Hotel Safety Manual

What Should a Hotel Safety Manual Include?

The contents of a Hotel Safety Manual should reflect the property’s actual operations.

A limited-service hotel may need a different combination of programs than a large full-service hotel or resort containing restaurants, commercial kitchens, banquet facilities, laundry operations, pools and spas, extensive mechanical systems, groundskeeping operations, parking garages, maintenance shops, and substantial public areas.

Depending on operations, the manual may address:

• Hotel safety responsibilities.
• Hazard assessments.
• Safety inspections.
• Job Safety Analysis.
• Housekeeping safety.
• Housekeeping ergonomics.
• Manual lifting and material handling.
• Slips, trips and falls.
• Walking-working surfaces.
• Cleaning chemicals.
• Hazard Communication.
• Personal Protective Equipment.
• Sharps and discarded needles.
• Laundry safety.
• Maintenance and engineering.
• Hand and power tools.
• Electrical safety.
• Lockout/Tagout.
• Ladder safety.
• Food service and kitchen safety.
• Pool and spa safety.
• Workplace violence.
• Hotel security.
• Working alone.
• Fire prevention.
• Emergency procedures.

Programs should be selected according to the work actually performed, hazards present, equipment used, and applicable safety requirements.

Hotel Safety Program

An effective Hotel Safety Program establishes responsibilities and procedures for identifying workplace hazards, preventing employee injuries, maintaining equipment, protecting employees from chemicals and other exposures, providing appropriate training, and correcting unsafe conditions.

Management should provide employees with the equipment, safeguards, training, PPE, and resources necessary to perform their assigned work safely.

Managers and supervisors should:

• Identify hazards within their departments.
• Conduct appropriate workplace inspections.
• Evaluate housekeeping ergonomic hazards.
• Maintain equipment and safeguards.
• Establish safe work procedures.
• Evaluate chemical exposures.
• Coordinate housekeeping, maintenance, food service, security, and other departments.
• Provide appropriate PPE.
• Train employees before assigning hazardous work.
• Correct unsafe conditions.
• Investigate incidents and near misses.
• Follow up on corrective actions.

Employees should follow established procedures, use required safeguards and PPE, report unsafe conditions, and operate only equipment for which they have received appropriate training and authorization.

Hotel Hazard Assessments

Hotel operations should be evaluated to identify hazards associated with housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, food service, groundskeeping, security, material handling, and other employee activities.

Hazard assessments may consider:

• Repetitive work.
• Lifting and carrying.
• Awkward postures.
• Cleaning chemicals.
• Wet and slippery floors.
• Sharp objects.
• Hot surfaces.
• Electrical equipment.
• Machinery.
• Hazardous energy.
• Ladders and elevated work.
• Workplace violence.
• Working alone.
• Vehicle traffic.
• Outdoor heat exposure.

Assessments should be reviewed when equipment, processes, chemicals, services, or employee tasks change significantly.

Hotel Safety Inspections

Periodic safety inspections can help identify unsafe conditions and verify that established procedures are being followed.

Inspections may include:

• Guest-room work areas.
• Housekeeping storage.
• Housekeeping carts.
• Laundry facilities.
• Kitchens and food-service areas.
• Maintenance shops.
• Mechanical rooms.
• Electrical equipment.
• Ladders.
• Pool and spa areas.
• Loading and receiving areas.
• Parking areas.
• Chemical storage.
• Walking-working surfaces.
• Fire protection equipment.
• Emergency exits.
• Employee work areas.

Identified deficiencies should be documented and corrected in a timely manner.

Job Safety Analysis (JSA/JHA)

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA/JHA) can be used to evaluate higher-hazard hotel activities and establish appropriate controls before work begins.

JSAs/JHAs may be appropriate for:

• Guest-room housekeeping.
• Bed making.
• Bathroom cleaning.
• Housekeeping-cart handling.
• Laundry operations.
• Chemical handling.
• Ladder use.
• Electrical maintenance.
• HVAC maintenance.
• Pool maintenance.
• Kitchen equipment.
• Groundskeeping.
• Loading and unloading.
• Maintenance and repair.

The JSA/JHA should identify task steps, hazards associated with each step, and controls necessary to perform the work safely.

Hotel Housekeeping Safety

Housekeeping employees perform physically demanding work and may encounter different hazards in every guest room.

Potential hazards include:

• Repetitive motion.
• Awkward postures.
• Lifting mattresses.
• Pushing and pulling carts.
• Bending and reaching.
• Slippery bathroom surfaces.
• Cleaning chemicals.
• Broken glass.
• Discarded sharp objects.
• Unexpected conditions in guest rooms.

Housekeeping procedures should address both immediate safety hazards and cumulative ergonomic exposures.

Housekeeping Ergonomics

Hotel housekeeping can involve repeated lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, bending, kneeling, twisting, and forceful exertion.

Potentially demanding tasks include:

• Making beds.
• Lifting mattresses.
• Changing linens.
• Cleaning bathtubs and showers.
• Cleaning floors.
• Vacuuming.
• Moving furniture.
• Pushing housekeeping carts.
• Handling bags of laundry.
• Reaching high or low surfaces.

The hotel should evaluate housekeeping work and identify practical methods for reducing unnecessary physical demands.

Controls may include improved tools, equipment, work methods, cart design, task organization, and other ergonomic improvements appropriate to the property.

Bed Making

Bed making can involve repetitive bending, reaching, lifting, pulling, and mattress handling.

Where practical, work practices should reduce unnecessary reaching and forceful lifting.

Employees should:

• Position themselves close to the work.
• Avoid excessive twisting.
• Move around the bed rather than repeatedly reaching across it when practical.
• Obtain assistance with unusually heavy mattresses or furniture.
• Use available equipment or methods designed to reduce physical demands.

Bathroom Cleaning

Cleaning bathtubs, showers, toilets, floors, and other bathroom surfaces can require prolonged bending, kneeling, reaching, and forceful scrubbing.

Where practical, employees should use appropriately designed tools that reduce excessive reaching or awkward postures.

Cleaning products should be used according to established chemical-safety procedures.

Employees should use caution on wet surfaces.

Housekeeping Carts

Housekeeping carts should be maintained in safe condition and arranged to minimize unnecessary physical strain.

Employees should:

• Avoid overloading carts.
• Distribute loads appropriately.
• Maintain visibility while moving.
• Push rather than pull when appropriate.
• Use caution on ramps and uneven surfaces.
• Keep hands clear of pinch points.
• Report damaged wheels, handles, or brakes.

Frequently used supplies should be positioned to reduce unnecessary reaching where practical.

Linens and Laundry Bags

Wet linens and heavily loaded laundry bags can create substantial lifting and handling demands.

Employees should avoid overfilling bags or containers.

Carts or other mechanical assistance should be used where practical.

Employees should obtain assistance when loads cannot be safely handled by one person.

Room Cleaning

Before beginning work, housekeepers should remain alert for unusual or potentially hazardous conditions.

Potential hazards may include:

• Broken glass.
• Discarded needles or sharps.
• Blood or other potentially infectious material.
• Chemical containers.
• Damaged electrical equipment.
• Wet floors.
• Unsecured furniture.
• Guest belongings creating trip hazards.

Employees should follow established procedures for conditions they are not authorized or equipped to handle.

Sharps and Discarded Needles

Housekeeping employees should not reach blindly into trash containers, bedding, furniture, or other areas where hidden sharp objects may be present.

Employees should not pick up discarded needles or similar sharps with bare hands.

The hotel should establish procedures for isolating and safely handling discovered sharps.

Employees should know who to contact when they encounter a needle, broken glass, or other hazardous sharp object.

Blood and Other Potentially Infectious Materials — When Applicable

Hotel housekeeping and laundry employees are not automatically considered occupationally exposed to bloodborne pathogens solely because they perform cleaning duties.

The hotel should evaluate job classifications and tasks to determine whether employees have reasonably anticipated occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.

Where occupational exposure exists, applicable Bloodborne Pathogens requirements should be implemented.

Employees who are not designated or trained to handle blood or other potentially infectious materials should follow established procedures for reporting the condition and obtaining assistance.

Cleaning Chemicals

Hotels may use disinfectants, sanitizers, glass cleaners, bathroom cleaners, degreasers, floor-care products, laundry chemicals, pool chemicals, and other hazardous substances.

Employees should:

• Follow label and Safety Data Sheet precautions.
• Use required PPE.
• Follow established dilution procedures.
• Avoid unauthorized chemical mixing.
• Use dispensing systems correctly.
• Maintain appropriate container labels.
• Report leaking or damaged containers.

Employees should never assume that two cleaning products are safe to mix.

Chemical Dilution and Dispensing

Chemical concentrates should be diluted and dispensed according to manufacturer instructions and established procedures.

Automatic or closed dispensing systems should be used correctly where provided.

Employees should not intentionally bypass dilution or dispensing equipment.

Appropriate eye, face, hand, and body protection should be used based on the chemical hazard.

Hazard Communication

Employees exposed to hazardous chemicals should receive appropriate information and training.

The Hazard Communication Program should address applicable:

• Chemical inventories.
• Safety Data Sheets.
• Container labeling.
• Employee information and training.
• Non-routine tasks.
• Contractor communication.

Employees should understand how to obtain and use Safety Data Sheets.

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE requirements should be based on workplace hazard assessments and employee tasks.

Depending on the work performed, PPE may include:

• Safety glasses or goggles.
• Face protection.
• Chemical-resistant gloves.
• Cut-resistant gloves.
• Protective footwear.
• Hearing protection.
• Protective clothing.
• Other task-specific protection.

PPE should be appropriately selected, maintained, and used.

Hand Protection

Gloves should be selected according to the specific hazard.

Different hotel tasks may require protection from:

• Cleaning chemicals.
• Cuts and abrasions.
• Heat.
• Cold.
• Sharp materials.
• Maintenance hazards.

Employees should understand the limitations of the gloves provided.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Hotels contain numerous areas where employees may encounter wet floors, cords, carts, luggage, linens, cleaning equipment, damaged flooring, or other trip and slip hazards.

Employees should promptly address or report unsafe conditions.

Temporary hazards should be appropriately marked or protected when they cannot be immediately eliminated.

Particular attention should be given to:

• Bathrooms.
• Kitchens.
• Laundry areas.
• Pool decks.
• Lobbies.
• Entrances.
• Stairs.
• Exterior walkways.
• Loading areas.
• Maintenance spaces.

Walking-Working Surfaces

Floors, stairs, platforms, ramps, walkways, and other walking-working surfaces should be maintained in safe condition.

Hazards such as damaged flooring, loose carpeting, protrusions, inadequate lighting, open floor areas, and unsafe walking surfaces should be promptly addressed.

Employees should not create or leave unprotected openings that expose workers to fall hazards.

Housekeeping Equipment

Vacuums, floor machines, carpet extractors, carts, and other housekeeping equipment should be maintained in safe condition.

Employees should inspect equipment as appropriate and report:

• Damaged cords.
• Broken plugs.
• Defective switches.
• Damaged wheels.
• Missing guards.
• Unusual operating conditions.

Employees should use only equipment they have been instructed to operate safely.

Laundry Safety

Hotel laundry operations may involve washers, dryers, presses, folding equipment, conveyors, chemicals, hot surfaces, steam, repetitive work, and substantial material handling.

Procedures should address:

• Machine guarding.
• Hazardous energy.
• Chemical handling.
• Ergonomics.
• Heat.
• Slips and falls.
• Electrical safety.
• Material handling.

Employees should not reach into operating laundry machinery or bypass required safeguards.

Laundry Ergonomics

Laundry employees may repeatedly lift, sort, load, unload, fold, stack, push, and pull linens.

Work should be evaluated for excessive reaching, heavy lifting, repetitive motion, and awkward posture.

Carts, adjustable work surfaces, job rotation, or other controls may be used where appropriate to reduce physical demands.

Maintenance and Engineering Safety

Hotel maintenance employees may perform electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, painting, equipment repair, pool maintenance, groundskeeping, and other skilled work.

Maintenance procedures should reflect the actual tasks performed and hazards encountered.

Employees should be appropriately trained and authorized before performing specialized or hazardous work.

Hand and Power Tools

Hand and power tools should be selected, inspected, maintained, and used according to their intended purpose.

Employees should:

• Inspect tools before use as appropriate.
• Use required guards.
• Remove damaged tools from service.
• Use appropriate PPE.
• Disconnect or otherwise place equipment in a safe condition before making adjustments when required.
• Follow manufacturer instructions.

Electrical Safety

Electrical equipment, cords, plugs, receptacles, panels, and appliances should be maintained in safe condition.

Employees should not use damaged electrical equipment.

Electrical panels should remain appropriately accessible.

Only qualified or otherwise authorized personnel should perform electrical work requiring specialized knowledge or training.

Wet environments such as kitchens, laundry rooms, pool areas, and mechanical spaces require particular attention to electrical hazards.

Lockout/Tagout — When Applicable

Maintenance employees performing servicing or maintenance may be exposed to electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, gravitational, or other hazardous energy.

Where Lockout/Tagout requirements apply, hazardous energy should be isolated and controlled before servicing or maintenance begins.

Equipment requiring evaluation may include:

• Laundry machinery.
• Kitchen equipment.
• HVAC systems.
• Pumps.
• Pool equipment.
• Conveyors.
• Compactors.
• Mechanical equipment.
• Other powered machinery.

Only appropriately trained and authorized employees should perform work requiring Lockout/Tagout.

Machine Guarding — When Applicable

Laundry equipment, kitchen machinery, maintenance equipment, compactors, and other powered machinery may create caught-in, caught-between, cutting, crushing, or amputation hazards.

Required guards and safeguards should remain installed and functional.

Employees should not remove, defeat, or bypass required safeguards.

Ladder Safety

Hotel employees may use ladders for maintenance, housekeeping, storage, decorating, lighting, and other work.

Employees should:

• Select the appropriate ladder.
• Inspect ladders before use as required.
• Maintain secure footing.
• Avoid overreaching.
• Keep access areas clear.
• Follow applicable electrical precautions.
• Use ladders only for their intended purpose.

Employees should not use chairs, boxes, carts, or other makeshift climbing devices.

Fall Protection — When Applicable

Maintenance, roof access, exterior work, construction activities, and other elevated tasks may expose employees to fall hazards.

Appropriate fall-protection systems and procedures should be provided where required.

Employees should not access roofs, elevated platforms, or other restricted areas unless appropriately authorized and protected.

Roof Access — When Applicable

Hotel roofs may contain HVAC equipment, exhaust systems, antennas, solar equipment, and other systems requiring periodic maintenance.

Roof-access procedures should address:

• Fall hazards.
• Access control.
• Ladders.
• Skylights.
• Roof openings.
• Weather conditions.
• Electrical hazards.
• Tools and materials.

Confined Spaces — When Applicable

Hotels may contain tanks, pits, vaults, utility spaces, or other areas requiring evaluation under applicable confined-space requirements.

Potential spaces should be evaluated according to their configuration and hazards.

Employees should not enter permit-required confined spaces unless appropriate entry procedures have been established and followed.

Boilers and Mechanical Rooms — When Applicable

Hotels may contain boilers, water heaters, pumps, compressors, refrigeration systems, and other mechanical equipment.

Access should be limited as appropriate.

Mechanical rooms should be maintained in an orderly condition and should not be used for inappropriate storage.

Employees operating or maintaining specialized equipment should receive appropriate instruction.

Hot Work — When Applicable

Maintenance and renovation work may involve welding, cutting, brazing, soldering, grinding, or other activities capable of producing heat, sparks, or flame.

Hot-work procedures should address:

• Combustible materials.
• Fire prevention.
• Authorization where appropriate.
• Fire extinguishing equipment.
• Ventilation.
• Gas cylinders.
• PPE.
• Fire watch requirements when applicable.

Pool and Spa Safety — When Applicable

Hotels with swimming pools, spas, fountains, or similar amenities should evaluate employee hazards associated with operation and maintenance.

Potential hazards include:

• Pool chemicals.
• Chemical mixing.
• Slippery surfaces.
• Pumps and mechanical equipment.
• Electrical systems.
• Material handling.
• Confined spaces.
• Heat exposure.

Only appropriately trained employees should handle hazardous pool chemicals.

Pool Chemicals — When Applicable

Pool chemicals should be stored, handled, and used according to manufacturer instructions and established procedures.

Employees should:

• Keep incompatible chemicals separated.
• Prevent contamination.
• Avoid unauthorized mixing.
• Use required PPE.
• Maintain container labels.
• Follow spill procedures.
• Report damaged or leaking containers.

Food Service and Kitchen Safety — When Applicable

Hotels operating restaurants, kitchens, room service, banquet facilities, or employee cafeterias should maintain appropriate food-service employee safety procedures.

Potential hazards include:

• Knives.
• Slicers.
• Mixers.
• Fryers.
• Ovens.
• Hot surfaces.
• Steam.
• Wet floors.
• Cleaning chemicals.
• Manual material handling.
• Machine guarding.
• Hazardous energy.

Hotel food-service operations may require additional safety programs based on the equipment and work performed.

Banquet and Event Operations — When Applicable

Banquet employees may move tables, chairs, staging, food-service equipment, audiovisual equipment, and other heavy or awkward materials.

Procedures should address:

• Manual lifting.
• Carts.
• Stacking.
• Pinch points.
• Electrical cords.
• Temporary equipment.
• Slips and trips.
• Emergency egress.

Exit routes should not be obstructed by temporary event arrangements.

Groundskeeping — When Applicable

Hotels and resorts with exterior grounds may perform landscaping, irrigation, mowing, trimming, pesticide application, and other outdoor work.

Applicable programs may address:

• Powered equipment.
• Hand and power tools.
• Pesticides.
• Heat stress.
• Noise.
• PPE.
• Vehicle operation.
• Manual material handling.

Heat Stress — When Applicable

Groundskeeping, maintenance, loading, pool operations, and other outdoor work may expose employees to heat.

Appropriate heat-illness prevention measures should be implemented based on work conditions and applicable requirements.

Measures may include drinking water, rest, shade or cooling, acclimatization, training, and emergency response.

Loading and Receiving

Hotel receiving areas may expose employees to delivery trucks, carts, pallet jacks, falling materials, dock edges, and material-handling hazards.

Procedures should address:

• Vehicle movement.
• Pedestrian traffic.
• Material handling.
• Loading-dock edges.
• Stable storage.
• Housekeeping.
• Communication with delivery personnel.

Manual Lifting and Material Handling

Hotel employees may handle mattresses, linens, laundry bags, furniture, luggage, food supplies, beverage cases, chemical containers, banquet equipment, and other heavy or awkward materials.

Employees should evaluate loads before lifting and obtain assistance when necessary.

Carts, dollies, hand trucks, lifts, or other material-handling equipment should be used where practical.

Storage Areas

Storage rooms should be maintained in an orderly condition.

Materials should be stored securely and should not obstruct:

• Exit routes.
• Electrical panels.
• Fire-protection equipment.
• Walkways.
• Ladders.
• Mechanical equipment.

Heavy items should be positioned to reduce unnecessary handling hazards where practical.

Fire Prevention

Fire-prevention procedures should address the hazards present within the hotel.

Potential considerations include:

• Kitchens.
• Laundry equipment.
• Electrical equipment.
• Mechanical systems.
• Hot work.
• Flammable materials.
• Combustible storage.
• Smoking areas.
• Maintenance activities.

Fire-protection equipment should remain accessible.

Emergency Action Plan

Hotels present unique emergency-planning considerations because employees may need to respond while large numbers of guests are unfamiliar with the building.

The Emergency Action Plan may address:

• Fire.
• Severe weather.
• Earthquake where applicable.
• Power failure.
• Chemical releases.
• Gas leaks.
• Workplace violence.
• Security threats.
• Medical emergencies.
• Evacuation.
• Shelter-in-place.

Employees should understand alarm methods, exit routes, assembly locations, emergency communication procedures, and their assigned responsibilities.

Emergency Exits and Egress

Exit routes should remain accessible and reasonably free of obstructions.

Housekeeping carts, laundry, banquet equipment, supplies, furniture, maintenance equipment, and other materials should not block required emergency exits or exit access.

Employees should promptly report damaged exit doors, emergency lighting, or exit signs.

Guest Emergencies

Employees should understand their responsibilities during guest medical emergencies, fires, evacuations, security incidents, and other emergencies.

Employees should summon appropriate emergency assistance and should not perform medical or rescue activities beyond their training and assigned responsibilities.

First Aid

Hotels should establish procedures for obtaining prompt medical assistance for employees.

Employees should understand:

• How to report an injury.
• How to summon emergency assistance.
• Locations of first-aid supplies.
• Incident-reporting procedures.

Employees designated to provide first aid should receive appropriate training.

Workplace Violence Prevention

Hotel employees interact with the public and may encounter intoxicated, angry, threatening, or otherwise unpredictable individuals.

Potentially higher-risk employees may include:

• Front-desk employees.
• Security personnel.
• Housekeepers entering occupied rooms.
• Employees working late or overnight.
• Parking personnel.
• Food and beverage employees.
• Employees working alone.

Workplace violence prevention measures should reflect the property’s actual risk factors.

Front Desk and Lobby Security

Front-desk employees may handle money, work alone or with limited staffing, interact with the public, and respond to guest conflicts or suspicious activity.

Security measures may include:

• Emergency communication.
• Panic or duress systems where appropriate.
• Appropriate lighting.
• Camera systems.
• Access control.
• Cash-handling procedures.
• Incident reporting.
• Employee training.

Employees should prioritize personal safety rather than physically confronting individuals over property.

Guest Room Security

Employees entering guest rooms should follow established access and security procedures.

Procedures should address situations involving:

• Occupied rooms.
• Suspicious activity.
• Threatening behavior.
• Weapons.
• Illegal activity.
• Unknown chemicals or substances.
• Unsafe room conditions.

Employees should know when to leave an area and obtain assistance.

Working Alone — When Applicable

Hotel employees may work alone in guest rooms, maintenance areas, laundry facilities, offices, parking areas, or during overnight shifts.

Where employees work alone, procedures should address communication, emergency assistance, security, and hazards associated with the work being performed.

Higher-risk tasks should be evaluated to determine whether working alone is appropriate.

Parking Lots and Garages

Employees working in parking areas may be exposed to moving vehicles, poor visibility, slips and falls, weather, security hazards, and carbon monoxide in enclosed areas.

Procedures should address:

• Vehicle awareness.
• High-visibility apparel where appropriate.
• Lighting.
• Pedestrian routes.
• Security.
• Emergency communication.
• Ventilation concerns in enclosed garages.

Vehicle Operations — When Applicable

Hotels operating shuttle vans, maintenance vehicles, golf carts, utility vehicles, or other company vehicles should establish appropriate vehicle-safety procedures.

Programs may address:

• Authorized drivers.
• Vehicle inspections.
• Seat-belt use.
• Distracted driving.
• Backing.
• Passenger safety.
• Accident reporting.

Contractor Safety

Hotels frequently use outside contractors for construction, renovation, HVAC, elevators, electrical work, plumbing, landscaping, pest control, pool maintenance, and other specialized services.

Contractor coordination should address relevant workplace hazards and applicable safety procedures.

Hotel employees and guests should be protected from contractor work areas where appropriate.

Construction and Renovation — When Applicable

Renovation projects can introduce construction hazards into an occupied hotel.

Procedures should address coordination between hotel operations and contractors, including:

• Work-area isolation.
• Dust and debris.
• Electrical hazards.
• Hot work.
• Noise.
• Temporary barriers.
• Emergency exits.
• Guest access.
• Employee access.

Hotel Safety Training

Safety training should reflect each employee’s department, assigned work, and exposure.

Depending on operations, training may address:

• General hotel safety.
• Housekeeping ergonomics.
• Chemical safety.
• Hazard Communication.
• PPE.
• Slips, trips and falls.
• Manual lifting.
• Sharps awareness.
• Laundry safety.
• Electrical safety.
• Lockout/Tagout.
• Ladder safety.
• Food-service safety.
• Pool chemical safety.
• Workplace violence.
• Security procedures.
• Emergency procedures.
• Fire prevention.

Training should be provided before employees independently perform tasks requiring specific knowledge or skills and repeated when required or when circumstances indicate retraining is necessary.

New and Short-Service Employees

New employees may be unfamiliar with hotel procedures, department hazards, chemicals, equipment, security concerns, and emergency requirements.

Orientation should address:

• General safety rules.
• Department-specific hazards.
• Emergency procedures.
• Injury reporting.
• PPE.
• Chemical safety.
• Slips and falls.
• Material handling.
• Security.
• Workplace violence.

Additional supervision should be provided when appropriate until employees demonstrate the ability to perform their assigned work safely.

Hotel JSA/JHA

Hotels can use JSAs/JHAs to document safe work procedures for recurring higher-hazard tasks.

Potential Hotel JSAs/JHAs include:

• Guest-room housekeeping.
• Bed making.
• Bathroom cleaning.
• Housekeeping-cart use.
• Laundry operations.
• Chemical handling.
• Ladder use.
• HVAC maintenance.
• Electrical maintenance.
• Pool maintenance.
• Kitchen equipment.
• Groundskeeping.
• Loading and unloading.
• Maintenance activities.

Hotel Toolbox Talks and Safety Meetings

Short safety meetings can reinforce safe work practices and address current workplace concerns.

Potential topics include:

• Housekeeping ergonomics.
• Safe lifting.
• Preventing slips and falls.
• Chemical safety.
• Sharps awareness.
• Ladder safety.
• Electrical safety.
• Hand and power tools.
• Workplace violence.
• Working alone.
• Security awareness.
• Emergency procedures.

Additional Safety Programs

Depending on hotel operations, additional safety programs may be necessary for:

• Bloodborne Pathogens.
• Respiratory Protection.
• Hearing Conservation.
• Lockout/Tagout.
• Machine Guarding.
• Confined Spaces.
• Fall Protection.
• Heat Stress.
• Cold Stress.
• Welding and Hot Work.
• Forklift/PIT Safety.
• Hazardous Waste.
• Spill Prevention and Response.
• Vehicle Safety.
• Contractor Safety.
• Working Alone.

These programs should be included when employee activities or workplace hazards make them applicable rather than automatically adding programs unrelated to the property’s operations.

Building a Hotel Safety Manual

A useful Hotel Safety Manual should reflect the actual property rather than simply combining generic housekeeping, restaurant, and maintenance policies.

A large resort containing restaurants, banquet facilities, commercial laundry, pools and spas, extensive grounds, mechanical systems, shuttle vehicles, and a large maintenance department may require substantially more safety programs than a limited-service hotel with housekeeping and basic maintenance operations.

The manual should consider:

• Property size.
• Housekeeping operations.
• Laundry operations.
• Food and beverage services.
• Maintenance activities.
• Mechanical equipment.
• Pools and spas.
• Groundskeeping.
• Security.
• Parking operations.
• Contractors.
• Vehicle operations.
• Employee work schedules.
• Public interaction.

Selecting the appropriate programs creates a manual that is comprehensive without filling it with procedures unrelated to the hotel’s operations.

Customized Hotel Safety Manuals

A Hotel Safety Manual can be developed around the specific departments, services, equipment, chemicals, maintenance activities, amenities, and employee exposures of the property.

The finished manual may incorporate applicable programs for housekeeping ergonomics, Hazard Communication, PPE, slips and falls, maintenance safety, electrical work, Lockout/Tagout, food service, pool operations, workplace violence, security, emergency procedures, and other hazards present within the operation.

This provides hotel and lodging employers with a practical safety manual organized around the work their employees actually perform.