Health and Safety ReportVolume 16, Issue 06

Push a 130 kilogram (286 pounds) cleaning cart, lift mattresses, scrub bathtub, vacuum floor, repeat. Hotel housekeeping is a very physically demanding and tiring job that includes many, varied and repetitive tasks that over time can lead to musculoskeletal pain as well as mental stress. It’s a strenuous occupation that employs over 75,000 workers in Canada, close to 95% of whom are women.

During a typical shift, a housekeeper can be responsible for cleaning up to 16 rooms. The actual amount of work involved depends on the size of the room and the number of beds. To meet this quota, a housekeeper needs between fifteen and thirty minutes to do one room. In each room a housekeeper will make beds, tidy the room, replenish soaps, scrub and polish the entire bathroom, remove stains, and vacuum. The work is physically demanding and studies show that housekeepers are injured on the job more often than any other service industry workers. The majority are musculoskeletal injuries, temporary or permanent injuries to muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons often caused by doing the same motion over and over again, while exerting excessive force or in an awkward posture. 

Strains and Pain of Housekeeping           

You might be surprised to know that a housekeeper changes body position every three seconds while cleaning a room and assumes approximately 8,000 different postures every shift. This, combined with repeated forceful movements, such as lifting, overreaching, or awkward positioning involved in the job means housekeepers commonly experience injuries to the back, neck, shoulders and arms.

The main risk factors for these injuries in housekeeping are heavy physical workloads and excessive bodily motions (increasing risk of back injuries), and forceful upper limb motions in awkward positions (higher risk of neck or shoulder and arm injuries). Forceful movements while using awkward body positions include lifting mattresses, cleaning tiles, and vacuuming every shift. The awkward positions and postures required as part of the job include stooping, squatting, kneeling, stretching, reaching, bending, twisting and crouching.

Further increasing the workload is the pressure to meet clean room quotas and monthly audits that measure how effectively rooms are cleaned. Larger mattresses, heavier linen and towels, and an increase in the number of conveniences that require cleaning (such as coffee pots) also put workers at risk of injury.

Employer Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors have the responsibility to conduct a risk assessment to identify hazards, and then control them. If possible, they should eliminate the hazard and the risk of injury. They are responsible for ensuring that their employees are trained to perform their jobs safely. They should explain the health hazards of improper lifting or awkward positioning, and what hotel housekeepers can do to perform their job safer.

Managers must address employee concerns, deliver training, and facilitate open communication that supports both the physical and mental well-being of their employees. Many housekeepers are newcomers to Canada and unaware of their worker rights. They need to know how to report safety concerns and injuries without fear of retaliation.

Reducing ergonomic risks

Hotels are unique workplaces in that they are usually designed for the comfort of their guests rather than their housekeeping staff. This makes it very difficult to improve working conditions for housekeepers by means of better engineering; however selecting more appropriate equipment can make improvements.

Lighter vacuum cleaners (preferably the self-propelling type), and lighter service carts with wheels designed for carpeted floors can ease the workload for their operators providing this equipment is kept in good repair. When purchasing new vacuum cleaners, one of the criteria should be low noise emissions to protect the hearing of the housekeeping staff.

Other ways of reducing the risk factors for repetitive motion injuries include job rotation where workers move between different tasks to provide greater variety and more evenly distributed muscular work. Working as a team can also make rotating between tasks possible by alternating tasks between team members.

Safety Tips for Housekeeping Staff

• Know potential hazards of your workplace and the activities you perform.
• Learn and use safe lifting techniques.
• When cleaning surfaces, alternate between the arms you are using to allow the other arm to rest.
• When moving carts, push using both hands – this helps to distribute the effort(force) and keeps the body from twisting
• Store the heaviest or more commonly used items between your chest and hips – you have more strength in this part of the body.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Stretch your back, arms and shoulders before, after, and during work.
• Report any pain you experience to your supervisor.
• Know how to report hazards.
• Take scheduled breaks and stretch breaks as necessary.
• Share tips and ideas used to make work easier.
• Eat healthy, exercise regularly, and sleep well.

Additional Hazards

Beyond ergonomic, hotel housekeepers face many additional hazards and health issues that require identification and, where possible, elimination. They include:

• Exposure to chemicals in cleaning products, including skin reactions or respiratory illnesses.
• Exposure to biological infectious diseases from soiled linens, uncapped needles and/or bodily fluids.
• Slips, trips and falls.
• Fatigue and other health problems from shift work or long hours of work.
• Working alone.
• Workplace violence.

Resources:

• Hotel Housekeeping fact sheet, CCOHS
• Cleaning Staff fact sheet, CCOHS
• Working Alone fact sheet, CCOHS
• Workplace Violence fact sheet, CCOHS
• Slips, trips and falls fact sheet, CCOHS
• Push Ergonomics fact sheet, CCOHS
• Room Attendants: Safety Video Series Discussion Guide PDF, WorkSafeBC
• Safety and Health Among Hotel Cleaners, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

In September 2017, a construction worker at a housing development in Alberta was killed by crush injuries while operating a skid-steer machine.

Skid-steer loaders are small, compact machines with a heavy bucket design and are easy to maneuver and are particularly useful in agriculture and construction. However, the very features that make these machines so effective and agile also put workers at risk for injury.

About Skid-Steer Loaders

A skid loader or skid-steer loader is a compact, engine-powered machine with lift arms to which a variety of labour-saving tools can be attached. Although they are sometimes equipped with tracks, skid-steer loaders are typically four-wheel drive vehicles with the left-side drive wheels independent of the right-side drive wheels, making them extremely easy to manoeuver.

The driver or operator's seat and controls are located between the lift arms and in front of the lift arm pivot points, placing the operator close to the lift arms' zone of movement. Because skid-steer loader operators must enter and exit through the front of the loader and over the bucket, there is always the risk that if they don't exit or enter properly, a foot or hand control may be activated and cause movement of the lift arms, bucket, or other attachment.

Safely Exiting the Machine

Drivers should never leave the operator’s station of a skid loader when the engine is running or the lift arms are raised because of the potential to activate one of the vehicle’s controls. A study from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) shows that many operators have been killed or suffered crushing injuries trying to climb out of the cab without observing safe shut down procedures.

Employers can help protect their workers by fully training them in skid-steer loader safety before they operate the machine, as well as by sharing these tips:

• Make sure that you park the machine on a level surface.
• Enter and exit the loader safely and only when the bucket is flat on the ground, or when the lift arm supports are in place.
• Before leaving the operator's seat, lower the bucket to the ground, set the parking brake, and turn off the engine.
• Make sure the controls are locked (if so equipped).
• Remove the ignition key when not in use.
• Unbuckle the safety belt and raise the safety bar.
• When getting on or off, face the machine and use the steps on the loader and the grab handles for support.
• Never jump on or off the machine.
• Never attempt to mount or dismount a moving machine.
• Block the wheels if there is a chance the loader will roll.

Safe Operating

• Keep your feet on the pedals when operating the loader.
• Keep other people away from work area.
• Drive with caution and check behind you before backing up.
• Travel with the bucket or attachments as close to the ground as possible to maintain equipment stability and gives the operator an unobstructed view.
• Load the bucket evenly (i.e. weight should not be lopsided) and do not load beyond the limits or rated capacity of the equipment. You can lose stability and steering control.
• Load, unload, and turn on level ground.
• Go straight up and down slopes, keeping the heavy end of the loader pointing uphill - back down slopes slowly. Avoid driving forward when going downhill with a loaded bucket.
• Look out for holes, rocks or obstructions which may cause a roll-over or loss of control.
• If you become confused about the operation of controls from having to perform too many functions at once, remove hands and feet from the controls. All machine functions should stop when pressure on the controls is released.

More Information:

• Landscaping – Loaders fact sheet, CCOHS
• Preventing Injuries and Deaths from Skid-Steer Loaders, NIOSH 
• Skid-Steer Loader Safety, Kansas State University and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Agricultural Safety Topics Skid-Steers and Loaders PDF, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)

This month’s featured podcasts include tips for lightning safety and an encore presentation of Sun Safety at Work with Thomas Tenkate .

Feature Podcast: Lightning Safety: Keeping Safe When Working Outdoors

Whether you fear lightning or consider it a natural wonder, it’s a very real hazard that requires caution. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) shares tips on what safety measures to take when faced with a lightning storm while working outdoors.

The podcast runs 7:00 minutes. Listen to the podcast now.

Encore Podcast: Sun Safety at Work with Thomas Tenkate

Dr. Thomas Tenkate, Associate Professor and Director at the School of Occupational and Public Health at Ryerson University in Toronto discusses the importance of sun safety in the workplace, developing a sun safety program, and his current project, Sun Safety at Work Canada, with CCOHS.

The podcast runs for 7:11 minutes.  Listen to the podcast now.

CCOHS produces free monthly podcasts on a wide variety of topics designed to keep you current with information, tips, and insights into the health, safety, and well-being of working Canadians. You can download the audio segment to your computer or MP3 player and listen to it at your own convenience... or on the go!

See the complete list of podcast topics. Better yet, subscribe to the series on iTunes and don't miss a single episode

The Changing World of Work is a unique national event that will bring together leaders, change-makers, and subject experts representing government, labour, and workplaces to share their knowledge and experience around current and emerging health and safety issues.

The stage is set for March 5-6, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba where CCOHS’ sixth forum will deliver two days of inspiration, innovations and discussion featuring an exciting roster of world-class speakers.

#ccohsforum

Register now at the early bird rate. A student rate is also available.