Hawaii Hospitality - January/February 2014 - (Page 16)

CLEAN TALK with Rose BY ROSE GALERA, CEH Aloha Rose, I need to develop and write a hotel housekeeping training program for 2014. Any guidelines you can share will be helpful. Thank you, Cassie Aloha Cassie, During the past four months, we've received many emails from housekeeping managers requesting information on Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) due to OSHA's inspection concerns. Developing a safety training program and writing a JHA for your housekeeping department will be an ideal training program start for the new year. Here's a guide to help you along. A Job Hazard Analysis-also known as a Job Safety Analysis (JSA)-is a technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify hazards before they result in injury, illness, property damage or worse. To do this, it analyzes the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools and the work environment. The benefits of a JHA can include reduced injuries, reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and increased morale. It protects all employees. To undertake a JHA, you must first understand the key concepts of job tasks, hazards and controls. You will then develop a list of the many housekeeping jobs that must be performed at a hotel and prioritize which jobs you want to assess first. Finally, to run through the actual JHA, you'll want to do the following in order: * Observe the various steps of every job * Note all hazards associated with each step * List controls/protective measures for each hazard * Note any required training for the job * Include any relevant/helpful graphics, such as flowcharts, etc. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has identified categories of hazards that affect hotel housekeepers. These include overexertion, slips, trips, falls, chemical hazards, biological hazards-infectious diseases, and moving objects or equipment-ergonomic hazards. Ideally, after you 16 Hawaii Hospitality ■ January/February 2014 identify uncontrolled hazards, you should take steps to eliminate or reduce them to an acceptable risk level. With controls, providing the right tools and equipment can eliminate ergonomic stressors/hazards. For example, a microflat mop system can eliminate the need for housekeepers to clean hard floors on their hands and knees, and tools with telescoping handles can accommodate workers of different heights in ergonomically sound postures. Providing lighter tools-such as microfiber mops rather than traditional mops- enables workers to do a job more quickly and with less stress on their bodies, enhancing both safety and productivity. The right personal protective equipment (PPE) can help prevent chemical injuries and the spread of infectious diseases. Do not discount the importance of the writing process to the JHA program, and include your assistants and supervisors in the process. I recommend a three-column format: Tasks/ Hazards/Controls. Once completed, your JHA becomes a living document and a training tool. It can serve as a job description and is valuable for planning, production, profit and safety. A mastery of the JHA process will help provide you and your department with an excellent cleaning program. For more information on JHA, visit OSHA's website. Best wishes for a happy-and safe-new year! Rose Galera, CEH Rose Galera has 50 years of professional experience and is currently the president of the International Executive Housekeepers Association, Hawaii chapter. (808) 678-8021 galerar002@hawaii.rr.com www.rosegalera.com http://www.rosegalera.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hawaii Hospitality - January/February 2014

Talk Story with George Szigeti
Maui Ho‘okipa No Ka Oi
Hawaii’s Food & Beverage Superstars
All Systems Go!
Featured Department: Engineering
New Restaurants
Clean Talk with Rose
News Briefs
Association News
Marketplace

Hawaii Hospitality - January/February 2014