Learning Resource 3.

1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities

Objectives
At the end of this learning resource trainees should be able to:
Identify at least three (3) personal protective equipment needed to carry out tasks in the
Housekeeping Department according to industry standards after engaging in Power Point
presentation at 100% accuracy.
Define accurately the term ergonomics and its importance after engaging in PowerPoint
presentation according to industry standards.
Identify daily housekeeping activities that are performed after engaging in PowerPoint
presentation according to industry standards at 100% accuracy.
Expound on at least three (3) possible workplace hazards that Housekeepers will encounter
on a daily basis after engaging in PowerPoint presentation at 100% accuracy.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 2

Objectives Cont’d
Identify at least two (2) chemicals used in the housekeeping department after
engaging in research activity at 100% accuracy.
Expound on waste disposal procedures after reading resource material
entitled “Waste disposal and Housekeeping” at 100% accuracy according to
industry standards.
Expound on two (2) requirements of employees as it regards to Health and
Safety at 100% accuracy according to industry standards after engaging in
PowerPoint presentation.
Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 3
Introduction
Safety is critical in any workplace. It is important that workplace safety and
procedures are known and practiced in the workplace. Training should be provided
for workers who are involved with housekeeping activities. It is important that
housekeeping staff be informed about hazards in the workplace, including the risk
of injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, identification of the hazards
for such injury at any given hotel is fundamental. Individual work practices,
including lifting habits, are shaped by proper training. Training should encourage
employers and workers to adopt methods that reduce fatigue.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 4

Areas of Responsibility

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 5

There are a number of areas of responsibility room attendants must
manage as part of their role. They are responsible for the:
Cleanliness and overall appearance of guest rooms
Security of guest rooms and privacy of guests.
It is their responsibility to pay keen attention to the following areas as
well:
Guest Relations- Every employee of a hotel, including room attendants,
is expected to warmly greet guests and to be friendly and professional.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 6

In many cases they need to work independently from other colleagues
and must handle any problems that arise, without the assistance or
guidance of others. If there is a complaint about the room or its
furnishings or fixtures, in many cases the room attendant must not only
handle the issue, but take ownership to ensure it is resolved in a timely
manner.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 7

Guest Safety- The job description of a room attendant includes
ensuring the safety and well being of guests and their property.
Cleaning- They are required to ensure all aspects of a guest room are
clean and tidy.
Administration & Communication- Room attendants must ensure they
understand what rooms they are to clean and in which order.
Administration and communication is vital to ensure rooms are
returned “clean” ready for new guests.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 8

Daily activities
Following is a list of activities a room attendant may be required to
complete on a daily basis. As you can see there are many activities a
room attendant is responsible for in a normal work shift, involving a
wide variety of knowledge and skills. These activities include:
Cleaning of work area
Disposal of waste
Removal of obstacles

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 9

Erecting signs and notices
Securing equipment and cables
Handling and storing materials and equipment
Dealing with spills
Collect master keys
 Collect daily room allocation sheets
Stock housekeeping trolleys
Stock and store supplies
Identify any special requests.
Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 10
Refilling Consumables

Consumables: goods that are quickly used up

and need to be replaced often. For example:
tissue, shower gel.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 11

Room Attendants in their capacity will need to be familiar with the following:
Safety Policies
Recycling-What items can be recycled and the proper procedure according to
hotel policy for doing so.
Cost Control-They need to be familiar with the methods used to control costs
and how cost control affects the overall organization.
Reporting-The importance of reporting hazards in the workplace and completing
incident reports where necessary.
Use of Materials-Pay keen attention to especially chemical use. Read the Safety
data Sheets carefully before using.
Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 12
Housekeeping Equipment

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 13

Various pieces of equipment are needed to service a guest room. These are
usually stored on a housekeeping store room on each floor – or in some central
location. Equipment that needs to be correctly selected and prepared before it
is used may include:
Housekeeping trolley
A housekeeping trolley is sometimes called a “Maids Trolley”. Check to see it
is clean, presentable, and safe. There should be no jagged bits, nothing should
protrude to present a potential hazard, and the wheels should move easily and
smoothly.
Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 14
Vacuum cleaner-Wet and Dry
This must be checked to see it is empty at the start of the shift, spare
bags are available (where appropriate), that the machine is fully
functional and that there are no frayed cords or other safety problems.
Check should also be made to ensure that all the vacuum machine
tools/accessories that need to be used are available.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 15

Brooms and brushes
These should be sufficient in number as dictated by the establishment
, clean, and sufficiently bristled.
Buckets
These should be fully operational, not leaking, easy to operate, and not smelly.
Buckets may be required for wet mopping and most room servicing trolleys
will also feature a couple of plastic bucket-type containers used to hold
cleaning materials, cloths, chemicals and used to carry items into a guest room

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 16

Mops
Ensure the mop head looks presentable as guests will be able to see this
and may infer a lack of cleanliness in other or all cleaning from seeing a
dirty mop head.
Protective gloves
A good supply of disposable gloves should be on each trolley.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 17

Housekeeping uniform
The housekeeping uniform is also regarded as “protective clothing”.
Hose
This is sometimes used by the housekeeper to wash the floors of public
areas like corridors.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 18

Cloths
Used for cleaning, polishing and dusting, every trolley will need to have
lots of these. Some are made from material and some are disposable.
Warning signs
These are safety signs used when a public area is being cleaned as part
of the overall room preparation process.
Dust pan
A dust pan is vital to collect dirt, dust and rubbish.
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Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 20
As Room attendants you are prone to accidents and as such it is
important to pay attention to workplace hazards. Once a hazard is
identified it is your responsibility to report it immediately to the relevant
person so it can be dealt with immediately.

The following are possible workplace hazards in the workplace:

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 21

Flammable materials: You might have to work with items that are
highly flammable. Ensure to keep these items away from any open
flame and wear proper protective equipment as required by the
workplace.

Unsecured Cables: There might be unsecured cables running along the

areas in conference rooms. Once identified report immediately so the
hazard can be eliminated.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 22

Exposed power cables: Raw open wires can result in electrocution.
There are items that can be used to secure cables :
Cable clips
Cable Holders
Twist Lock
Trunking

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 23

Cluttered Walkways- This can result in serious accidents. Ensure walkways are
clear of any obstacles.

Improperly stacked materials: Ensure to stack items properly especially on the

trolley or in the storeroom. If items are not stacked properly they can fall on
your feet and result in serious injuries.

Unprotected equipment- All equipment to be used should be transported

properly. Equipment should not be left unprotected as this can result in injuries.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 24

Chemical: Practice safe use of chemicals as this can result in chemical
burn. Ensure not to mix chemicals as well as inhalation can result in
fainting and maybe death.

Slippery Floors: Housekeepers work with water and any liquid of any
form spilled on the floor can lead to slip and fall. Use warning signs
when cleaning floors to indicate that the floor is wet and wipe up spills
immediately.
Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 25
Ensure before using any chemicals to pay keen attention to the Safety
Data Sheet. Improper use of chemicals can result in chemicals burns and
fainting. It is not required that persons mix chemicals. Use and handle
chemical safely according to policy procedures.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 26

 A hazard is something that if left
uncorrected can lead to an accident.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 27

Cleaning agents and chemicals

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 28

 Opening Learning Activity

Watch the following presentation by Dhaliwal H (2016): “Cleaning Agents”, Retrieved

November 25,2019 from https://www.slideshare.net/HarshDhaliwal/cleaning-agents

Have fun
learning

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 29

 Opening Learning Activity

Jot down in your notebook FIVE (5) chemicals you remember from the presentation.

Have fun
learning

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 30

 A safety data sheet includes information such as the
properties and use of each chemical; the physical, health, and
environmental health hazards; protective measures; and
safety precautions for handling, storing, and transporting the
chemical.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 31

Waste Disposal

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Staff should handle waste as little as possible before disposal. Special
care must be taken when handling hazardous waste. It may require
special bags or boxes (in the case of broken glass). It is always
advisable to:
 Wear gloves when handling rubbish
Not overload rubbish bags or bins
Use safe manual handling techniques
Use a trolley to move waste where necessary

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 33

 Dispose of waste in a timely manner
 Move waste to disposal areas during quiet times or on quiet routes
Place waste in suitable disposal areas – this includes the separation of
paper, glass and plastic based products. The efficient and effective
removal of waste is key to maintaining a clean and tidy workplace.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 34

 Learning Activity

Visit the following website and make notes by Canadian Centre of Occupational health and Safety
(2019)“Hotel Housekeeping” Retrieved November 29, 2019
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/house.html

Visit the following website and make notes by EngenderHealth (2011) “Waste Disposal and
Housekeeping” Retrieved November 29, 2019
https://www.engenderhealth.org/wp content/uploads/imports/files/pubs/qi/ip/IP_posters_final_english.pdf

Have fun
learning

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 35

Policies and Procedures

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Policies and procedures will vary from organization to organization.
Policy – rule or code of conduct
Procedure – step by step instruction.
Policies and procedures are very important and must be adhered to.
They help to ensure the health, safety, security and privacy of the
organization, its staff and guests, including their assets and belongings

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 37

Examples of housekeeping policies that needs to be adhered to:
 Zero tolerance of theft.
 Guest room doors must be open whilst cleaning is in progress
 Protective clothes to be worn when cleaning
 Guest information is confidential
Sexual harassment of any form is prohibited

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 38

Examples of housekeeping procedures
 Accessing a room
 Making a bed
 Cleaning a window
Cleaning a bathroom
 Mopping a floor
 Handling lost property.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 39

Housekeeping will normally have more policies and procedures than
most departments in a hospitality business because of:
 The nature of the work
 The need for detailed consistency in performance of all tasks
Safety and security priorities.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 40

All employees are responsible for safe work practices under the
Occupational Health and Safety Act. Employers under this act are
responsible to provide employees with a safe working environment,
which includes the appropriate personal protective equipment needed to
carry out specific tasks. Under the act it is the responsibility to the
employee as well to practice safety by wearing the gears provided by
the employer and practicing the safety practices and policies given to
them by the employer.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 41

Failure to adhere to these is a breach and can result in fines, loss of jobs,
lawsuits and serious injuries on the job. Occupational Health and Safety
(OHS) refers to workplace health and safety policies, procedures and
practices. A Room Attendant’s personal protective equipment might
include:

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 42

Overall
Lab coat
Rubber footwear
Earmuffs/plugs
Gloves
Respirators
Dust mask

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 43

There are SEVEN (7) steps to Health and Safety
 Control hazards and develop a safety plan: As an employer you need to
identify hazards in your workplace and take steps to eliminate or
minimize them. Develop a safety plan. Ensure workers have access to a
first aid kit.
 Train your workers: Take time to train your workers, take them and
show them step by step how to do specific tasks. Consider providing
written instructions and safe work procedure so they can check for
themselves if they are working in an unsafe work environment.
 Inspect your workplace: Check all equipment and tools regularly to
ensure they are well maintained and safe to use.

 Investigate Incidents: Look into the cause of accidents including near

misses where no one else was injured. Try to find ways to change
procedures or equipment to help prevent similar incidents.

 Maintain records: Keep records of all first aid treatments , inspection,

incident, investigation and training activity.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 45

This can help you to identify trends in unsafe conditions and work
procedures.
Talk regular with your workers: Meet regularly with your staff and
discuss health and safety issues. Encourage them to share their ideas
and thoughts on how to improve safety in the workplace.
Provide the employees with the necessary safety gears to carry out
their job functions.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 46

It is important to provide employees with written safe work procedures to be
used in the workplace:
Determine the task that requires safe work procedures
Breakdown the tasks to its basic steps
Identify the hazard associated with each step, and ways to minimize or
eliminate the risk of workers getting hurt.
Write safe work procedures: The list of actions that employees must do
when performing the task.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 47

Information on safe work practices can be communicated to the staff
verbally or non-verbally. Verbal communication is the use of words or
in a written form while non verbal is the use of gestures.
Communication can be done using the following mediums:
Memo
Meeting
Training

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 48

Handbook
Demonstration
Simulation Exercises
Charts or information posted on the notice board
It is important that employees and employers work in partnership to
eliminate hazards and control risks in the workplace. It is important that
risk management exercises be conducted. This is the process of analyzing
exposure to risk and determining how best to handle such exposure.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 49

Training should also explain the health hazards of improper lifting and
give recommendations on what a worker can do to improve lifting
positions. Training should also emphasize the importance of rest periods
for the workers' health and explain how active rest can do more for
keeping workers healthy than passive rest. The effect of such training
can reach far beyond occupational situations because the workers can
apply this knowledge also in their off-job activities.

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Once hazards in the workplace are identified they sheolud be reported to
management immediately so they can be eliminated or controlled. It is
important that if an employee or coworker is seen breaching any safety
or health policies it should be reported immediately. Safety is
everyone’s responsibility. Ensure to use danger signs when cleaning
floors so as to prevent possible accidents and clean up spills
immediately.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 51

 Opening Learning Activity

Research and make jottings in your notebook , the THREE (3)categories of hazards in the workplace
and give examples to each

Have fun
learning

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 52

It is important that after any accident in the workplace an incident report
is completed:
Visit the following website and make notes by Atlantic Training (2017)
“ How to write a Good Incident or Accident Report” Retrieved November 29, 2019 from
https://www.atlantictraining.com/blog/write-good-accident-incident-report/

Identify two(2) importance of completing such report.

Have fun
learning

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 53

Housekeeping in a hotel is a very physically demanding job that includes
many, varied tasks. A housekeeper carries out the following tasks on a daily
basis:
Making beds
Tidying rooms
Cleaning and polishing toilets, taps, sinks, bathtubs and mirrors
Washing floors
Removing stains
Vacuuming
Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 54
There are several risks associated with housekeeping thus it is important that
safety training and briefings be done so as to keep employees informed and to
reduce the chance of injuries on the job.
The main risk factors for repetitive motion injuries (RMIs) in housekeeping are:
heavy physical workload and excessive bodily motions which are a high risk
for back injuries
forceful upper limb motions in awkward positions which are a high risk for
neck or shoulder and arm injuries
Space limitations require workers to use many uncomfortable postures.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 55

These are:
1. Standing or walking
2. Stooping
3. Squatting
4. Kneeling
5. Stretching
6. Reaching
7. Bending
8. Twisting
9. Crouching

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 56

A housekeeper changes body position every three seconds while cleaning a
room. If we assume that the average cleaning time for each room is twenty-
five minutes, we can estimate that a housekeeper assumes 8,000 different
body postures every shift.
In addition, forceful movements while using awkward body positions
include lifting mattresses, cleaning tiles, and vacuuming every shift.
Housekeeping is a physically demanding and very tiring job. It can be
classified as "moderately heavy" to "heavy" work because the energy
required.
Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 57
 Learning Activity

Based on the discussions on Repetitive Motion Injuries above highlight

THREE (3) ways or strategies that can be employed to help alleviate or
cushion the RMI’s identified. ONE (1) strategy for each and discuss with
your partner

Have fun
learning

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 58

Ways to prevents hazards in the workplace
Know potential hazards of your workplace and the activities you
perform.
Learn and use safe lifting techniques.
Wear proper protective equipment when handling cleaning products.
Wash your hands frequently – an important step in preventing
infection.
Always wear appropriate personal protective for the task to be
completed
Wear shoes with non-skid soles.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 59

Know emergency contact numbers and keep them immediately available.
Keep carts in good repair, check wheels and weight distribution of supplies.
Use long handled tools such as dusters and mops to avoid bending and
stretching.
Review safety data sheet for cleaning products and follow instructions for
safe use and storage.
Provide training on bloodborne pathogens and practices to follow if needles
or bodily fluids are encountered in the hotel room. Have a sharps disposal
container on the cart for needles and sharps.
Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 60
Housekeepers become exhausted and sometimes need rest breaks. It is
important that when setting procedures for the workplace attention be
payed to ergonomics. In order to be efficient workers have to have good
safe working conditions and as such are required rest breaks. It is
important that allotted safe locations be used for rest breaks. Persons
should not be seen taking smoke breaks next to gas cylinders.

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Under the OHS Act employers should provide designated lunch rooms for
persons to have their meals and breaks in a safe area paying attention to
health and safety requirements and it is a requirement that employees
adhere to these policies.
The management team should carry out quality assurance checks in a bid to
ensure that proper procedures are being followed effectively by “poking in
their heads” from time to time to observe safety practices in the workplace.

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Floor Marking

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Floor marking creates a safer work area by making that area easier to
understand. A safer workplace will result even from applications not
usually thought of as safety related. For example, having the floor
marked for tool and equipment locations reduces trip hazards by
ensuring that tools and equipment are not out of place.
Floor marking is an excellent way to reinforce other safety information
that may have been overlooked or forgotten.

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Adding messages and symbols to the floor that may already be present on walls
or equipment serve as reminders. For example, “Watch for Forklift Traffic” or
“PPE Required Area” floor signs can be placed at dangerous locations.
While most industrial facilities already employ floor marking for safety
purposes, few have studied ways to improve the effectiveness of their existing
visual communication strategies. Smart, creative floor marking is an integral
piece of this puzzle, enhancing the overall safety of a facility when combined
with signage and labeling.

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 65

 Ergonomics: the study of people's efficiency in their
working environment.

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 Congratulations!
You have completed Learning Resource 3.1.

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References
Atlantic Training (2017). “How to write a Good Incident or Accident Report”. Retrieved November
2019 from https://www.atlantictraining.com/blog/write-good-accident-incident-report/

Canadian Centre of Occupational health and safety (2019). “Hotel Housekeeping”. Retrieved
November 2019 from https://
www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/occup_workplace/hotel_housekeeping.html

Dhaliwal H (2016). “Cleaning Agents”. Retrieved November from

https://www.slideshare.net/HarshDhaliwal/cleaning-agents

EngenderHealth (2011). “Waste Disposal and Housekeeping”

2nd edition. Published by World Health Organization (WHO). New York. Retrieved November
2019 from https://www.engenderhealth.org/wp content/uploads/imports/files/pubs/qi/ip
/IP_posters_final_english.pdf

Resource 3.1: Conduct Housekeeping Activities 68