Housekeeping, especially in hotels, is a physically demanding job that requires cleaning numerous rooms per shift. Housekeepers face many ergonomic risks like repetitive motions, heavy lifting, and working in awkward postures. They are also exposed to chemical, biological and physical hazards. Some strategies to reduce risks include job rotation, improved equipment, training on proper techniques, and prioritizing heavier tasks earlier in the shift to prevent fatigue. Housekeeping remains challenging to make safer due to the design of hotels prioritizing guest comfort over worker ergonomics.

1. COMPREHENSIVE HOUSEKEEPING OF
HOTELS, HOSPITALS & MALLS
Housekeeping in a hotel is a very physically
demanding job that includes many, varied tasks.
Typically, in this case study, housekeepers were
responsible for cleaning 16 rooms per shift. The
actual amount of work depends on the size of
the room and the number of beds. A
housekeeper needs between fifteen and thirty
minutes to do one room. A housekeeper carries
out the following tasks:
Making Beds
Tidying Rooms
Cleaning and polishing toilets, taps, sinks,
bathtubs and mirrors.
Washing Floors
Removing stains
Vacuuming
What are the risk factors of housekeeping?
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. These are:
Standing or walking
Stooping
Squatting
Kneeling
Stretching
Reaching
Bending
Twisting
Crouching
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 requires.
How can we reduce the risk factors for RMI?
Hotel housekeepers work in a unique
place. Hotels are usually designed for the
comfort of their guests rather than their
housekeeping staff. This fact makes it very
difficult to improve working conditions for
housekeepers by means of better engineering.
However, some improvements can be made by
selecting more appropriate equipment. Lighter
vacuum cleaners (preferably the self-propelling
type), and lighter service carts with wheels
designed for carpeted floors would ease the
workload for their operators providing this
equipment is always kept in good repair. When
new vacuum cleaners are purchased, low noise
emissions should be one of the criteria.
Improving the body postures that pose a major

2. risk for musculoskeletal disorders seems an
unachievable task. Again, this fact results from
the peculiarity of hotels as a workplace. To
attract guests and remain competitive, hotel
management pursues a policy that everything
should be "so clean it sparkles". Floors, walls,
windows, mirrors, and bathroom fixtures might
be adequately cleaned with some form of an
extension tool to reduce bending and over-
stretching. However, the demand for spotless
cleanliness and hygiene, management often
requires their cleaning staff to spend extra time
and effort cleaning by kneeling, leaning,
squatting, crouching, slouching and stretching.
These postures will, in time, contribute to new
musculoskeletal injuries and aggravate old
ones. New approaches, other than strictly
ergonomic ones, need to be investigated. For
example, action can be taken from the
administrative level. Options for improvement
include:
Job Rotation
Job enrichment and job enlargement
Team work
Education and training on work practices
How can job rotation reduce the risk for RMI?
Job rotation is one possible approach. It
requires workers to move between different
tasks, at fixed or irregular periods. However, it
must be a rotation where workers do
something completely different. Different tasks
must use different muscle groups to allow
muscles already stressed to recover. How can
job enlargement and enrichment reduce the
risk for RMI? Another approach is job
enlargement. This approach increases the
variety of tasks built into the job. It breaks the
monotony of the job and avoids overloading
one part of the body. Job enrichment involves
more autonomy and control for the worker.
How can team work reduce the risk for
RMI?
Team work can provide greater variety and
more evenly distributed muscular work. The
whole team is involved in the planning of the
work. Each team member carries out a set of
operations to complete the whole product,
allowing the worker to alternate between tasks.
This approach reduces the risk of RMI.
How can improved work practices reduce
the risk for RMI?
A well-designed job, supported by a well-
designed workplace and proper tools, allows
the worker to avoid unnecessary motion of the
neck, shoulders and upper limbs. However, the
actual performance of the tasks depends on
individuals. 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. For
example, it is advisable to plan one's workload
and do the heavier tasks at the beginning of the
work shift, rather than at the end, when fatigue
is at its maximum. When a person is tired, the
risk of injuring a muscle is higher. 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

3. occupational situations because the workers
can apply this knowledge also in their off-job
activities.
What other hazards are hotel
housekeepers exposed to?
In additional to the ergonomic hazards, hotel
housekeepers are exposed to chemical,
biological and physical hazards including:
Exposure to chemicals in cleaning products,
including skin reactions or respiratory illnesses.
Exposure to biological infectious diseases from
soiled linens, uncapped needles and/or bodily
Fluids, Slips, Trips and fall
Fatigue and other health problems from shift
work or long hours of work.
Working alone
Workplace Violence
Manual handling of equipment - vacuums, carts.
What are some preventive measures for a hotel
housekeeper? 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
equipment for the task. Wear shoes with non-
skid soles. 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 SDS for cleaning products
and follow instructions for safe use and storage.
Provide training on blood borne 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.
What are some good general safe work
practices?
Practice safe lifting techniques. Follow or
establish safety procedures for working alone,
or for avoiding working alone wherever
possible. Get current training on chemical
hazards, WHMIS and SDSs. Know basic and
emergency first aid. Follow company safety
rules. Know how to report hazards. Practice
good housekeeping procedures. Follow routine
practices when handling linens and towels.
Alternate arms when performing manual
tasks
Take scheduled breaks and stretch breaks as
necessary. Acknowledgement The Canadian
Centre for Occupational Health and Safety in
cooperation with the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of
Employment and Labour Relations,
Occupational Health and Safety Branch would
like to acknowledge the participation of the
staff at the Hotel Newfoundland (a Canadian
Pacific Hotel) who so freely gave their time and
resources to assist us in the development of this
case study. This case study was organized to
examine repetitive strain injuries.
Housecleaning Broom, sponge and duster Part
of the housework it includes activities such as
housecleaning that is, disposing of rubbish,
cleaning dirty surfaces, dusting and vacuuming.
It may also involve some outdoor chores, such
as removing leaves from rain gutters, washing
windows and sweeping doormats. The term
housecleaning is often used also figuratively in
politics and business, for the removal of
unwanted personnel, methods or policies in an
effort at reform or improvement.
Housecleaning is done to make the home look
and smell better and be safer and easier to live
in. Without housecleaning lime scale can build
up on taps, meld grows in wet areas, smudges
on glass surfaces, dust forms on surfaces,
bacterial action make the garbage disposal and

4. toilet smell and cobwebs accumulate. Tools
used in housecleaning include vacuums,
brooms, mops and sponges, together with
cleaning products such as detergents,
disinfectants and bleach. Disposal of rubbish is
an important aspect of house cleaning. Plastic
bags are designed and manufactured
specifically for the collection of litter. Many are
sized to fit common waste baskets and trash
cans. Paper bags are made to carry aluminium
cans, glass jars and other things although most
people use plastic bins for glass since it could
break and tear through the bag. Recycling is
possible with some kinds of litter.
Dusting
Some dusting tools
Over time dust accumulates on household
surfaces. As well as making the surfaces dirty,
when dust is disturbed it can become
suspended in the air, causing sneezing and
breathing trouble. It can also transfer from
furniture to clothing, making it unclean. Various
tools have been invented for dust removal;
Feather and lamb’s wool dusters, cotton and
polyester dust cloths, furniture spray,
disposable paper "dust cloths", dust mops for
smooth floors and vacuum cleaners. Vacuum
cleaners often have a variety of tools to enable
them to remove dirt not just from carpets and
rugs, but from hard surfaces and upholstery.
Removal of dirt and cleaning the floor
Examples of dirt or "soil" are detritus and
common spills and stains that exist in the home.
Equipment used with a cleaner might be a
bucket and sponge or a rag. A modern tool is
the spray bottle, but the principle is the same.
Household chemicals Various household
cleaning products have been developed to
facilitate the removal of dust and dirt, for
surface maintenance, and for disinfection
Products are available in powder, liquid or spray
form. The basic ingredients determine the type
of cleaning tasks for which they are suitable.
Some are packaged as general purpose cleaning
materials while others are targeted at specific
cleaning tasks such as drain clearing, oven
cleaning, lime scale removal and polishing
furniture. Household cleaning products provide
aesthetic and hygiene benefits but are also
associated with health risks for the users, and
building occupants. The US Department of
Health and Human Services offers the public
access to the Household Products Database.
This database provides consumer information
for products based on information provided by
the manufacturer through the material safety
data sheet. Surfactants lower the surface
tension of water, making it able to flow into
smaller tiny cracks and crevices in soils making
removal easier. Alkaline chemicals break down
known soils such as grease and mud. Acids
break down soils such as lime scale, soap scum,
and stains of mustard, coffee, tea, and alcoholic
beverages. Some solvent-based products are
flammable and some can dissolve paint and
varnish. Disinfectants stop smell and stains
caused by bacteria. When multiple chemicals
are applied to the same surface without full
removal of the earlier substance, the chemicals
may interact. This interaction may result in a
reduction of the efficiency of the chemicals
applied (such as a change in pH value caused by
mixing alkalis and acids) and in cases may even
emit toxic fumes. An example of this is the
mixing of ammonia-based cleaners (or acid-
based cleaners) and bleach. This causes the
production of chloramines that volatilize
(become gaseous) causing acute inflammation
of the lungs (toxic pneumonitis), long-term
respiratory damage, and potential death.
Residue from cleaning products and cleaning
activity (dusting, vacuuming, sweeping) have
been shown to impact indoor air quality (IAQ)
by redistributing particulate matter (dust, dirt,

5. human skin cells, organic matter, animal
dander, particles from combustion, fibbers from
insulation, pollen, and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons) that gaseous or liquid particles
become adsorbed to. The particulate matter
and chemical residual will of be highest
concentrations right after cleaning but will
decrease over time depending upon levels of
contaminants, air exchange rate, and other
sources of chemical residual of most concern
are the family of chemicals called VOCs such as
formaldehyde, toluene, and limonene. Volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) are released from
many household cleaning products such as
disinfectants, polishes, floor waxes, air-
freshening sprays, all-purpose cleaning sprays,
and glass cleaner. These products have been
shown to emit irritating vapours are of most
concern due to their tendency to evaporate and
be inhaled into the lungs or adsorbed to existing
dust, which can also be inhaled. It has been
found that aerosolized (spray) cleaning
products are important risk factors and may
aggravate symptoms of adult asthma,
respiratory irritation,[8] childhood asthma,
wheeze, bronchitis, and allergy. Other modes
of exposure to potentially harmful household
cleaning chemicals include absorption through
the skin (dermis), accidental ingestion, and
accidental splashing into the eyes. Products for
the application and safe use of the chemicals
are also available, such as nylon scrub sponge
and rubber gloves. It is up to the consumer to
keep themselves safe while using these
chemicals. Reading and comprehending the
labels is important. Chemicals used for cleaning
toilet, sinks, and bathtubs can find their way
into our sewage water and can often not be
effectively removed or filtered. There is a
growing consumer and governmental interest in
natural cleaning products and green cleaning
methods. The use of nontoxic household
chemicals is growing as consumers become
more informed of the health effects of many
household chemicals, and municipalities are
having to deal with the expensive disposal of
household hazardous waste (HHW) Tools
Brooms remove debris from floors and
dustpans carry dust and debris swept into
them, buckets hold cleaning and rinsing
solutions, vacuum cleaners and carpet
sweepers remove surface dust and debris,
chamois leather and squeegees are used for
window-cleaning, and mops are used for
washing floors. Protective gear including rubber
gloves, face covers, and protective eyewear is
also used when dealing with cleaning products.
A home's yard and exterior are sometimes
subject to cleaning. Exterior cleaning also
occurs for safety, upkeep and usefulness. It
includes removal of paper litter and grass
growing in sidewalk cracks.
House chores
House chores or chores are components of
housekeeping, and are usually in reference to
specific tasks to be completed. Examples of
house chores are: washing dishes; taking out
trash after dinner.
Social significance
While housekeeping can be seen as an objective
activity that can be done by either men or
women, some people have argued that
housekeeping is a site of historical oppression
and gender division between traditionally
gendered men and women. Housekeeping also
has a role in maintaining certain parts of the
capitalist economy, including the division of
home and work life, as well as industries that
sell chemicals and household goods. A survey
conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labour
Statistics in 2014 came to the result that
approximately 43% of men did food preparation
or clean-up on any given day, compared with

6. approximately 70% of women. In addition, 20%
of men did housekeeping chores (including
cleaning and laundry) on any given day,
compared to approximately 50% of women.
See also Cleanliness Dishwashing Floor cleaning
Gardening
Great house
Home appliance
Homemaker
Home maintenance
Maid
Plumbing
Job Description
Hospital housekeepers routinely clean
patient rooms, nursing units, surgical
areas, administrative offices, laboratory
areas, waiting areas and public restrooms,
as well as launder all hospital linen. Using
various cleaning chemicals and disinfectants,
housekeepers wipe equipment, clean furniture,
polish floors and vacuum carpets. They make
beds, empty trash and restock medical supplies.
Housekeepers also collect dirty laundry from all
patient areas and distribute the clean linen and
hospital gowns back to the appropriate floors.
Using cleaning supplies and equipment are an
essential part of the position, which is why
housekeepers take a daily inventory as well as
inspect their equipment for any repairs or
replacements.
Occasionally, hospital housekeepers
attend in-service training. Such meetings can
include updates on company policies, new
equipment demonstrations and discussion of
complaints made by patients or hospital staff in
regards to housekeeping. They also ensure that
proper infection-control policies are being
followed.
Education Requirements for Hospital
Housekeepers
Entry-level housekeeping positions usually
require only a high school diploma, basic math
skills and the ability to follow instructions. Most
employers provide on-the-job training, which
includes effective cleaning techniques, choosing
the correct cleaning agents, operating vacuums
and floor buffers, repairing minor electrical and
plumbing problems, adhering to health and
safety regulations and demonstrating good
customer service skills. Hospital housekeepers
require neither state licensure nor certification
to gain employment. Advancement and
Certification Opportunities. Experienced
hospital housekeepers can be promoted to
housekeeping managers, also known as
executive housekeepers. Some employers
require managers to obtain certification before
filling the position. The International Executive
Housekeepers Association (IEHA) awards the
Certified Executive Housekeeper (CEH)
credential to managers with a high school
diploma. They also offer the Registered
Executive Housekeeper (REH) credential to
managers who have earned a bachelor's degree
from an accredited college or university. Both
credentials are earned by completing IEHA
courses and passing exams. Those who pass
must renew their certifications every three
years either by examination or by completing a
specified amount of continuing education units.
As reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labour
Statistics (BLS), employment of maids and
housekeeping cleaners, including hospital
housekeepers, was predicted to increase 8%
during the period of 2014.
Housekeepers in general medical and
surgical hospitals
Provide general upkeep and maintenance to
ensure the workplace environment remains
sterile. To become a hospital housekeeper,
completing high school and undergoing on-job

7. training is all that is required. One can opt for
certification to increase job prospects or add to
their credentials. Housekeeping is a broad term
that is used to define the handling of cleanliness
and maintenance needs in both the domestic
and commercial arena. It refers to the
maintenance and upkeep of premises such as a
house, hotel or a resident facility. Housekeeping
also involves performing many other duties
such as laundry and errands running. A
hospitality environment is usually judged by its
appearance; imagine checking into a hotel and
discovering that the surfaces are dirty and the
linen is stained! Bad housekeeping can be a
total put off for customers and the chances of
recurring business diminish significantly. This is
the prime reason that hiring managers pay
special attention to hire the housekeeping staff.
Working mostly in a commercial and domestic
environments, housekeepers, housekeeping
managers and housekeeping supervisors
perform many challenging duties on a typical
work day. It is no easy task to keep a facility spic
and span throughout the day. Housekeepers
perform a lot of physical work such as dusting,
mopping, cleaning and doing laundry. The work
of housekeeping managers and supervisors may
not be physical but they also have their plate
full as they are responsible for ensuring that all
housekeeping duties are performed in a timely
and efficient manner. Below is a list of some
duties that different individuals working in a
housekeeping department are expected to
perform on a daily?
Housekeeper Job Description and Duties
• Clean rooms, lounges, lobbies, bathrooms and
hallways
• Vacuum and wash carpets and rugs
• Empty wastepaper baskets and ashtrays
• Transport trash to waste disposal equipment
• Dust and polish wooden surfaces and
furniture
• Replace light bulbs and repair fixtures
• Replenish bathroom and mini bar supplies
Housekeeping Supervisor Job Description and
Duties
• Oversee the work of housekeeping staff
• Inspect guest rooms prior to checking in
• Supervise room cleaning and replenishing
duties
• Plan schedules for housekeeping staff
• Hand out individual work assignments
• Ensure training of new hires
• Issue supplies to housekeeping staff at the
beginning of each shift
Housekeeping Manager Job Description and
Duties
• Plan and direct housekeeping team members
to carry out their duties
• Supervise housekeeping staff and conduct
detail inspection of all rooms and service areas
• Maintain housekeeping budget
• Recruit and train housekeeping staff
• Create reports for the higher management
• Ensure appropriate maintenance of all
housekeeping equipment and tools
• Maintain inventory of tools and supplies used
in housekeeping activities
Mall Areas of Responsibility
Typical tasks performed by Housekeeping Crew
before mall opening and/or after mall closing:
Performs specific cleaning tasks as assigned:
entrances, restrooms, hard floor surfaces,
carpet, Food Court, break rooms. Performs
thorough cleaning and restocks restrooms.
Cleaning tasks include dusting, wiping,
sweeping, mopping. Typical tasks performed by
Housekeeping Crew during mall open hours:
Patrols mall on foot looking for spills and other
hazards to shoppers, store employees and mall
staff. Cleans up wet or dry spills, or calls for
assistance to clean up larger spills. Wipes down
mall common area furniture, mall entrance
doors, and well glass, Performs touch-up

8. cleaning and restocks restrooms. Porters Food
Court tables and chairs. Wipes down tables and
chairs after each customer. Removes trays to
designated area, Empties common area trash
receptacles into large wheeled cart and moves
trash to designated trash compactor area. May
use mops, buckets, rags, brooms, vacuum
cleaners, and other equipment to accomplish
tasks.
Thanks & Best Regards
Faisal Farooq