You want to give your customers a safe place to stay and your employees a safe place to work. These tips can help make your business safer.

Employees

• Conduct a special orientation session with new or transferred workers regarding safety and health issues for which they will be involved.  Include a discussion about proper incident reporting and follow-up investigations.
• Identify areas, departments, or services with back injury potential. Analyze need for training on proper lifting methods and use of mechanical material handling devices.
• Evaluate material handling procedures and determine whether to provide mechanical assistance.
• Instruct employees to escort one another to parking areas and provide security where practical.
• Train employees to push heavily loaded carts instead of pulling them.
• Provide panic bars on all exits and lock internal doors, except ones that pass the front desk.
• Educate employees on appropriate techniques for food handling and preparation, including special care when using slicers, choppers and cutlery.
• Inform employees of proper chemical handling and storage, how to protect themselves when exposed to blood borne pathogens, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Train staff to stay in area until spills are cleaned or warning signs or cones are in place.
• Train employees on the  protocol to use for lockout on electrical systems and high hazard equipment such as compactors.
• Train employees on dealing with potentially violent situations involving guests.
• Limit access to master keys wherever possible.

Customers

• Do not announce room numbers at check-in. Avoid providing room numbers to outside callers or visitors.
• Require photo I.D.s for lost keys.
• Lock all exterior doors for the outside, except the front lobby area, primarily from 10 PM to 8 AM. This should also apply to the pool and exercise areas. Exits must be usable from the inside without requiring keys.
• Keep all exits and exit access ways clear of obstructions at all times.
• Ensure that all pedestrian walkways are marked.
• Maintain proper housekeeping in all areas and walkways.
• Be sure that all floor coverings are in excellent condition.
• Ensure elevation differences are marked with high contrast paint (Safety Yellow) or tape.
• Ensure that step treads are in good condition and equipped with handrails.
• Develop a plan for the prompt removal of snow and ice from all parking areas and pedestrian walks.
• Keep parking lots, structures and public areas well illuminated.
• Inspect and test emergency lighting.
• Establish documented procedures for reporting all guest incidents and periodically review the reports for cause and correction.
• Institute  a security program to handle unauthorized persons on premises.
• Limit swimming pool access to registered guests and post rules in a conspicuous place.
• Place decals, plants, urns, etc., on or in front of windows to keep customers from walking into them.
• Provide bath mats for all tubs and showers.

Vehicles

• Conduct DMV and background checks on all drivers, both at hiring and annually.
• Use only trained designated drivers for  providing guest transportation of using company vehicles.
• Provide refresher training at frequent intervals.
• Instruct drivers to wear seat belts at all times and encourage guest to do so as well
• Educate staff on the liability exposures or transportation guest.
• Provide prominent mirrors in blind corners of parking structures to increase visibility to drivers and pedestrians.
• Provide directional arrow for entrance and exit of the parking lot/structure.