Set Up Equipment and Trolley
Load housekeeping trolley with supplies for service
Depending on the organisation these items will be placed in the linen store or loaded directly onto the housekeeping trolley.
Therefore this section will look at health and safety issues to be addressed when loading housekeeping trolleys.
Occupational health and safety is an on-going concern in all properties, especially in the housekeeping area.
Manual handling activities are the main cause of injuries in the workplace and the housekeeping department traditionally gives rise to the majority of OHS injuries.
What is manual handling?
Manual handling activities include:
Lifting – of stock, cartons and boxes
Carrying – items from storage areas to trolleys, moving stock from place-to-place
Pulling – boxes and cartons forward in storage areas
Pushing trolleys.
You have an obligation to safeguard your own safety and welfare, to follow safety procedures and to use safety equipment that is provided when directed to do so.
Your initial on-site training should make you aware of the safety aspects that relate to your role. The employer has a legal obligation to provide this training and to monitor your activities to ensure you are working safely.
Loading trolleys
When loading the trolley, ensure it is loaded safely and does not prevent any danger to others.
Remember that all items should be positioned on the trolley so they won‟t fall over or fall off: in addition, nothing should protrude.
If more supplies are needed than the trolley can hold, you will have to refill the trolley during the shift by returning to the floor storeroom: trolleys should never be overloaded.
It is standard industry practice that no „extra‟ bags are hung off housekeeping trolleys
Key points to remember when stocking or handling trolleys:
When identified, immediately report any damage or faults with the trolley – all housekeeping departments should have periodical checks done on equipment by Maintenance department Always
push the trolley, don‟t pull it - it is important for you to see where you are going
Always stock items in their designated place on the trolley - it is best to position heavy items on the bottom to prevent the trolley from overturning. If you are not sure where things go, ask!
Never lift anything on your own that weighs over 16 kg – this is a recommendation from OHS authorities. There are no maximum weight restrictions as the current approach is to assess every lifting need on an individual basis and use the most appropriate technique depending on the type of load, how far it has to be moved or the size of the load Be prepared to ask for help when needed – this may be a request for help such as to do a „team lift‟ or a request for information. You must also be prepared to provide help when required.
Trolleys are large items and when fully loaded can be extremely heavy.
The primary concern when handling trolleys is to ensure the safety of the room attendant.
Check housekeeping trolley prior to use
Before leaving the housekeeping office or linen store it is vital that you have all the necessary supplies on your housekeeping trolley.
It is always advised to do a last check to ensure you have everything you need
Additional items
Besides the supplies identified in this manual to date, there are a couple of other items that you may need to take with you:
Keys for floors and rooms
Communication walkie-talkie
List of rooms to clean and alternate rooms if allocated rooms are unavailable for cleaning at that time
Personal drink container.
We will look at security and safety of both staff and customers.
Security of housekeeping trolleys and supplies
Trolleys contain many valuable items and care must be taken to ensure these items are not stolen. Normally when a room attendant is working in the room or bathroom, with the trolley remaining in the corridor, it is often out of view of the room attendant. This means that items can easily be taken by anyone walking by, if the trolley is not securely locked.
It is vital that the security measures used in each organisation are adhered to. Use a lock if one exists. This means room attendants must carefully consider and take the necessary items from the trolley required to service the room as having to regularly unlock trolleys can take up valuable time. By careful selection, time can be saved through efficient movement and reduced time required to go back and forth from the trolley.
Naturally the theft of keys poses an immediate threat as it allows immediate access to rooms; however room lists contain valuable information including room numbers and names, which could be used by potential thieves who can impersonate guests with this information.
Position of trolleys on guest floors
When on the guest floors the location of where to place the housekeeping trolley is also vital. Security and safety or both customers and room attendants must be considered.
Always position the trolley near the wall and out of the guest's way. Don't leave them in the middle of the corridor as:
It makes it harder for movement of people in the corridor
It makes it more appealing for theft
It helps avoid injuries by people bumping into them. This is especially true for children who often run in corridors and at times may not be concentrating on where they are going
In the event of an emergency including fire where smoke reduces visibility, it is important that corridors remain clear.
So where do you place the trolley?
The trolley will normally be parked across the guest's door to prevent any unauthorized person accessing the room. This procedure will depend on house policies and procedures.
Video # 1: Stocking of Room Boy's Cart/ Trolley