CH&LA Lodging News Jan/Feb 2018

20 CALIFORNIA LODGING NEWS  www.calodging.com Time to Prepare for New Regulations The Clock is Ticking  By Dr. Sheila O’Halloran and Mr. Mark Worthen, Accurate Ergonomics, LLC CAL/OSHA MET IN MARCH 2017, to discuss new changes to the rules and regulations surrounding housekeeper health and safety. If adopted, these new rules would require all hotels, motels, and lodging establishments engaged in housekeeping activities to establish and implement programs to address any potential for acute, repetitive, and chronic musculoskeletal (soft-tissue) injuries. These proposed changes would require every property to create a Hotel Housekeeping, “Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program (MIPP).” New rules include evaluations and job hazard analysis, housekeeper involvement and communications, early recognition and reporting of symptoms, and the availability and use of housecleaning tools. In addition, the new rules call for “effective training” on Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention associated with each housecleaning task, from the floor to ceiling. What does effective training mean? New rules would require new hire training, plus a minimum of annual training for every housekeeper and supervisor. Training would ensure both housekeepers and their supervisors maintain and update their knowledge: how to recognize potential sources of injury and proper preventative measures (how to recognize and reduce risk), an understanding of the underlying causes of soft-tissue injuries, plus why and how to use the appropriate tools in order to prevent musculoskeletal injuries. Hospitality employers would also be required to provide training on the signs, symptoms, and risk factors commonly associated with musculoskeletal injuries. Effectively trained employees could be better able to protect themselves when they are educated, trained and understand the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. Other benefits could include reduced turnover (new hires are more likely to remain on the job), increased human efficiency and reduced workers’ compensation, absenteeism and presenteeism costs. Is this the first time you have heard the word “presenteeism?” Presenteeism is defined as, “Reduced productivity due to fatigue, discomfort and pain.” Studies show that the annual cost of presenteeism is $500k per every 100 employees. New rules also would require training on ergonomics, biomechanics, safe (prevention- based) practices, the appropriate use of any tools and equipment, engaging in safe work practices, and the early reporting of symptoms. Required training must include an opportunity for housekeepers to learn and practice skills on any relevant tools and equipment, plus provide housekeepers the ability to ask questions and receive answers from a knowledgeable person. Any misunderstanding of information could lead to improper and unsafe work practices, misuse of tools and potential injuries. The ability of employees to acquire crucial knowledge, which is necessary to protect themselves and prevent musculoskeletal injuries, will be greatly enhanced by these new rules if they are applied properly. The $60 million dollar question: Is your property and staff ready for this change? Is every housekeeping associate at your property ready to change their habits and behaviors? Change the way they have used their minds, bodies and tools for 20 or 30 years? Whatever the cost of mandatory implementation, this is the time to seize the opportunity to, “Transform your health and safety program, from a cost center to a profit center.” Think about all of the current mandatory training requirements. Is there a return on investment? Are you ready to: increase Human Efficiency (productivity), truly engage your staff, improve morale, job and guest satisfaction, prevent the vast majority of injuries and incidents, and earn a significant return on a smart investment—all at the same time? Since change is happening, the best way to approach change is to create a win-win-win—and a win for every housekeeper, a win for your guests, a win for your bottom-line. How much value is created when a guest is greeted by a happy and healthy housekeeper, who feels great versus someone who could have chronic back, shoulder, wrist or knee pain? The best time to plant a shade tree was 20 years ago and the second best time is today. Now is the time to implement a proactive approach, by acting on proven strategies and solutions, which will help your property get (and stay in front of) costly injuries and lost productivity. Implementing a successful education and training system and process of this scope is challenging and something you want to get right the first time. After reviewing the full language of these new proposed rules and requirements, the desired outcomes are clearly stated, however these rules only represent addressing the area of housekeeping. What is really needed is an approach which integrates 24/7 health, ergonomics, prevention and safety, aka “Health and Safety for Every Body.” Following are examples of a couple of relevant and current safety training challenges. Some hotels have purchased mattress raising tools. While the tools themselves do what they’re designed to do, they are often used incorrectly and thus creates a risk of injury. At your property, is the use of housecleaning tools optional or mandatory? How will training be performed, received and tracked? What process will you use to determine what tools are being used, let alone used properly? Employers may provide tools, however, after a few weeks or months, statistics show that most people rarely use them, or even worse, use them improperly. Another example of cumulative stress for room attendants is the overloading of carts. A sustainable and proactive approach will earn your property and shareholders a significant ROI, year after year. Most importantly,