Summer is on its way, and across the province, tourism and hospitality businesses are gearing up for another busy season. An important part of the preparation process is the hiring of seasonal workers to handle the high customer demand that comes with the summer months.
A thorough and effective safety orientation and training program can provide the tools young and inexperienced workers need to ensure a safe and healthy summer. It’s an investment that starts with the right attitude - and pays off with safer employees.
"Health and safety amongst part time and seasonal workers needs to have as much of a presence as our full time employee efforts. Our liability is the same, and the risks to our staff are the same." Robin Patterson, Assistant Human Resources Consultant, Sutton Place Hotel
Seasonal safety orientation starts with an understanding of "who" the employee is, and what safety attitudes and experiences they bring to the job. Edward Meijer, Managing Director, Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay notes that many of his hotel’s seasonal staff have "a minimal understanding of health and safety. Our job is to ensure that we provide the information and the focus that is needed to ensure that those employees can do their jobs safely."
Seasonal workers are protected by the same regulations that apply to regular or full time workers under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Employers are required by law to provide sufficient orientation, and job training, and supervision to ensure that all workers - including seasonal employees - can work safely.
"While health and safety training may seem expensive, the cost of an injured worker - the potential liability, increased compensation costs, pain and suffering and the loss of someone’s quality of life - is much higher." Edward Meijer, Managing Director, Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay
Because of their inexperience or lack of workplace knowledge, seasonal workers should receive careful attention from employers to protect them from workplace risks. This involves identifying the things that can cause injury or harm, for instance: unguarded machinery, exposure to chemicals or flammable substances.
"Adequate training is so important, and it needs to be in place before an employee starts work and is exposed to hazards. It is not enough to merely provide new employees with a booklet and require them to read it." Robin Patterson, Sutton Place Hotel.
A major cause of workplace injuries is insufficient training of new employees. Patterson notes that, "at the Sutton Place Hotel, employees take part in a one-day safety orientation that outlines the potential risks and hazards of their jobs. Our employees tell us that the day is not only worthwhile, but eye-opening as well."
Initial training of seasonal employees should be supplemented by additional workplace specific training.This is especially important if the employee changes departments, duties or has been away from work for an extended time. Valhalla Inn ensures that preliminary safety orientation training is followed up with on-the-job training within each of its departments. "We want to ensure that our seasonal employees understand both the potential hazards and the precautions they should take for every part of their job," says Meijer.
"Each day, our housekeeping staff review what’s happening in the hotel, and always include a safety reminder, like the proper procedure for lifting. It’s their department’s way of ensuring safety stays top-of-mind." Robin Patterson, Sutton Place Hotel.
No new employee should be left on their own during their first few days of employment. Much of the equipment they will use can be hazardous if used incorrectly. Entanglements can occur to those using laundry presses and mixers. Chainsaw kickbacks and equipment rollovers are a concern for groundskeeping staff. Slicers can cause serious cuts for kitchen personnel. Ensure that a supervisor or experienced worker is assigned to new workers as a resource for questions, and a positive example of how to work safely.
Hazards in the tourism and hospitality workplace are as varied as the job functions of its employees. Keep your staff safe by ensuring that they know the hazards of their jobs, how to work safely, and what to do in the event of an injury or accident. Hazards in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry include:
Housekeeping
Laundry
Kitchen
Restaurant
Front Desk
Maintenance/Groundskeeping
Violence in the workplace, slips, trips and falls, sexual harassment, sprains and strains are potential risks for all employees in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
Excerpted from: The Safety Mosaic, Vol2, No. 2, Summer 1999
You should not hesitate to contact other people/companies in the same business to obtain references or recommendations when buying products or services.
