Casino Industry Workers

Working in a casino involves a variety of roles to make sure of the smooth operation of the establishment and guest satisfaction. Casino industry workers play important roles in maintaining operational standards and creating a safe, enjoyable gaming environment. Key roles include:

• Card Dealers: Oversee card games like blackjack, poker, or baccarat. They assist players, manage chips and payments, and regulate gameplay pace.
• Slot Technicians: Handle slot machine repair, maintenance, and troubleshooting and make sure that gaming equipment complies with regulations.
• Security Officers: Maintain a secure environment, respond to incidents, monitor for fraudulent behaviour, and assist during emergencies.
• Other Roles: Include hospitality staff (servers, cooks), cashiers, retail workers, pit bosses, entertainment workers, office or administration staff, custodians, and more.

General duties of casino workers include:

• Maintaining security and making sure the guests and staff are safe.
• Responding to emergencies such as crimes, fire, violent situations, natural disasters and similar incidents.
• Providing customer service.
• Handling financial transactions accurately and securely.
• Maintaining cleanliness and organization in work areas.
• Following all rules, laws, regulations, and casino policies.
• Cooperating with coworkers and supervisors.
• Reporting any issues, incidents, or concerns quickly to management.
• Participating in training and development programs.
• Contributing to a positive and enjoyable atmosphere.

Casino workers face unique health and safety risks, including:

• Ergonomic and visual strain: Repetitive movements and prolonged periods of standing or sitting can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). Casino lighting may cause eye strain and fatigue.
• Shift work : Irregular shifts can disrupt natural sleep patterns and could potentially cause fatigue.
• Hygiene concerns: High foot traffic from guests and staff in casino facilities may increase the risk of virus transmission, necessitating strict hygiene protocols.
• Bullying and harassment: The dynamic environment may expose workers to bullying and harassment.
• Manual materials handling: Moving large or heavy objects
• Chemical exposure: Exposure to cleaning and maintenance products.
• Noise exposure: High noise levels in the busy casino environment.
• Slips, trips, and falls: Slippery surfaces and crowded areas increase the risk of incidents.
• Second-hand smoke exposure: Even with smoking restriction laws, workers may still be exposed to some second-hand smoke. Additionally, workers might have been exposed to second-hand smoke before smoking laws were implemented.
• Dust exposure from coin counting: Workers may encounter metal dust during coin counting processes, requiring measures to minimize exposure and protect respiratory health.

This list is not all-inclusive, and additional measures may be necessary to address specific risks in individual casino environments.

To promote the well-being of casino workers, it is important to implement preventative measures. These measures include: 

• Regular training on proper lifting techniques and ergonomics.
• Incorporate stretching exercises into breaks.
• Use ergonomic workstations and equipment.
• Follow good practices when working in a standing or sitting position. 
• Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Encourage reporting of safety concerns or hazards.
• Conduct regular inspections to identify and address safety hazards and risks.
• Perform routine risk assessments and implement corrective measures.
• Establish emergency protocols for fires, medical incidents, or security threats.
• Promote a culture of safety awareness through communication, training, and safe work practices.
• Provide access to wellness programs and resources.
• Encourage regular hygiene practices such as regular handwashing.
• Implement shift management practices, including regular breaks and task rotation.
• Rotate job tasks to prevent prolonged exposure to specific hazards.
• Install noise-reducing materials or barriers.
• Enforce smoke-free policies.
• Promote open communication between employees and management regarding health and safety concerns.

Establish an occupational health and safety program and follow your jurisdiction's laws and regulations about occupational health and safety. This program entails:

• Forming a health and safety committee with representatives from different departments to review incident reports and devise improvement strategies.
• Developing thorough safety policies outlining safety protocols, emergency procedures, and a commitment to worker safety.
• Create a plan for effective responses to emergencies.
• Encourage employees to participate in hazard identification and provide comprehensive safety training.
• Regularly assess and update safety protocols based on any new requirements, feedback and changing environments.

• Follow company safety rules.
• Learn fire safety.
• Learn about chemical safety, WHMIS and SDSs.
• Know how to report a hazard and near miss.
• Practice safe lifting.
• Follow good housekeeping procedures.