Housekeeper Safety
Session Objectives
You will be able to:
Recognize workplace hazards
Identify the precautions you need
to take
Prevent accidents and injuries
on the job
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Common Job Hazards
• Back injuries and other muscle strains
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Working with cleaning products
• Working with hazardous equipment
• Hand injuries
• Infections
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Back Safety
• Your job requires a
lot of physical activity
• Back injuries are
among the most
common job injuries
• Your back is
involved in almost
every move you
make all day
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Safe Lifting
• Face the load with feet
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shoulder-width apart
Keep heels down and
turn feet slightly out
Squat by bending at
the hips and knees
Use leg and stomach
muscles to power lift
Maintain back’s
natural curves
Don’t overstretch
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Safe Carrying
• Make sure the load
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is stable
Make sure you can
see over the load
Point your feet in the
direction you’re moving
Watch where you’re
going
Hug the load
Turn carefully
Unload safely
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Bending ad Reaching
• Kneel or squat
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rather than bend
Support your back
Avoid overreaching
Avoid twisting
your torso
Vacuum using a
relaxed posture
Alternate strenuous
tasks with lighter tasks
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Slips, Trips, and Falls
• Turn on lights
• Watch your step
• Be extra careful
on wet surfaces
• Close drawers
and doors
• Pick up items
from the floor
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Slips, Trips, and Falls (cont.)
• Watch out for
electrical cords
• Use a stepstool to
reach high places
• Stow equipment
and supplies out
of your way
• Use handrails on stairs
• Report damaged
flooring
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
How to Fall
To Minimize Injuries
If you start to fall:
• Bend your elbows and knees
• Roll with the fall
• Protect your vital areas
• Use your forearms and hands to break the fall
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Cleaning Product Safety
• Read the label
• Wear gloves and
goggles/safety glasses
• Avoid splashes
• Avoid breathing
in products
• Wash hands after use
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Equipment Safety
• Check cords and plugs
• Don’t use malfunctioning
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equipment
Push rather than
pull heavy carts
Stack and stow supplies
and equipment safely
Watch where you’re
going when pushing a cart
Be extra careful with
carts on elevators
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Hand Safety
• Watch out for
pinch points
• Be careful with
sharp objects
• Tend to cuts promptly
• Get proper treatment
for dermatitis
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Avoiding Infection
• Treat all blood, bloodstained materials,
and other potentially
infectious materials as
if they are infectious
• Wash hands frequently
• Wash before eating and
after using the restroom
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Save Your Back by Making
The Right Lifting Choices
Face the load with feet: a. Together
b. Shoulder-width apart
Keep heels down and
turn feet slightly:
a. In
b. Out
Squat by bending:
a. Hips and knees
b. Back
To power the lift,
use your:
a. Back muscles
b. Leg and stomach
muscles
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Hazards and Precautions
Do you understand:
• Potential job hazards?
• Safe lifting and carrying
techniques?
• Preventing slips, trips,
and falls?
• Cleaning products and
equipment safely?
• Preventing hand
injuries?
• Avoiding infection?
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Reporting Safety Problems
• Never ignore any safety problem
• Correct problems if you can do so safely
• Report other problems right away
• Warn others of the hazard
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Emergency Response
Be sure you know:
• Who to contact
• Location of fire alarms
and extinguishers
• Evacuation routes
• Assigned assembly
areas outside the
building
• Basic first aid
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Security on the Job
• Lock up valuables
• Lock doors
• Keep alert
• Report suspicious
individuals or activities
• Don’t let unauthorized
individuals into the
building or lend your ID
• Don’t let unauthorized
individuals into
guestrooms
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Security Tips for
Coming and Going
• Be careful coming
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and going in the dark
Keep alert in
parking lots
Keep car doors locked
Walk on well-trafficked,
well-lit streets
Be cautious riding
public transportation
Seek help if you feel
threatened
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Smoking
• Smoke only in
designated areas
• Extinguish
cigarettes and
matches carefully
• Report
unauthorized
smoking by guests
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Safety Procedures:
True or False?
Only report safety hazards in areas
where you work
After an emergency evacuation,
you should go home
It’s OK to let a co-worker’s friend in
the employee entrance
You should smoke only in
designated areas
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Safety Procedures
Do you understand:
• How to report safety
problems?
• Emergency
procedures?
• Security precautions?
• Smoking rules?
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803
Key Points to Remember
Although your job may not seem
dangerous, you still face possible
hazards at work
You need to be aware of hazards and
understand precautions to prevent
accidents and injuries
Be sure to report any safety problems
you see anywhere in the building
Take safety seriously and help us
keep everybody safe on the job
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0803