Hotel Housekeeping in California: How to Prevent Musculoskeletal Injuries

Course Description:

Housekeepers, room attendants, and cleaners in hotels and other lodging establishments perform many of the same tasks multiple times a day. Some of these repetitive tasks can cause musculoskeletal injuries, or MSIs. An MSI is either an acute onetime injury or cumulative trauma from wear and tear on bones, muscles, joints, nerves, and other soft-tissue parts of the body.
This course provides hotel housekeeping workers and their supervisors in California with the information they need to perform these repetitive or physically stressful tasks efficiently and without injury or discomfort. The course covers the use of cleaning tools and equipment, safe housekeeping practices, and how to report health and safety concerns, as well as describes the MSI prevention program, MIPP.

Why “Hotel Housekeeping in California: How to Prevent Musculoskeletal Injuries” Matters:

At the completion of this course, the participant will be able to:
• Explain the signs, symptoms, and risk factors related to MSIs
• Summarize the elements of an effective MIPP
• Identify housekeeping hazards, as well as the engineering, administrative, and other workplace controls used to reduce them
• Implement appropriate body mechanics, safe practices, and the proper use of cleaning tools and equipment to prevent MSIs
• Articulate the process for reporting safety and health concerns, as well as the importance of reporting symptoms and injuries early

Key Points:

• Causes of a musculoskeletal injury include a slip or fall, repetitive motions, forceful exertions from pushing or pulling, excessive pressure, and static or awkward positions.
• As your supervisor for a copy of the MIPP that describes a system of safe work practices and use the task-appropriate housekeeping tools or equipment.
• Take corrective action to minimize risk factors for musculoskeletal injury, such as bend at the knees and keep your back straight instead of bending at the waist when lifting.
• Use the right tools to help you safely perform hazardous tasks, such as a scrubber with extendable handles to prevent overreaching, and a strap-dolly or slider to move furniture.
• Immediately report to your supervisor all signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal injuries and unsafe work practices and equipment to your manager or supervisor.