RESUMEN
Hotel room cleaners frequently report job-related pain, with high rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorder injuries established for this group of workers. Surprisingly, there is limited published research documenting the impact of interventions to reduce ergonomic-related injury risks specific to hotel room cleaners' job tasks. In this study focused on hotel bathroom-cleaning and furniture-dusting tasks, twelve experienced hotel room cleaners used their standard method and a risk-reduction method-a tool with a handle that could extend, to perform these tasks. The female study participants' average age was 45.3 (SD 8.7) years with an average of 10 years of work experience as cleaners (range: 0.8-26.0 years). Trunk kinematics and a low back injury risk assessment were measured using the Lumbar Motion Monitor. All study metrics were significantly reduced when cleaning tasks involved use of adjustable, long-handled tools (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that commonly available cleaning and dusting tools with extendable handles can significantly reduce low back injury risk among hotel room cleaners and potentially reduce injury risk to other body parts known to be the site of musculoskeletal disorders in this workforce. The study findings suggest that cleaning or housekeeping jobs in other industries where these same tasks are performed could benefit from use of extended-handle tools like those investigated here.
Asunto(s)
Traumatismos de la Espalda , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas , Enfermedades Profesionales , Humanos , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Traumatismos de la Espalda/epidemiología , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/epidemiología , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/prevención & control , Ergonomía , Tareas del HogarRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To understand the health- and safety-related experiences of specific occupations among non-union casino hotel employees to identify processes leading to worker health and safety risks. METHODS: Using purposive, criterion sampling, 61 workers participated in 13 recorded focus groups (FGs). A semi-structured topic guide addressed work-related health and safety impacts, workplace hazards, and management responses, among others. FG transcripts were analyzed following grounded theory methodology. Demographic and occupational health information was collected via survey. RESULTS: Codes (97) were collapsed into seven themes: activities/exposures negatively affecting health/safety; barriers to health/safety; injury/pain occurrences; coping mechanisms; job vulnerability; management policies/enforcement; lack of management concern for employees. From these themes emerged the Dynamic Theoretical Framework of Employee Health and Safety Risk. CONCLUSIONS: "Management's lack of concern" creates a negative environment whereby employer-controlled factors jeopardize employees' health and safety. Interventions targeting management's lack of concern for employee health and safety could favorably change work-based risks.
Asunto(s)
Industrias/organización & administración , Salud Laboral , Cultura Organizacional , Administración de la Seguridad , Lugar de Trabajo/psicología , Adulto , Demografía , Femenino , Grupos Focales , Teoría Fundamentada , Humanos , Sindicatos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Ocupaciones , Lugar de Trabajo/organización & administraciónRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Provide descriptive statistics and discuss priorities for injury and fatality risks among services sector workers. METHODS: Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data for 2003 to 2007 were analyzed to identify occupational injury and fatality risks for services sector industry groups. RESULTS: Many services sector industry groups experienced, on average, greater than one occupational fatality per week, and survey of occupational injuries and illnesses days-away-from-work rates in excess of those for all US workers. Overall, transportation incidents and homicides are leading factors contributing to fatalities. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the need for adoption of safety and health prevention practices in numerous industry groups. For groups that experience elevated injury and fatality rates, priorities for research and intervention can be identified through these data.
Asunto(s)
Industrias , Enfermedades Profesionales/epidemiología , Traumatismos Ocupacionales/epidemiología , Accidentes de Tránsito/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Causas de Muerte , Femenino , Homicidio/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Recursos HumanosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Hotel employees have higher rates of occupational injury and sustain more severe injuries than most other service workers. METHOD: OSHA log incidents from five unionized hotel companies for a three-year period were analyzed to estimate injury rates by job, company, and demographic characteristics. Room cleaning work, known to be physically hazardous, was of particular concern. RESULTS: A total of 2,865 injuries were reported during 55,327 worker-years of observation. The overall injury rate was 5.2 injuries per 100 worker-years. The rate was highest for housekeepers (7.9), Hispanic housekeepers (10.6), and about double in three companies versus two others. Acute trauma rates were highest in kitchen workers (4.0/100) and housekeepers (3.9/100); housekeepers also had the highest rate of musculoskeletal disorders (3.2/100). Age, being female or Hispanic, job title, and company were all independently associated with injury risk. CONCLUSION: Sex- and ethnicity-based disparities in injury rates were only partially due to the type of job held and the company in which the work was performed.