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Hotel/motel workers in the United States are nearly 40 percent more likely to be injured on the job than all other service-sector workers, according to the American Journal of Industrial Medicine report, “Occupational Injury Disparities in the U.S. Hotel Industry.” Approximately 25 percent of hotel/motel workers are employed in hotel/motel housekeeping departments which makes this group the largest group of hotel employees.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2013 data (latest available) showed “…that hotel and motel workers had a nonfatal injury and illness rate of 5.4, significantly higher than the combined rate of all industries - 3.5.

According to Gary Allread, Program Director of the Institute for Ergonomics at Ohio State University in Columbus, “As more amenities continue to be offered in hotel rooms, housekeepers often are having to work even harder and more quickly.”

An earlier report from the BLS in 2006 confirms Mr. Allread’s comments showing that when hotel amenities such as super thick mattresses and more pillows on larger beds are added, the injury rate for housekeepers climbed to 71 percent compared with 47 percent before the hotel additions.

Here are some further reasons these housekeepers are more likely to be injured from sources such as Health Day: 

• Manual Labor - Some of the tasks performed by hotel/motel housekeepers include pushing supply carts, dusting, vacuuming, changing linens, making beds, and scrubbing bathrooms. 

• Heavy Workloads – Many housekeepers are required to clean fifteen or more rooms each day. 

• Time Constraints – With high room occupancy rates and corresponding turnover, housekeepers are often experiencing increased time pressure to clean and prepare rooms. Understaffing also puts more of a burden on limited housekeeping resources. Mariana Wong, a housekeeper at the San Francisco Hilton, confirmed in Health Day that the time constraints and extra work can translate into injuries. “She is sick of vacations, not her own, but others as they often leave rooms decorated with such things as confetti and balloons and graffiti.” 

• Slips, Trips and Falls – When hurrying to prepare rooms, housekeepers must often navigate through obstacle courses of luggage and pullout sofas. 

• Inadequate or Faulty Equipment – Often the right equipment for the job is not available, and if it is available, it may not be maintained properly. 

What are some of the injuries sustained by hotel/motel housekeepers?

 The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) lists the following: 

• Musculoskeletal disorders from bending, pushing carts, and making beds. 

• Traumatic injuries from slips,trips,and falls. 

• Respiratory illnesses from cleaning products that contain substances such as irritant aerosols and bleaching agents. 

• Skin reactions from detergents and latex. 

• Infectious diseases from agents such as biological waste (e.g., feces and vomit) and bloodborne pathogens found on broken glass and uncapped needles. 

What can be done to prevent injuries? 

Dr. Niklas Krause, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences at the School of Public Health, University of California in Los Angeles, reported in October 2012, that a reduction of workloads and time pressure through the provision of extra personnel, tools and equipment that reduce awkward postures and the frequency or force of high risk job tasks can be expected to lead to a reduction of work-related injury among hotel/motel maids and housekeepers. 

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), as part of its enforcement efforts to reduce musculoskeletal injuries began targeting ergonomic hazards in the hospitality industry. Several hotels have received citations which ranged from $14,000 to $50,000. 

Can hotel/motel housekeepers file personal injury cases as the result of serious on-the-job injuries? 

“Although hotel and motel employees may be covered by the state workers’ compensation programs, they may still be able to file personal injury lawsuits,” said Fort Myers Personal Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. “One instance could be if a serious injury was sustained from dangerous conditions such as faulty equipment and the hotel/motel management was aware, or should have been aware, of the situation and did nothing about it. Hotel/motel workers who sustain serious on-the-job injuries should consult our experienced team to determine whether there are grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.”

Fort Myers Personal Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.