The duties of housekeepers within the hospitality industry has always been intense and grueling. At the moment, in the UK it is illegal to stay away from home during lockdown, other than for essential reasons.
However, as the vaccine drive pushes ahead we can expect to see hotels and bed and breakfasts begin to reopen again in the coming months. This means that there is likely to be a significantly increased workload for hotel employees in the UK as the public rush to travel after lockdown.
Working in a hotel can be a physically demanding job. A housekeeper's duties include tasks such as vacuuming, dusting, changing bed covers and making beds. These types of repetitive movements can cause employees to strain and tear muscles and tendons. Scrubbing kitchen and bathroom floors creates ideal conditions for slipping accidents.
The daily cleaning routine of a hospitality worker can also expose employees to health hazards involving the chemicals used in cleaning products. Exposure to these chemical cleaning agents can cause respiratory problems.
Employers have a duty to consult employees on health and safety. Consultation should occur with all full and part-time staff, contractors, shift workers, security staff and cleaning staff. Shifts can be long and exhausting, so encourage employees to take regular breaks and stretch their legs. To help avoid injury, ask employees to ask for help from co-workers if they need to lift heavy furniture such as mattresses.
Health and safety law requires all employers to assess the risk of returning to work while the coronavirus outbreak is ongoing and to put steps in place to manage that risk. Risk assessments must also be completed for processes for food and alcohol.
Ensure that any actions taken as the result of the risk assessment do not disproportionately impact those employees with vulnerabilities such as people with disabilities or single parents. Consider how to support those employees with additional needs in order to comply with physical distancing. The mental health of employees should also be factored into the risk assessment.
Where premises have been empty due to lockdown, thorough safety checks should be conducted on gas and electrical installations, water cooler and ventilation checks. Pest control checks should be conducted to avoid infestation problems.
Think about customer communication and what signage will be needed to ensure customers are able to comply with your requirements. Your preparation should also include what actions you will take if customers do not comply with your requirements.
Every workplace environment should be safe. That is why we offer a range of healthcare products that promote wellbeing in the workplace and to help prevent infections at work. Take a look at the range of affordable healthcare products, including hand sanitiser and first aid kits for the workplace available to buy online at Work & Wear Direct.
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