Washington – NIOSH’s National Occupational Research Agenda recently issued a fact sheet (.pdf file) on safety and health concerns among hotel cleaners.
According to NORA, hotel cleaners represent approximately 400,000 of the 1.8 million workers in the traveler/accommodations industry. They dust, vacuum, change linens, clean bathrooms and empty trash, and may be exposed to ergonomics hazards; mold; infectious agents; occupational stress; respiratory hazards; and slips, trips and falls.
Safety recommendations include:
- Evaluate the quality and ensure the maintenance of cleaning equipment
- Encourage use of ergonomic carts and vacuum cleaners
- Research guest practices that would improve work environment
