According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics the hospitality industry, including hotels and motels, accounts for roughly 10% of all jobs, although the Coronavirus has had a significant impact. In 2018, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics also recorded 18,710 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work just in the hotel industry alone. According to the BLS and our personal experience with claims, workers in this industry have a higher than average risk of an injury which is why it’s important to work with a company that understands your unique needs.

In this post, we’ll talk about common hospitality injuries and what you can do to reduce hotel insurance claims with 3 safety tips.

 

Common Injuries To Look Out For

Injuries in the hotel and motel industry are common as many jobs occur at a fast pace of work and can be very demanding. It’s really important for business owners or managers to have a comprehensive training program for all new hires to help educate them about the potential risks of working in a hotel. Proper training will help reduce claims and keep your employees safe. This forward and preventative approach will allow a hotel or motel to pay less for workers’ compensation and help to keep employee’s safety at the forefront.

Common Injuries for hotel and motel workers are:

Slip and Fall Injuries – Slip and falls are very common in a hotel and can result in very large claims. There are many trip hazards such as wet floors, towels laying on floors, or vacuum cords that employees may trip over. When a person falls, they can have a serious strain injury that may result in costly surgery and lost time away from work.   Working in close quarters they may further injure themselves during the fall.  A significant injury could result in the hotel being short-staffed for an extended period of time.  By educating workers on these hazards, hopefully, they can be aware and can prevent claims.  Proper training to let employees know to put vacuums away when not in use and remove trip hazards right away when cleaning a room will help your hotel be safer.

Overexertion – Housekeepers are asked to do a variety of jobs that may cause them to overexert themselves.  Improper lifting techniques can lead to significant strain injuries. It’s not uncommon for housekeepers to work by themselves and not want to bother another worker so they try and lift a bed, move a chair or lifting heavy laundry and end up injuring themselves.  Proper lifting techniques and knowing when to ask for help should be included in the training.

Chemical Exposure – When cleaning, employees can come in contact with chemicals. Maybe they weren’t wearing the proper equipment or it could be they were not properly trained on how to clean. Really, it could be multiple things that caused the exposure, make sure to stress the importance of safety & training when it comes to cleaning and the handling of potential chemicals. If it’s not short-term injuries that come up, over the long term respiratory issue can arise if not handled properly.

 

3 Workers’ Compensation Safety Tips for Hotels

Rethink Safety Techniques

As a management staff, have frequent meetings about what you can do to better your staff’s safety. Ask for your employee’s input beforehand as they are the ones who actually do the day-to-day duties. Always keep their needs and safety at the forefront. Here are a few things to think about at your next meeting:

• Looking into purchasing new vacuums? Look into purchasing some with longer handles to reduce staff from having to bend over.
• Do your employees complain about being sore, especially new employees? Give them 5 dedicated minutes to stretch when their shift starts.
• Keep in mind physical injuries are not the only priority, mental injuries should be too. Employees’ mental state is only half the battle and can result in physical injuries, read more on that here.
• Even if you think your employees may know how to do a physical task before they start, don’t assume and talk about it – revisit it & remind them through their time working at the hotel. For example, how to mop! It might seem simple, but there are so many things that go into it that can result in an injury. Click here for a safety poster to share with your staff.

Return to Work Program 

One of the reasons we educate hotel owners and managers about a return to work program is the significant impact a claim can have on their future insurance premiums. We understand that hotels may not have the ability to have somebody work in a different department. Perhaps there isn’t enough work, or the training is so unique that it might not make sense.  Typically, if a housekeeper is injured, they may not know how to run the reservation system or vice versa, the front desk worker may not be physically capable after an injury to do housekeeping duties.  If your hotel is large enough that you can give somebody alternative work until they can return to their normal duties, it is highly recommended that you do this.

Here is why.

When a claim is classified as medical only, it carries a lot less weight than a claim where an injured worker must be off work.  This is usually called indemnity or indemnification leave.  In this scenario, the insurance carrier is providing them a paycheck until they can return to work.  These types of claims can be costlier and result in higher premiums for your hotel.  Typically for every dollar that is spent on a workers compensation claim by the insurance carrier, the policyholder will end up paying 3.  By keeping a claim medical only, the policyholder will pay less in the long run.

 

Personal Protective Equipment 

Proper safety equipment for hotel workers has always been important, and even more so now with the effects of COVID-19 virus. When it comes to workers’ compensation employees may be injured due to interactions with caustic chemicals, biohazard exposures, unsafe lifting, or slip and falls due to improper shoes.   It’s important that your hotel has written procedures and proper protective equipment for employees to do the various jobs that are required in a safe manner.

Failure to provide the proper safety equipment or training can lead to potential OSHA fines and costly claims.  Equipment needs should be reviewed periodically.

 

Direct Work Comp Services

At Direct Work Comp LLC, we believe that businesses shouldn’t have to struggle to purchase insurance based on their individual needs. A simple, fast process that gives a great experience should be available. At Direct Work Comp we do just that with our expert service and online quote system.

We are headquartered in Des Moines, IA, and operate in several states in the Midwest. Our list of states we serve can be found here. We provide a personal touch and a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients.

Please feel free to contact us at 888.399.1190 or drop us an email at [email protected] for your comprehensive insurance quote!

*Please note, this post is for informational use only & should not be considered as legal or medical advice.