Hotel Security: How To Keep Your Employees Safe

Providing employees with a safe working environment is a growing concern. Luckily, new security trends in the hospitality industry have made it easier to improve security. This can be achieved by implementing measures that keep employees protected.

Security in hotels may be challenging and complicated. And employees in the hotel industry face different dangers that range from less to severe. As such, it’s no surprise that hotel staff have a 40% higher injury rates than other service providers. 

Preserving the security of their workplace largely depends on the hotels’ management. They should be able to recognize that their employees are crucial assets. And if they are treated as such, they can successfully complete their assigned tasks. 

Besides, a safer environment might reduce occupational health costs due to decreased accidents. There will be improved team member retention and less retraining time because of reduced staff downtime. 

That said, if you work in hotel management, the methods outlined below will help you contribute to your team’s safety.

Supply Employees With Panic Buttons

Panic buttons can be very useful in an emergency because they send an alert when pressed. So, incorporating panic buttons for hotel workers allows them to notify managers in case they need help.

Employees can use panic buttons if they have experienced serious injuries or have witnessed situations that require immediate resolution. So, consider purchasing panic buttons to provide your employees peace of mind.

These buttons can be worn as pendants, clipped to a belt, or placed throughout the property. If you choose to have them installed everywhere in the building, ensure that the employees know their exact locations so they can access them easily. 

Schedule Regular Safety Training

Safety training sessions shouldn’t only be offered once the staff gets employed. Rather, regular training should be held to keep employees up to date with the old and new safety rules. These sessions should cover different topics that ensure staff safety. 

Some relevant topics to include in training sessions include how to prevent workplace accidents. In addition, these refreshers should direct employees on what to do in an emergency. 

It should also give employees a platform to speak about the incidents that made them feel unsafe. Thus, the management and employees can find ways to improve workplace safety. Regular safety training should be a priority and employers must ensure that all the employees attend these sessions. 

Organize Safety Drills

Emergencies can occur, especially in the hospitality industry. Different scenarios, such as fires, natural phenomena, shooting incidents, and emergency evacuations, can happen when you least expect them. 

So, even though you don’t want to think about the worse, staying prepared is better. One way to protect your employees is by holding safety drills at least once a year. If possible, conduct the drills more often to ensure that your employees are equipped with information about how to appropriately respond to an accident or attack. 

Each drill should include all the evacuation courses that employees should be familiar with. This way, they’ll be able to direct guests and find their way to safety in an emergency. Furthermore, the drill should include ways of using safety equipment such as fire extinguishers. Afterward, consider debriefing your employees. 

Encourage Systems For Reporting Incidents And Injuries

Employees tend to be intimidated when reporting incidents and injuries to management. For that reason, it’s important to create an effective system for reporting incidents that employees feel comfortable with. 

For a system to work, you should take the right steps whenever a team member reports an incident. This includes finding out what caused the incident and how it can be solved to keep it from happening. Promptly addressing every incident will make the employees feel confident that their concerns are being properly addressed by the management. 

Reduce Common Injuries

Getting injuries such as burns, cuts, and back injuries caused by slips or falls, are common among hotel employees. These injuries can’t be predicted, but implementing safety protocols can help reduce them. Some safety tips that lower common injuries include wearing the right shoes and attire. 

You should also encourage employees to check floor hazards and exercise caution when lifting heavy items. Encourage them to carry only what they can in order to avoid muscle strain.

Apply Modern Technologies

Undoubtedly, high-tech security systems play a vital role in discouraging crime. Modern surveillance will be able to monitor everything happening in the hotel. Through it, you can identify and take care of any threats immediately. That being said, consider utilizing the latest security technologies to keep your employees safe.

Bottom Line

Keeping your employees safe is essential in the hospitality industry. However, you don’t have to stick to just one method of ensuring team member safety. You can provide training, hold safety drills, and install panic buttons and a system that supports reporting injuries. So, consider effective systems and processes to provide a safe working environment for your employees.