Working in the hotel and hospitality industry is a great way to meet, service and interact with people from all over the world. As a manager, it’s your responsibility to make sure everything runs smoothly, and your guests and team are safe. Follow these important tips to help keep everyone safe and sound.
Provide ongoing employee training
Making sure your employees are prepared for all situations is critical to keeping everyone safe. Conduct training on everything from soft skills such as customer service, technical skills like how to properly use equipment to safety drills including emergency evacuation plans in case of a fire, tornado or active shooter. Be sure to hold ongoing training sessions to help keep the information top of mind.
Avoid slips, trips and falls
Prevent accidents by following these guidelines provided by the National Institute for Occupational Safety:
- Clear walkways, stairs, and lobbies of anything that might be a tripping hazard, such as cords, wires, empty boxes, and clutter.
- Provide warning signs on wet floors.
- Make sure that floor mats lay flat rather than wrinkled or bunched.
- Clean up spills as soon as they occur. Don’t use cleaners that could make the floor slippery.
- Make sure handrails are securely fastened.
- When using a ladder, check that extensions are fully locked and that the legs are stable on a flat, non-slippery surface. Don’t go over the load limit noted on the ladder.
Hold fire drills
Fire safety is a critical aspect of hotel and hospitality safety. Ensure that your property has appropriate fire safety equipment, including fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and fire alarm systems, and conduct regular inspections to make sure everything is working properly. Hold fire drills with your employees to make sure everyone knows what to do in case of a fire. Post signage with emergency routes in all guest rooms and common areas. Also, ensure all of your employees know how to use fire extinguishers and locate the emergency exits.
Conduct thorough cleaning and disinfecting
Keeping your property clean is vital to guest and employee health and safety. Be sure your housekeeping staff does a thorough job cleaning everything from bed linens and towels to hard surfaces such as bathrooms, floors, light switches and remote controls. Conduct regular deep cleaning of carpeting, furniture and curtains and sanitize gym equipment, business centers and pool areas. Knowing how to properly handle hazardous cleaning materials is also an important step. Make sure your housekeeping staff wears protective gloves and follows guidelines for disposing cleaners and other chemicals.
Take regular breaks
It requires a lot of work to keep a hotel open 24/7. Avoid overworking your employees by encouraging them to take regular, scheduled breaks. It’s an easy way to help reduce fatigue, keep them focused and decrease potential safety risks.
Have the right insurance
Even when everything is running smoothly, accidents, crimes, and natural disasters can happen. Protect your business by having the right insurance for the size and location of your property. A comprehensive business insurance policy covers a range of risks, such as property damage, workers’ compensation, liability, and loss of income. For a comprehensive business insurance policy that protects you against these and other risks, contact your local FBMICI agent.
Disclaimer: The information included here is designed for informational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, financial or any other sort of advice, nor is it a substitute for such advice. The information may not apply to your specific situation. We have tried to make sure the information is accurate, but it could be outdated or even inaccurate in parts.
Sources
CDC – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Hotel Management Magazine
