The end of summer doesn’t mean the end of the tourist season in New England, as anyone who works in the hospitality industry knows. Our fall foliage brings people from around the country and beyond, followed by those who want to experience a true New England Christmas.
For those who work in housekeeping, whether in large hotels and resorts, motels situated just off the interstate or small B&Bs, our year-round busy seasons mean hours at a time of physical work that can lead to a number of injuries and other health issues. In fact, according to the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, people who do this work have a 40% higher injury risk than those in any other service profession.
Whether you’re a full-time or part-time housekeeping employee in hospitality (or other industry), it’s crucial to know your employer’s duty to provide as safe an environment as possible and to give you the equipment needed to do your job safely.
The most common types of injuries
It’s also important to know the most common types of injuries suffered by hotel housekeepers. These include:
- Musculoskeletal injuries: These are injuries to the muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, bones and nerves.
- Cumulative trauma: This is caused by repetitive movements like those used when vacuuming, dusting and mopping
- Exposure to toxic substances: Industrial strength cleaning products can cause serious skin and respiratory conditions – particularly when they’re used in small, poorly ventilated rooms, as hotel and motel bathrooms often are.
Having well-fitting gloves and masks made of good material can help protect people from dangerous exposure to the chemicals in these products.
These are just a few of the dangers faced by housekeepers in the hospitality industry. Everything from discarded razor blades and needles to broken glass to violent guests can be sources of serious harm.
That’s why it’s crucial for those who do this work to know their rights to workers’ compensation and how to go about getting the compensation to which they’re entitled. If you have questions or concerns at any point in the process, having legal guidance can help.