Emergency and Safety Procedures

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HOUSEKEEPING

EMERGENCY and

SAFETY PROCEDURES

Group IV- 3H2

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SAFE OPERATING

PROCEDURE:

HOUSEKEEPING

Purpose

A clean workstation free of debris and

clutter is

critical to maintaining a safe work

environment.

Housekeeping is a continual effort, but one

where

the rewards are far greater than the effort.

The

proper management of routine tasks should

be

maintained at all times.



Poor housekeeping affects all aspects

of

safety and can result in both minor and

major incidents.

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Application

 Housekeeping is the responsibility of all

employees.

Employees are responsible for their departments and any

other locations they do work for Supervisors are

responsible for overseeing employees and insuring that

proper housekeeping is maintained.

 We must take every precaution to prevent

accidents.

Managers and employees must take responsibility for their

safety and for the safety of our customers. The key is

consistent use of safe work practices. Work areas should

be maintained so that they do not create a safety hazard

for anyone. All new employees will receive basic office

safety training during their initial orientation.

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

If a problem exists at any point the

employee

should contact a supervisor or complete a

“Report

of Unsafe Conditions” form. Aspects of

proper

housekeeping practices are outlined in all

safety

programs and trainings. This is a summary

of the

major housekeeping tasks that must be

maintained on a regular basis.

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Emergency and Safety

Procedures

 Executive housekeepers should institute Executive housekeepers should institute safety-

safety-training programs

training programs design to instruct design to instruct

housekeeping employees in safe work practices.

Specific instructions to guard against hazards and

dangers unique to their job assignments should

also be provided.

 Housekeeping departments of large lodging Housekeeping departments of large lodging

establishments often form

establishments often form safety committees safety committees consisting of three or four employees for the

consisting of three or four employees for the

purpose of preventing accidents from happening

and investigating accidents after they take place

in the workplace. Members of the safety

committee regularly inspect all areas in the

department, such as the laundry room, and

employee areas, looking for possible and safety

and fire hazards.

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Problems that are usually

encountered in a hotel are as

follows:

3.

3. Fire

Fire

4.

4. Floods

Floods

5.

5. Earthquake

Earthquake

6.

6. Typhoons

Typhoons

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Fires and Explosions

Small fires can easily be extinguished without

evacuating the building or calling the fire

department. However, even a small fire can

quickly become a serious problem. The first few

minutes are critical to preventing a larger

emergency.

Classification of Fire:

4.

4. Class A fires- ordinary combustible solids such Class A fires- ordinary combustible solids such

as paper, wood, rubber, and textiles.

5.

5. Class B fires- petroleum hydrocarbons and Class B fires- petroleum hydrocarbons and

volatile flammable solvents.

6.

6. Class C fires- electrical equipment. Class C fires- electrical equipment.

7.

7. Class D fires- combustible or reactive metals Class D fires- combustible or reactive metals

such as sodium, potassium, or magnesium,

metal hydrides, or organometallics.

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Causes of Fire

ØCarelessness (including smoking) ØBurning rubbish / waste

ØPoor housekeeping ØElectrical faults

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Fire Prevention

 Fires in lodging properties are quite common but Fires in lodging properties are quite common but

so is the fact that most hotels, motels and resorts

with state of the art equipment to suppress fires

when they occur. Executive housekeepers can

help prevent fires by fireproofing guestroom

furnishing. Curtains, carpets, pillows, blankets,

and upholstery should be purchased labeled as

fire-retardant or flameproof, as cigarette smoking

in bed by guests is the typical cause of fires in

guestrooms.

 Above all, employees must be trained not to Above all, employees must be trained not to

panic in case of fire but remain calm in all cases.

Panic emotion

Panic emotion can cause people to feel can cause people to feel disoriented, preventing them from acting

disoriented, preventing them from acting

rationally.

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If there is any doubt whether the fire

can be controlled locally by available

personnel or equipment, the

following actions should be taken:

2.

Activate the emergency alarm system.

3.

Confine the fire (close window, doors

between rooms, and fire doors) to prevent

further spread of the fire.

4.

Assist injured personnel.

5.

Evacuate the building; move to an assemble

point for accountability. (See the Emergency

Response Plan for your assembly area.)

6.

DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO GO BACK INTO

THE BUILDING!

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Emergency Exit Plan

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Flood Prevention



By installing and maintaining

floodgates at all potential entry

points into the hotel.



Sandbags are on hand during

typhoon season in preparation for

any continuous downpour that may

occur

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Earthquakes

Dangers associated with

Earthquakes:

2.

Partial building collapse such as collapsing

walls, falling ceiling plaster, dislodged

light fixtures and pictures.

3.

Flying glass from shattered windows.

4.

Overturned furniture such as cabinets,

standing lamps or bookcases.

5.

Fires, broken gas lines and similar causes.

6.

Fallen power lines.

7.

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Safety Rules during

Earthquake:



Remain Calm!

If your inside the hotel:

4.

4. Stand in doorway.

Stand in doorway.

5.

5. Get under a table or desk.

Get under a table or desk.

6.

6. Brace yourself in an inside corner

Brace yourself in an inside corner

away from windows.

7.

7. Move to an inner wall or corridor.

Move to an inner wall or corridor.

8.

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2. Stay away from tall shelves,

cabinets and other furniture that

might slide or topple.

3. Stay away from windows, sliding

glass doors and mirrors.

4. Grab anything handy to shield your

head and face from falling debris

and splintering glass.

5. Do not be alarmed if the fire alarm

or sprinklers go off.

6. Do not rush outside...stay on the

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11. Do not use the elevators as the

power

for elevators may go out

and leave you trapped.

12. The greatest danger from falling

debris

is just outside doorways

and close to outer walls.

If you are outside the hotel:

4. Move away from the building,

garage walls, power poles and lamp

posts.

5. If possible, proceed cautiously to a

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General Safety Rules after an

Earthquake:



Remain calm. Do not panic.



Do not light matches, cigarettes or turn

on



electrical switches.



Protect hands and feet in all areas near



broken glass or debris.



Keep head and feet protected (with

blanket, hat, pillow, etc).



Fill your bathtub and sink with water.



Wait for further instructions by the Hotel

Emergency Response team

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Other Safety Tips for

Housekeeping Workers:

 Use gloves as often as possible in the Use gloves as often as possible in the

workplace.

 Use goggles when decanting hazardous Use goggles when decanting hazardous

chemicals.

 Wipe all spills immediately, particularly on the Wipe all spills immediately, particularly on the

floors.

 Walk; do not run!Walk; do not run!

 Report all hallway obstructions.Report all hallway obstructions.

 Discard chipped or broken glassware safely.Discard chipped or broken glassware safely.  Use pan and brush to sweep up broken glass.Use pan and brush to sweep up broken glass.  Never touch electrical switches with wet hands.Never touch electrical switches with wet hands.  Do not use equipment that has frayed electrical Do not use equipment that has frayed electrical

cords.

 Store heavy material on lower shelves and Store heavy material on lower shelves and

lighter material above.

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 Keep stored material away from sprinkler heads Keep stored material away from sprinkler heads

and light bulbs.

 Do not use chairs or boxes to reach for stored Do not use chairs or boxes to reach for stored

material.

 Keep loads close to body when lifting.Keep loads close to body when lifting.

 Bend knees and keep a straight back when _{Bend knees and keep a straight back when}

lifting heavy objects.

 Never try to give heavy liquids to an Never try to give heavy liquids to an

unconscious person.

 Control bleeding by pressing on the wound with Control bleeding by pressing on the wound with

a clean towel.

 Do not use bare hands to push or pull trash in Do not use bare hands to push or pull trash in

wastebaskets.

 Handled soiled linen with care to avoid contact Handled soiled linen with care to avoid contact

with sharps.

 Always use gloves to handle blood spills or Always use gloves to handle blood spills or

stains,

 Report any real or potential safety hazard to Report any real or potential safety hazard to

your supervisor.

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Employee Theft



Estimates of employee theft in the

workplace are very high. It is believed that

half of all employees steal from their

employers. Housekeeping employees have

ample opportunities to steal and

pilfer-they can steal from guests, as pilfer-they have

they can steal from guests, as they have

master keys to access the guests’ rooms;

and they can pilfer company property,

particularly guest and cleaning supplies,

linens, and tools.

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Minimizing Theft

 An effective way of controlling employee theft is by An effective way of controlling employee theft is by

implementing a

implementing a parcel-pass systemparcel-pass system by which by which

employees leaving the property must show security

officers a signed authorization to remove any items

from the premises. A designated entrance/exit for

employees that is controlled by security can be very

effective, deterring individuals from exiting the

premises through unmonitored doors.

 Properties that use keys rather than cards must Properties that use keys rather than cards must

establish an effective way of limiting access to

guestrooms, floor closets, and storerooms by

establishing a

establishing a key-control systemkey-control system. Keys must be . Keys must be accounted for at all times by logging them in and out

accounted for at all times by logging them in and out

at the beginning and end of shits. To avoid

misplacement, master keys should be attached to a

cord or lanyard or placed in large metal rings.

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Theft by guests and

Intruders

 The proverbial filching of towels by guests is a The proverbial filching of towels by guests is a

common today as it has ever been. In some cases,

cash-only guests take with them bathroom

appliances, coffee makers, blankets, pillows,

clock/radios, telephones, TV sets, and, in rare

cases, the entire furniture of rooms by parking a

van behind the room sliding door/window.

 Guest theft can be minimized by the Guest theft can be minimized by the

establishment’s not admitting travelers who don’t

own a credit card. In any case, section

housekeepers should be trained to report

immediately any missing item from rooms or when

observing a guest’s suitcases or trunks and the

presence of suspicious characters loitering in

hallways should also be reported.