinfection were among the most common problems.

Prevention:

  • Require showers with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing a baby’s diaper.
  • Don’t use the pool if the water has a strong chemical smell or appears cloudy.
  • Pool water should have little odor and be clear enough that you can easily see the bottom.
  • Chlorine and pH levels should be checked at least twice a day, and the pool’s latest inspection score should be recorded.
  • Chlorine should be 1 to 3 parts per million (4 to 6 ppm for hot tubs), and pH should be 7.2 to 7.8.

For more:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/20/AR2010122004711.html?wprss=rss_health

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by | May 17, 2010 · 4:07 am

Hotel And Resort Spa Health Risks: Massage And Foot Treatments Can Expose Guests To Infections And Health Risks

“…While most of today’s spas promise to restore, refresh, and renew — and some offer even more explicit health claims — they generally don’t warn you of the potential risks involved. But they do exist. Certain spa treatments can worsen chronic and acute health conditions. All spas can pose risks to the general public, particularly when operated in a state of uncleanliness…”

(From a CBSNews.com article)

  •  People with diabetes need to take extra precautions when getting foot treatments. “Any break in the skin, potentially from aggressive trimming of a callous or cuticle, can increase the risk of foot infections called cellulitis,” says Sharon Horesh, MD, an internal medicine doctor with Emory University’s department of medicine.
  • When it comes to massage, experts say that the degree of risk involved depends on the type of touch applied. “The most important adaptation for chronic disease, like cancer, is touch level,” says Kathleen Clayton, a licensed massage therapist and spokeswoman for the American Massage Therapy Association. 
  • “…all potential massage-goers to receive massages only from licensed massage therapists….”
  • “In the second and third trimesters, women should specifically seek a pregnancy massage therapist and avoid massage techniques that involve long strokes along the legs or pressure between the ankle and heels,” Horesh tells WebMD.  There’s good reason to heed this advice. “There’s always a chance that it might make the baby dislodge, or induce premature labor,” explains Clayton.

     http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/15/health/webmd/main1128859.shtml

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by | February 28, 2010 · 6:08 am

Hospitality Industry Risk: Many Hotel Spa’s Are Underinsured With Spa Owners Liable For Injuries To Clients

(From a SmartMoney.com article)  With the growth of the spa industry, consistent standards have become an afterthought. Industry associations do exist, but membership is strictly voluntary. The biggest one, ISPA, represents about 3,200 spas worldwide, but its application process isn’t exactly grueling. Members must agree to abide by the association’s “standards and practices,” which include requirements such as clean treatment rooms and staffers trained in CPR.

They also have to adhere to a code of conduct, which is a list of spa-goers’ rights and responsibilities, says ISPA’s executive director, Lynne Walker McNees. But in the end, spa industry regulations vary from state to state, so there’s no uniform set of guidelines.

As a result, many spas carry inadequate insurance, says Mary Lynne Blaesser, a certified insurance counselor at the Marine Agency, which has provided coverage for about 15,000 spas. “In most states, the only insurance spas are required to carry by law is workers’ comp,” Blaesser says.Without professional or general liability in effect, an injured customer would have to seek recourse or reimbursement directly from the spa owner rather than an insurance company. However, most leases require that lessees carry general liability coverage for such things as trip and fall claims.

The combination of spotty insurance and almost nonexistent refund policies means one thing for dissatisfied customers: Good luck collecting if something goes wrong. And that applies even for the most egregious mishaps. Leandros Vrionedes, a personal-injury lawyer in New York City, had a client whose day-spa facial turned into a horror show. “The esthetician oversteamed the client and applied the wax immediately after,” Vrionedes says. “She wound up taking part of this person’s face off — several layers of skin were removed. The spa argued that it was the fault of the product and we didn’t have a case. We argued that it was the procedure.” After five years of legal wrangling, including trial to verdict and an appeal, the woman received an undisclosed settlement — which her lawyer describes as “not enough.”

Even when a spa does carry insurance, consumers may have a tough time obtaining compensation for injury.

“Some insurance companies will fight you tooth and nail,” Vrionedes says. Don’t assume, though, that you have no case just because of some lengthy waiver you signed when you arrived at the facility. According to Vrionedes, some of these documents will hold up in court, but others won’t — especially those that are all-encompassing. If the release “absolves the spa of absolutely everything in the world,” he says, courts will sometimes void the agreement.

http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/deals/10-things-your-spa-wont-tell-you-10378/?page=3

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