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California/OSHA Housekeeping Injury Standard Takes Effect July 1, 2018

06/06/18

Author: ADP Admin/Tuesday, June 5, 2018/Categories: State Compliance Update, California

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board (Board) has approved a standard on “Hotel Housekeeping Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention.” This new standard, which takes effect July 1, 2018, is intended to control the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders to housekeepers in hotels and other “lodging establishments.”

To Whom Does the New Standard Apply?
The new standard applies to “lodging establishments, “which are defined as establishments that contain sleeping room accommodations that are rented or otherwise provided to the public, such as hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfast inns. It also covers “housekeepers,” which are defined as employees who perform housekeeping tasks. This includes employees referred to as housekeepers, guest room attendants, room cleaners, maids, and housepersons.

What Must Employers Do?
Under the new standard, each covered employer is required to establish and maintain a written musculoskeletal injury prevention program (MIPP) that addresses hazards specific to housekeeping. The MIPP may be incorporated into an existing injury and illness prevention program (IIPP) or maintained as a separate program, and it must be readily accessible each work shift to employees (including electronic access).

What are the Required Elements of the MIPP?
The MIPP must include the following:
  • Worksite Evaluations: Worksite evaluations for identifying and evaluating housekeeping hazards. The initial evaluation must be completed within three months of the standard’s effective date and must be reviewed and updated annually (or more often, if needed). The MIPP must include an effective means of involving housekeepers and their union representative in designing and conducting the worksite evaluation.
  • Specific Risks Identified: The worksite evaluation must identify and address potential risks to housekeepers including (1) slips, trips and falls; (2) prolonged or awkward static postures; (3) extreme reaches and repetitive reaches above shoulder height; (4) lifting or forceful whole body or hand exertions; (5) torso bending, twisting, kneeling and squatting; (6) pushing and pulling; (7) falling and striking objects; (8) pressure points where a part of the body presses against an object or surface; (9) excessive work-rate; and (10) inadequate recovery time between housekeeping tasks.
  • Injury Investigations: Procedures to investigate musculoskeletal injuries to housekeepers, including whether necessary tools or control measures were being used appropriately.
  • Corrective Measures: Methods for correcting hazards that are identified in the worksite evaluation or injury investigation (again including housekeepers and their union representative).
  • Training: Required when the MIPP is first established. Training is required for new hires, for all housekeepers given new job assignments, when new equipment or practices are introduced, and at least annually thereafter.
  • Recordkeeping: Including the MIPP, worksite evaluations, and training records.
Coverage: Lodging establishment employers who employ “housekeepers” in California. 

Effective: July 1, 2018

Action Required: You should carefully review and familiarize yourself with the new standard and take all of the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the new requirements by the effective date. For additional information regarding this update, please contact your Risk and Safety Consultant.

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Tags: 06/06/18

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