I. Introduction Loss Prevention Surveys

NOTE: Inverting types of extinguishers and pyrene extinguishers are no longer

approved and should be replaced.

Classification of Fires

There are four classes of fires, based upon the different types of combustible materials.

Class A - Common Combustibles: Paper, cloth, wood and most plastics.

Class B - Flammable Liquids: Grease, paint, oil, solvents, gasoline, etc.

Class C - Electrical: Wiring, appliances, motors. Any energized electrical equipment.

Class D - Combustible Metals: Magnesium, titanium, sodium (because of the

infrequent occurrence of Class D fires in hotels, no further reference will be made to

this type fire).

When to Use A Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher SHOULD NOT be used to fight a fire when:

The fire is spreading rapidly.

The fire may spread beyond a single fire compartment.

The fire could block the user's exit.

The user is not sure how to operate the extinguisher.

An extinguisher SHOULD be used to fight a fire when:

The fire department has been called.

The fire is small.

The person using the extinguisher can fight the fire with their back to an exit.

The extinguisher is appropriate for the class of fire, in working order and the

individual knows how to use it.

Fire Safety

IX-16

Impairments

Impairments to fire protection equipment are events that either partially or totally disable

the fire protection system or equipment. Impairments may be planned events for the

purpose of maintenance of the fire protection equipment, but are often unplanned. When

impairments are planned, the work to restore the impairment can also be planned for the

shortest possible duration and the hazard associated with the impairment minimized.

Sometimes it is possible to partially restore impairment and minimize the hazard.

The potential for disastrous fires is greater when there are impairments of fire protection

equipment. Whenever an impairment is experienced, it is necessary to compensate for the

loss of the impaired system or equipment with a heightened state of awareness. There are

also certain steps that should be taken to lessen the probability of a fire during this period

of time. These are:

• 
  Notify the local fire department.
  
• 
  Notify your insurance company's servicing office. Your insurance company may have
  
• 
  special instructions they will wish you to follow.
  
• 
  Inform all employees of the impairment, so they may be especially watchful for
  
• 
  hazardous situations and conditions.
  
• 
  Curtail any hazardous operations during this period of time (i.e., welding and cutting
  
• 
  operations).
  
• 
  Extra care should be taken to assure systems not impaired are working properly (i.e.,
  
• 
  Exit signs, emergency lights, and fire doors; stairwells should be free of combustibles
  
• 
  and obstructions; extinguishers in place and serviced).
  
• 
  Regular fire watch patrols should be maintained. This is particularly important when
  
• 
  a fire alarm system is impaired. Patrols should be made on a maximum interval of one
  
• 
  hour, however thirty-minute intervals are encouraged. A log of the patrols should be
  
• 
  maintained.
  
• 
  The work necessary to restore the impaired equipment or system should be
  
• 
  continuous, if possible, with a minimum of interruptions until completed.
  

To prevent the impairment from being forgotten, high visibility tags should be placed on

the impaired equipment. A corresponding reminder should be placed in a conspicuous

location to remind the manager supervising the impairment to restore the condition or

inform the Manager on Duty of the condition before leaving the property. The Risk

Management Department should be notified of all impairments to any life safety system.

Fire Safety

IX-17

Hot Work

Welding, oxyacetylene cutting, grinding, soldering, and other activities that produce

sparks or use flame can increase the likelihood of fires when improperly used.

The principal hazard associated with portable hot work equipment is that it can introduce

ignition sources into random areas of the facility. Heat sufficient to start fires or ignite

combustible materials may come from a number of sources including:

• 
  The open flame of a torch.
  
• 
  Metals being welded or cut.
  
• 
  Sparks that fly from the work.
  
• 
  An improperly handled soldering iron.
  
• 
  Improperly applied grounding clamps during electric arc welding.
  

Hot work within the maintenance shop should be limited to areas designed to minimize

the hazards such operations present. To properly control the hazards of portable hot work

equipment, management should establish a comprehensive hot work permit program that

includes the following elements:

• 
  Assignment of responsibility for the program.
  
• 
  Establishment and implementation of a permit system.
  
• 
  Provision of the necessary safety equipment.
  
• 
  Provision of the personnel necessary to implement the safety regulations.
  

NOTE: A cutting, welding or hot work permit should be filled out each time hot work is

conducted, and should be kept available at onsite.

In order to prevent losses, management should appoint a qualified person to closely

supervise the use of all portable cutting, welding, and other hot work equipment. This is

typically the Chief Engineer. Employees and outside contractors should secure a written

permit before beginning hot work. Such a permit system will help ensure that proper

procedures and controls are in place. A blank permit can be obtained from the Risk

Management Department.

The essence of a good hot work permit program is as follows:

• 
  The program should be supervised by a qualified individual. This individual should
  
• 
  examine the location of any proposed work, insist on other methods if conditions
  
• 
  cannot be made safe, and make sure that the precautions listed on the permit are
  
• 
  taken.
  
• 
  The individual should sign a permit and give it to the individual performing the hot
  
• 
  work. No work should be allowed without a properly signed permit.
  
• 
  If work at a location continues for more than one shift, a new permit should be issued
  
• 
  for each shift.
  

Fire Safety

IX-18

Welders and other personnel who might be using hot work equipment should be

instructed in precautions to be taken, and a list of these precautions should be posted in

the maintenance shop, on the equipment, and on the permit. These precautions should

include:

• 
  Performing hot work in a properly arranged maintenance shop, except when the job
  
• 
  cannot be moved to it.
  
• 
  Using only equipment that is in good condition. Valves, regulators, hoses and torches
  
• 
  should be thoroughly checked.
  
• 
  Refraining from using portable welding, cutting, or other hot work equipment in a
  
• 
  building where sprinklers are out of service.
  
• 
  Moving combustibles at least 35 feet from hot work operations. If combustibles
  
• 
  cannot be moved, they should be protected by metal guards or by flameproof curtains
  
• 
  or covers rather than ordinary tarpaulins.
  
• 
  Prohibiting hot work in or on vessels containing flammable or combustible materials,
  
• 
  including residues, until they have been completely cleaned and purged.
  
• 
  Prohibiting hot work until surrounding floors have been swept clean and, if
  
• 
  combustible, wet down.
  
• 
  Prohibiting hot work until all wall and floor openings within 35 feet of the operations
  
• 
  have been tightly covered or otherwise protected with metal guards or flameproof
  
• 
  tarpaulins.
  
• 
  Prohibiting hot work until responsible persons have been assigned to watch for
  
• 
  dangerous sparks in the area and on floors above and below.
  
• 
  Securing gas cutting and welding cylinders so they will not be upset or damaged.
  
• 
  Carefully connecting the ground clamp when using electrical arc welding equipment.
  
• 
  Since an improperly made ground can be a source of ignition, the ground clamp
  
• 
  should be connected as close to the work as possible so that it may be easily
  
• 
  observed.
  
• 
  Arranging for a patrol of the area, including floors above and below, during any break
  
• 
  in the work, such as lunch or rest periods, and for at least half an hour after the work
  
• 
  has been completed. If the hot work ends near the time of a shift change,
  
• 
  arrangements should be made for the patrols to continue into the next shift.
  
• 
  A portable multi-purpose extinguisher should be located within 15 feet of all hot
  
• 
  work. An observer should be in over-watch and be prepared to use the extinguisher
  
• 
  in the event of a fire. The observer should remain in over-watch for a minimum of 30
  
• 
  minutes following the completion of the job.
  
• 
  After the job is completed, all equipment should be properly shut down and returned
  
• 
  to its storage area.
  
• 
  The permit should be completed and filed with the chief engineer.
  

Fire Safety

IX-19

Guest Emergency Instructions

Evacuation plans should be conspicuously posted in all guestrooms. These notices should

include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• 
  Symbols indicating fire alarm pull station locations.
  
• 
  Symbols indicating fire extinguisher locations.
  
• 
  Symbols indicating fire hose locations.
  
• 
  An arrow or dot indicating to the guest "YOU ARE HERE".
  
• 
  All fire exits clearly indicated.
  

The floor plan should be facing the way a guest would read a plan in their room, so that

the fire exits are in the proper direction (left or right) when a guest leaves the room.

Some of the emergency information to be listed on the floor plan may have to be omitted

due to space limitations and the number of languages required. The guest should be

referred to the Fire Safety booklet or Directory of Services located in the room.

The floor plans located in the public spaces, and back-of-the-house areas, etc. should

show the items listed above. However, they do not have to list the emergency

information other than "USE FIRE EXITS, DO NOT USE ELEVATORS".

Country, state or municipality liability laws pertaining to guest losses may be posted in

each guest room and be incorporated into the same placard as the evacuation plan if

permissible by law.

A reminder for guests to use their dead bolt lock, door viewer and chain or bar.

A reminder for guests to use safe deposit boxes for valuables.

A reminder to secure sliding glass doors before leaving the room and before retiring.

Other information as determined necessary by local circumstances, statutes, regulations

or corporate directives.

In addition, there should be a guest safety information in each room outlining additional

safety and security measures.

X. Health & Safety

Introduction .......................................................................................................................2

Safety Committees.............................................................................................................2

Accident Investigation.......................................................................................................8

First Aid & CPR ..............................................................................................................13

Hot Water .........................................................................................................................15

Legionella .........................................................................................................................15

Food Sanitation................................................................................................................16

Company Sponsored Sports Activities ..........................................................................18

Slip & Fall Injuries..........................................................................................................19

Back Safety.......................................................................................................................20

Kitchen Floor Cleaning Procedures...............................................................................21

OSHA Introduction .........................................................................................................22

Bloodborne Pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030)..................................................................24

Hazard Communication - HAZCOM (29 CFR 1910.1200).........................................42

Lockout/Tagout (29 CFR 1910.147)...............................................................................51

Asbestos Awareness (29 CFR 1910.1001)......................................................................55

OSHA Record Keeping Requirements Forms 300, 300A & 301.................................59

Personal Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1910.132).....................................................60

Occupational Noise Exposure.........................................................................................62

Ladder s & Platforms.......................................................................................................63

Machinery and Machine Guarding ...............................................................................65

Health & Safety

X-2

Introduction

The General Manager is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the Safety &

Health of employees in the workplace. This duty is met by implementing policies and

procedures designed to:

• 
  Promote workplace safety
  
• 
  Reduce workplace hazards
  
• 
  Provide appropriate employee training
  
• 
  Investigate employee accidents
  
• 
  Comply with all local, state and federal requirements
  

An effective program will reduce accidents, lost work time and cost while improving

productivity and the health and morale of employees.

One of the General Manager's best tools in meeting this duty is the Safety Committee. A

Safety Committee consisting of management and line level staff can effectively inspect

the hotel, identify safety hazards, conduct accident investigations and organize training.

Safety Committees

Each hotel should maintain a functioning Safety Committee. The purpose of this

committee is to promote safety and security throughout the hotel and to encourage

employees to submit recommendations and suggestions which will improve these

standards as well as the hotel environment.

Responsibilities

• 
  Investigating past accidents and incidents in order to develop corrective actions, and
  
• 
  follow up to ensure the effectiveness of the corrective actions.
  
• 
  Providing overall guidance and direction for the hotel's loss prevention program.
  
• 
  Determining hazards and security risks unique to the hotel, then developing policies and
  
• 
  procedures to control or minimize them.
  
• 
  Reviewing reasonable safety and security suggestions, then developing policies and
  
• 
  procedures to address the issues.
  
• 
  Participating in monthly meetings to discuss accident prevention, safety and security
  
• 
  risks, and inspection reports. Minutes of these meetings should be taken and kept on file
  
• 
  for review by management and committee members.
  
• 
  Promoting safety awareness programs for employees through incentives, poster
  
• 
  campaigns, education, health fairs, etc.
  

Health & Safety

X-3

• 
  Implementing safety and security training programs for employees.
  
• 
  Establishing safe operating procedures for new and existing equipment and insuring they
  
• 
  are in place and operational.
  
• 
  Assisting the Emergency Response Team with fire drills.
  

Health & Safety

X-4

Safety Committee Organization

Membership of the Safety Committee should represent all operating departments within the

hotel and include a level of management with the experience and authority to implement

safety and security programs and recommendations.

Membership will vary at each property but the following shall serve as a guide:

General Manager Chairman - responsible for convening and

overseeing the work of the Committee

Resident Manager/Executive Assistant

Manager

Guest and employee evacuation

Chief Engineer and/or Director of Security Fire brigade, property safety (fire exits &

equipment), training of hotel staff, machinery and

equipment safety, fire equipment operation, guest/

employee and property security.

Executive Housekeeper Guestroom safety, room attendants' safety, guest

corridor, storeroom security, FF/E flame resistance,

guest evacuation.

F&B Manager Kitchen safety, food and beverage security, guest

and employee evacuation.

Laundry Manager Laundry safety and employee evacuation.

Human Resources Director Accident records, training.

Front Office

Operations Director

Handicap procedures, occupied rooms, and locations

for guest evacuation

Controller Cash, cash handling and accounting record security

Secretary Record and maintain minutes of meetings.

Employee Representatives Advise on employee safety and security problems or

issues

Loss Prevention Consultant Provide advice and make property inspections

Health & Safety

X-5

The committee should be made up of a representative from each department and meet at

least once a month. Accurate minutes for review by insurance and government agencies

should be kept of each meeting. The committee minutes should contain:

• 
  Names of members present.
  
• 
  Date of the meeting.
  
• 
  Action taken on recommendations made at the last meeting.
  
• 
  New recommendations and planned action.
  
• 
  Summary of other items discussed.
  

Education

Outside speakers for committee meetings can be very informative and can keep the

meetings from becoming repetitious and poorly attended. Suggested sources for speakers at

meetings are:

• 
  Local fire department, local police department, and EMT
  
• 
  OSHA representatives
  
• 
  American Red Cross
  
• 
  National Heart Association
  
• 
  Loss Prevention Department
  

In addition, since every hotel employee should act as an integral part of the hotel's Loss

Prevention Program. All employees should be given a thorough orientation in Loss

Prevention at the time they are hired and should be regularly exposed to an ongoing Loss

Prevention educational program throughout the term of their employment, i.e. monthly

fire drills, fire extinguisher training, observation, etc. Such continuing educational

programs can occur in conjunction with departmental staff meetings, such as showing

loss prevention videos. Records of attendance and minutes of such meetings should be

maintained for possible future use.

Hotel Self Inspection

To assist your Safety Committee members in conducting inspections of the property,

sample self inspection checklists are included in the appendix. These checklists may be

revised to conform to individual property requirements.

It is suggested that a different member of the Safety Committee be requested to complete

this checklist each month and present the results at the Safety Committee meeting for

discussion.

Reports and Projects

A brief description should be provided of any safety-related activities, such as

distribution of safety handout materials, showing of films, use of guest speakers, or the

assignment of a special project that took place during the month at the hotel.

Health & Safety

X-6

Safety Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting minutes should be documented and filed. Outstanding items should be addressed

at the next meeting. Sample Safety Committee meeting minutes are included on the

following page.

Hotels should forward copies of the Loss Prevention Minutes to their Loss Prevention

Consultant via email or fax at 770-604-2635.

Loss Prevention Support

The Loss Prevention Department can provide the hotel's Safety Committee chairman with

instruction, literature, and leadership for "mini" seminars so the Safety Committee can

share ideas and experiences from other hotels. The Safety Committee can then hold

periodic meetings with individual groups of employees to discuss problem areas at the

hotel, or to train them in areas such as first aid or emergency lifesaving techniques.

Health & Safety

X-7

Sample

Safety Committee Minutes

Date: Month, day and year

Member s Present: List the names of all members present.

Member s Absent: List the names of all members absent.

Outstanding Recommendations:

Record the status of all previous recommendations reviewed at the meeting, using the

number assigned to each issue discussed.

NOTE: All new recommendations should be given a number according to the

month and the sequence in which they were initially discussed. For example, #3-2 would

refer to the second recommendation brought up in March.

The minutes should record the progress made on a recommendation at each meeting until

some final action is taken.

Example:

1-4 Completed.

2-6 Capital funds needed. Will be put in next year's budget.

3-1 General Manager is to review with the district director. Results will be reported at

next month's meeting.