Safety advice for housekeepers

Our last two issues have included features on increasing security for both staff and guests and police initiatives to highlight how hotels might be used for criminal activity.

Naturally we were interested to see that US-based HospitalityLawyer.com has a free four-part video series on ‘Safety & Security: Best Practices for Housekeepers in Hotels’.

Moderated by Stephen Barth, with expert insights from Brad Bonnell (Principal at Hotel Security Group in Georgia), security consultant Vince Vittatoe, and former Hilton Hotels director of safety & security Salvatore Caccavale, the series provides housekeepers with critical knowledge and actionable steps to enhance hotel safety.

The aim is to provide management and housekeepers with the tools and knowledge to play a pivotal role in enhancing hotel safety, security, and guest satisfaction.

The first video introduces housekeepers as the ‘eyes and ears’ of hotel safety, covering topics like recognising signs of human trafficking and other illicit activities, reporting suspicious behaviours, and maintaining vigilance.

The second part focuses on personal safety, emphasising protocols to avoid entering occupied rooms, handling safety equipment like PPE, and emerging practices such as using panic buttons. It also covers safe trash handling to protect against injuries from hazardous materials.

Video 3 explores security protocols, including best practices for managing keys, ensuring proper verification for room access, and how to handle encounters with individuals requesting entry, including those claiming to be law enforcement. Rounding off the series is a look at everything from daily routines to ensure guest safety and managing guest valuables.

HospitalityLawyer.com is a worldwide network of attorneys that focus on hospitality, travel and tourism issues; a marketing conduit for suppliers of legal, safety and security solutions to reach hospitality developers and operators in need of those solutions in the US and beyond.