Hotels combine heavy luggage, hot machines, cleaning chemicals, trolleys and wet floors with guests walking past. You stay safe with good manual handling, correct use of chemicals and walkways free of trip hazards, following your hotel's training and local rules.
Why it matters
Injuries hurt staff and guests and can lead to legal claims. Safe habits also save time, because you are not dealing with accidents.
Key ideas
Safe lifting
Bend your knees, keep your back straight and hold the load close. Use a trolley or ask a colleague for anything heavy or awkward.
Chemical safety
Read the label, wear gloves and never mix products, because some mixtures, such as bleach and ammonia, release toxic gas.
Clear walkways
Park trolleys against the wall, never in front of fire exits or stairs, and keep cables and bags out of the way.
Step by step
- 1
Check the area and warn guests if needed.
- 2
Use the right equipment and protection for the task.
- 3
Lift correctly, or get help.
- 4
Put out a wet floor sign before you mop.
- 5
Report hazards, accidents and near misses to your supervisor.
Do
- Wear closed, non-slip shoes.
- Warn guests about hot coffee machines and water urns at breakfast.
- Keep chemicals closed and out of children's reach.
Common mistakes
- Don't run in corridors, on stairs or in the kitchen.
- Don't carry a load you cannot see over.
- Don't pick up broken glass with your bare hands; use a dustpan.
The situation
You are a porter. The lift is out of order, and a guest wants two very heavy suitcases taken to the third floor.
What a professional does
You apologise, then carry one case at a time with a safe lift, asking a colleague to help with the heaviest. You don't rush on the stairs, and you ask reception whether a lower-floor room is available.
Useful phrases
“Careful, the floor is wet just here.”
“Please mind, the coffee machine is very hot.”
Pro tip
Test the weight of a load by raising one end slightly before you lift it.
Quick check
Why must you never mix cleaning chemicals?
Think about it, then show the answer
Some mixtures, such as bleach and ammonia, release toxic gases that can harm you and guests.