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Wet floors

Slippery walkways

Cluttered floors

Cleaning equipment left out in the way

Improper lifting/moving too much at once

Discuss the importance of lifting items correctly and safely

Incorrectly lifting heavy objects may results in strained or pulled muscles and back injury. In turn, these injuries can result in loss of work and long term pain and suffering

Employees can also incur cuts and scratches when lifting trash and dirty linens.

Employees should know what conditions to look out for and special precautions to take.

When selecting a ladder for a particular cleaning job, inspect its condition, height, footing, stability, and sturdiness.

Ladders should be placed so the footing is at least one-fourth of the ladder lenghth away from the wall(for example, if the ladder is 12 feet tall, the footing should be 3 feet away from the wall).

Other basic ladder safety tips

If possible, have another employee help stabilize the ladder

Always face the ladder when climbing

Have clean and dry hands and feet

Do not hold any items or tools that nay prevent the use of one or both hands

Never stand on top step

Metal ladders should never be used when working near or on electrical equipment

Explain how to handle electrical equipment safely

Tips for the safe handling of electrical equipment:

Never operate when standing in water or when hands or clothing are wet

Never operate near flammable liquids,chemicals,or vapors as sparks could start a fire

Wires and connections should be checked periodically

Cords should be kept out of traffic areas when possible

Unsafe conditions should be reported to an appropriate supervisor immediately.

electrical equipment and machinery should be approved by the underwriters laboratories (ul), a non-profit organization that test electrical equipment and devices to ensure that they are free of defects that can cause fire or shocks.

Discuss how the safety of hotel jobs is analyzed

A job safety analysis is a detailed report that lists every job function performed by all employees in a department.

The job list provides the basis for analyzing the potential hazards of a particular position and instructs employees on the safe and proper way to perform each job.

Complete Apply Your Learning 3.1

3.2 LIST THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED WHEN HANDLING CHEMICALS

Personal protective gear may be used for covering the eyes, face, hand, and in some cases, the entire body.

List five steps needed to comply with the HazComm standard.

In order to comply with the HazComm standard,OSHA requires that hotels must:

Read standard

List the hazardous chemicals used at the property.

Obtain material safety data sheets (MSDSs)from the suppliers of chemicals used at the property, and make them available to the employees.

Make sure all chemical containers are labeled.

Develop and implement a hazard communication program that explains MSDS information and labeling procedures to employees and informs them about hazards and protective measures.

List the hazardous chemicals found in housekeeping department

Some substances on a list of hazardous chemicals used might be:

Substances fond in aerosol containers.

Caustics such as laundry or alkali

Degreasing agents used in laundry

Detergents

flammable materials such as cleaners and polishes

Fungicides and mildewcides used on carpets on in the laundry

Floor sealees strippers, and polishes

Pesticides.

A letter should be sent to the chemical manufacturer requesting the MSDS. The following information should be included on the MSDS:

Chemical identity

Hazardous ingredients

Physical and chemical characteristics

Fire and explosion hazard data

Reactivity data

Health hazards

Discuss the proper way to label chemical containers

Chemical manufactures, in addition to providing the MSDS, must provide proper labels for chemicals.

The label must contain the name of the chemical, hazard warning, and the manufacturer’s name and address.

To make the label quick to read and easy to comprehend, some properties use a labeling system with color, letter, and number codes.

The OSHA provision requires employers to ensure that employees properly label containers into which they pour chemicals.

Use apply learning 3.2

Use 3.2 quiz 4 review

Office plays in security

The front office staff are responsible for

Key control measures

Front desk surveillance

Access control

Protecting hotel funds

Controlling safe deposit box access

Lost and found prcedures

Developing emergency response procedures

besides personnel, proper equipment such as CCTV and monitors can enhance the surveillance function

Verify guest identity.

Positive identification is needed to complete registration.

. Identification can include a driver’s license or passport

Define the types of keys used at hotels

Emergency keys open all guestroom doors, even when doubled locked

Master keys open all guestroom doors that are not doubled-locked

Guestroom keys open a specific guestroom door

Explain how key control measures protect guest

Emergency and master keys are highly protected and stored in a secure place.

Only authorized people should have access to such key.

Emergency keys can be used to enter a room when the guest needs aid and is

unable to reach or open the door.

Discuss the ways that locking systems protect guest.

An electronic locking system replaces traditional mechanical locks with computer-based access devises.

They provide improved security and help reduce employee theft:

The ability to change the data on an electronic key card with every new registration means the card issued to the guest is the only working guestroom key.

Systems can keep track of which keys or cards opened which doors by date or time-employees tempted to steal may be discouraged by the fact that an entry record may be used in incriminate them.

All employees should be trained to recognize suspicious people and situations.

Front desk agents should be able to view the property’s entraces elevators ,escalators,and stairways

Mirrors should be placed in strategic locations to aid visibility.

Some smaller properties limit late-night access to the lobby and give the front desk agent the authority to deny admittance.

Closed-circuit television and monitors can aid in effective surveillance.

Describe how to protect hotel funds

The amount of cash in a register is limited through a cash bank system

All front office transactions are recorded immediately.

The cash register drawer is to be closed between each transaction.

A supervisor should occasionally conduct an unscheduled audit of front office cash registers.

Explain how access to a safe deposit boxes is controlled to limit liability.

The guest’s identity should be verified each time the guest desires access.

Only a guest should place items in or take items from a safe deposit box.

The front desk agent should never be alone with the guest’s valuables; once the box is open, the agent should leave the area and the guest should be left alone until he or she summons the agent.

When the guest is finished, the front desk agent locks the box in view of the guest and returns the guest’s key; the control key is then returned to its secured location.

Explain lost and found procedures

One employee or department should be assigned the lost and found responsibilities;no one but authorized personnel should handle lost/found items or discuss them with the guest.

All items should be recorded in a lost/found log; the items should be stored until it is claimed- or for the length of time required by law.

Under no circumstances should an item be mailed to a guest without the guest’s permission. The front office may send a letter asking to contact the hotel.

Assign 3.3 from text book

Admntr. Sec. 3.3 quiz.

3.4 describe what housekeeping security involves

Housekeeping employees can be part of an effective security force-particularly in guestroom areas. Staff should be trained to spot suspicious activities and unauthorized or undesirable persons.

Suspicious activities or persons include those seen loitering, checking doors, knocking on doors or looking nervous.

Explain how properties can minimize theft by guest

Theft reduction strategies include:

Keeping track of towels distributed

Keeping storage rooms locked

Using as few monogrammed items as possible

Placing popular items in the gift shop.

Apply 3.4

Adminstr. 3.4 quiz

3.5 discuss how emergency planning is vital to a property

Emergency drills and action plans help a property prepare for things which they can’t fully control. A prepared property is a safer property.

Disasters include power failures, computer failures, floods, fires weather, criminal activities, and terrorism.

Review fire response

procedures.

Fire alarm and power failures are the most

common. Emergencies experienced in the lodging industry.