THE PROBLEM:
Heavier Mattresses + Repetitive Lifting = BACK PAIN
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The hospitality industry is under pressure to provide increased customer satisfaction with more comfortable and heavier mattresses. Unfortunately, it's costing much more than the price of a new mattress. Recent studies have shown that housekeepers have a significantly higher rate and level of injury, more lost days of work, and larger worker compensation claims than any other areas. Although repetitive motions can also contribute to housekeeper injuries, making 20+ beds per shift, lifting mattresses often in excess of 100lbs sometimes more than 150 - 200 times a day is an obvious area of concern.
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THE SCOPE:
Housekeepers are in Greater Pain Than Others
Hotel room cleaning is a backbreaking job, with intense workloads, time pressures and repetitive lifting motions. Ninety-five percent of housekeepers reported enduring occupational-related injuries - according to one survey of 1,000 Las Vegas hotel workers.
UniteHere! reports that "of more than 600 hotel housekeepers in the US and Canada, 91% said that they have suffered work-related pain. Of those who reported workplace pain, 66% took pain medication just to get through their day." Repeated research shows that housekeepers, more than others, are disproportionately getting hurt on the job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2012, hotel workers had a higher rate of injury than textiles, building construction and even coal mining!
UniteHere! reports that "of more than 600 hotel housekeepers in the US and Canada, 91% said that they have suffered work-related pain. Of those who reported workplace pain, 66% took pain medication just to get through their day." Repeated research shows that housekeepers, more than others, are disproportionately getting hurt on the job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2012, hotel workers had a higher rate of injury than textiles, building construction and even coal mining!
Higher Risk For Injury Than Coal Mining
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THE RECOMMENDATION:
California Adopts New Workplace Safety Regulation to Protect Hotel Housekeepers from Injury
The problem is so great that in March 2018, Cal/OSHA revised their standards requiring hotels to provide their staff with appropriate work place tools, to aid with (among other tasks) bed-making, to prevent musculoskeletal injuries*. According to UNITEHERE!, "Under the new standard, hotels will be required to reduce injury risks for housekeepers and offer them proper tools, such as long-handled mops or devices to help make beds. Housekeepers will get training on injury risks and have the right to suggest solutions to those risks." The Tucker will can meet this requirement.
*California Adopts New Workplace Safety Regulation to Protect Hotel Housekeepers from Injury http://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2018/2018-18.pdf
