1. Lesson 13
Safety & Security in
Housekeeping
Objective:
 examining how to ensure safety and
security in the hotel through efficient
housekeeping operations
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2. Safety and Security
• Safety: refers to the actual conditions in
the work environment.
• Security: refers to the prevention of theft,
fire, and other emergencies.
• Housekeeping & Maintenance
departments have the highest risk for
accidents and injuries; because
• both employ more people than other dept.
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• working in these dept. require physical activity

3. To reduce safety
risks; housekeeper must,
The exec.
• be aware of potential safety
hazards
• develop procedures to prevent
accidents
• develop ongoing safety training
programs
• be aware of the laws that
regulate the work environment
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4. Unsafe Work Environments
cause;
• insurance and liability concerns
- expensive medical costs
- legal problems e.g. fines or
lawsuits
- decreased productivity
• employee moral and
management concerns
- negative employee morale
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- low performance

5. Potentially
Hazardous
Conditions
Managers must train employees to recognize
potentially hazardous conditions and take corrective
actions before they cause injuries like sprains, strains,
falls;
- wet floors and slippery walkways
- messy floors
- equipment left out in the way
- improper lifting techniques
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6. Three Rules
for safe, accident-free
work environment
1. Take adequate time
2. Correct unsafe conditions
immediately
3. Do it safely the first time
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7. Overall, the three most common
types of accident/injury were:
• Trips/slips or falls Some of the most
common injuries
• Electrical were:
incidents • Sprains and strains
• Manual • Back injury
handling/lifting • Head injury
• Neck injury
• Repetitive Strain
Injury
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8. GENERAL SAFETY ANS
SECURITY MESURES FOR
GUESTS
1. If possible, all the entrance to the hotel should be secured
with full time security guard. Entrance without guards and
unauthorized personnel.
2. Provide for roving guards who will monitor movements
within the hotel premises, particularly in guestrooms and
surrounding areas. In some hotels, there is a floor guard in
every floor or areas who logs down and report movements
in the guestroom like the entry of visitors (including the
date, time, and description of their guests).Many losses in
guestroom are due to theft wherein the joiner is the culprit.
When the hotel is aware of movements in the room, it easy
to track down who is responsible for theft or crime.
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9. 3. Suspicious looking persons and objects are to be
reported to security office or duty manager
immediately for proper investigation.
4. In the event that suspicious object is found in the
premises of the hotel, the following shall be
undertaken.
• Do not touch the object nor open it for it may
be a bomb that will explode.
• Report to the Security Office or Duty manager.
• Security Office or Duty manager will coordinate
with bomb experts to check the object.
• If the object is proven to be a bomb or
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10. • Guest and occupants within the affected area
will be asked to vacate the said area.
• A bomb disposal squad shall be asked to
handle the emergency.
• Caution everyone to calm down and assure
them that everything is under control.
5. Inside the hotel, guests’ identity, room number or
whereabouts should not be revealed to anyone
unless advised to do so by the guest himself as
when he is expecting visitor. Guests usually give
instructions when they expected visitor. More strict
measures are taken YBANEZ - CLORES
AIREEN for dignitaries, VIP’s 10

11. 6. All calls of house guests should be screened.
• Ask for the name of caller.
• Tell the caller “let me check if he is in his
room” (even if you are sure he is there).
• Verify if the caller part if he wants to entertain
the call.
• Turn over the line to the guest only if he says
he wants to receive the call.
7. Advise guest or visitors (especially foreigners) not
to entertain people or transaction business with
unknown and suspicious persons.
8. If you notice a suspicious joiner leaving the room
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 11
of a guest, make it a policy to check with the

12. 9. During the room make up and house
cleaning, always be on alert for safety
hazards found in guestroom or
elsewhere. Safety hazard refers to
anything that can cause accidents,
fires or injury like: dangling wires, open
electrical outlet, frail cords, broken
tiles, slippery floors or spills of water;
food or oil on floors, smell appliances,
sparks, etc.
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13. KEY HANDLING AND CONTROL
1. Keys for lockers and cabinets are to be in the custody of
designated custodian or stock clerk. He shall turnover said
key it the duty manager at the end of his shift.
2. Key custodian should never lend his keys to anyone nor
allow someone to open cabinet and get stocks thereat.
3. Room keys come in triplicate copies – one for the guest,
one for housekeeping and the other with duty manager’s
desk. Room boys, chambermaids or room attendant are
given a copy of the key when they are assigned to do
room make up. Some hotels leave it to the floor supervisor
to handle the key and open doors for room attendants
when they are scheduled for room make up.
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14. 4. In receiving and returning keys, always log in and
sign in the logbook so that it is easy to trace who is
accountable if ever it guest lost.
5. Room attendant are advised to attach their
uniform so that it does not get lost.
6. Misplaced or lost keys must be reported
immediately to the supervisor.
7. If a room key cannot be found, change it or
interchange the lockset of the room to another
room and floor so that the finder cannot open the
door.
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15. 9. If a guest happen to leave his key to his room
and request a supervisor or a room attendant to
open his room, it is important that the identity of
the guest be verify first. The room should not be
opened unless one is certain that he is indeed
registered occupant. In case of doubt, ask for
his/her guest ID for proper identification. Never
open room joiners or relatives of the guests.
10. If the room attendant is asked to open a guest’s
room, ask for the guest’s key just to make sure 15
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES
he

16. KEY HANDLING AT THE
FRONT DESK
1. Required guest to leave their keys at the front desk
when leaving the hotel to make sure they do not
leave it elsewhere.
2. Give room key only to registered occupant. If in
doubt, ask their guest ID.
3. Never give the key to the guest’s joiner, visitor or
even his/her nearest relative unless there is a written
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authorization from the guest himself.

17. SAFEKEEPING AND
ISSUANCE OF KEYS
1. When not in use, all key-sets should be kept in a day
cabinet.
2. Set of keys should only be issued to appropriate
employees as needed each day at which time they
sign for their keys.
3. The main key cabinet must be kept locked at all times.
4. Keys should not be brought out of the hotel property
by any employee. If the concerned key holders need
to leave the hotel during the day, he/she must turn
over their keys to their respective supervisor who will
log down the turnover.
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18. 5. All sets of keys are usually equipped with either
hardened steel key ring-belt clip combination, or
a leather key case and belt.
6. To avoid losing the keys, attach it to belt or
around the waist.
7. Employees receiving keys will acknowledge and
sign in the logbook, indicating the set numbers.
8. Keys must be endorsed by outgoing staff to
incoming room attendant, night supervisor or
night room cleaner at the end of the working shift.
The turnover must be acknowledge0-signed by
both the endorsing and receiving party.
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19. 9. All keys should be sight- inventoried by the Night
supervisor or Night room cleaner in charge at the end of
the evening shift (11:30pm). Any loss or discrepancy will
be reported immediately to the Executive housekeeper.
10. At the end of each with the cabinet locked, and the
housekeeping office locked.
11. There is a special set of keys designated “OPENING
KEYS.” This set will have a key to the area in which keys
are kept, and key cabinet in the set. This set of keys can
be left in the custody of the front desk (night) manager
when the housekeeping office is locked. They will be
picked up each morning by the supervisor in charge of
opening the house, and will- CLORES
AIREEN YBANEZ be returned to the front 19
desk (night) manager each evening as the key area is

20. FIRE SAFETY – PREVENTION AND
CONTROL
Fire prevention Measures in Hotel and Lodging
Houses
1. If possible, discourage or ban guests from
cooking or ironing inside the room as this may
trigger fire when the user is careless. Most
hotels make this a part of their rules for guests.
2. Do not use combustible materials as waste
containers in as much as there is a risk that
smoker will throw their lighted cigarette butts
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unto them. This can spark fire

21. 3. Provide for the following safety facilities:
• Fire alarm system
• Fire hose
• Fire extinguisher in designated areas
• Exit locator posted inside the room of the guest,
usually at the back of the entrance door.
• Fire smoke detector
• Fire sprinkler
• Luminous fire exit sign
• Safety instruction to guests in case of fire and
emergencies.
4. Always add water to ashtrays before emptying them
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22. 5. Given special attention to the laundry room as dryer gets very
hot and can ignite fire. Regularly check and clean the line traps
several times, everyday.
6. Provides for emergency lights instead of candles in the case of
power interruption. Guest might sleep with lighten that can be
neglected and spark fire.
7. Do not forget to install “NO SMOKING SIGN” in fire- prone areas
like near LPG gas, etc.
8. Check regularly the electrical installation and have all frayed
wirings, damaged sockets, switches and other defective
electrical fixtures changes or repaired promptly.
9. All electrical installation, repairs and change should be
undertaken be a competent individual or licensed electrician.
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23. 9. Do not leave wiring dangling nor drape them over pipes or
nails as this can be a fire hazard. Never run electrical cords
under rugs. Cords of portable electrical appliances should
be short as possible.
10. Flexible cords should never be used for fixed wiring nor
should they be spliced, tacked, stapled, or otherwise
fastened to combustible wall or woodwork.
11. Do not overload electrical circuit by profusely putting extra
light and appliances.
12. Combustion and other flimsy material should not be placed
near bulbs. Long exposure to the heat of lighted bulbs can
raise the temperature of proximate objects to such degree
as would be enough to eventually generate fire.
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24. 13. Combustion and other flimsy material should not be placed near
bulbs. Long exposure to the heat of lighted bulbs can raise the
temperature of proximate objects to such degree as would be
enough to eventually generate fire.
14. Do not replace blown or busted fuses with coins, wire or any
metal to short-circuit the current. Standard fuses are
manufactured for the purpose of rejecting the load of circuits.
Lighting circuit should be equipped with 15-ampere fuses.
15. Minimize damage or injury from by fire taking preventive action
ahead of time.
• Keep halls and doorways clear of carts and other obstruction to permit
smooth exit in case of fire.
• Report broken or missing exit sign, alarm, fire extinguisher and other
safety equipment and tools.
• Learn the evacuation route, including the nearest and alternative exits
and how to report a fire.
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25. CONTROL MEASURES IN
CASE OF HOTEL FIRE
1. If a fire alarms sounds, follow proper evacuation procedures
• Knock in each room and announce fire.
• Escort guest toward the nearest fire exits.
• Use stairs not elevator.
1. If you discover a fire:
• Active a fire alarm if it is already out of control
• Call the fire fighting team, usually in the engineering or
facilities maintenance office. If there is no such team, call
the telephone operation who will call for rescue at the
fire department.
• If it is a small fire,AIREEN YBANEZ -extinguish it using the fire 25
help to CLORES
extinguisher.

26. SAFETY AT HOME
GUIDELINES FOR DOMESTIC HOUSEKEEPERS
FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES AT HOME
1. Do not leave the stove unattended while cooking is being done.
2. Never let the stove get red hot.
3. Always put the fire and switch off the regulator value in the stove
when you leave the house or before going to bed. Most fire occurs
at night.
4. Keep stove at least a foot distance from any combustible wall or
siding.
5. Do not use gasoline or any flammable liquid in lighting a fuel in the
stove. Instead, use a piece of cloth or paper soaked in the liquid
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 26

27. 6. Extinguish with water all live charcoal when done with the
kitchen chores.
7. Provide metal waste cans for stove ashes, refuse, floor
sweeping, etc. where oily waste and rugs are used, keep
them in metal waste can with self-closing metal cover.
8. Never open fire to examine the gas leak, gas meter. Never
take open light into the closet.
9. Do not keep or store any flammable substance in the
kitchen.
10. Do not heat wax, paint or polishing substance over open
flames.
11. Never allow furnace, steam pipe or hot Water pipes to
come in contact with wood work or combustible wall.
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28. 12. Do not use just any kind of stove polish or clean
mixture unless very sure of what is in it, it might
contain flammable or combustible material.
13. Clear or chimney, furnace and stove regularly of
accumulated soot.
14. Repair or replace worn out or broken parts of the
chimney, furnace, stove.
15. Protect any woodwork or combustible
surroundings wall from radiated heat by means of
non-combustible insulators
16. Make sure all gas connections are tight. Avoid
rubber or flexible tubing.
17. Keep matches in the kitchen in metal container
and out of reachYBANEZ - CLORES
AIREEN of children. 28

29. 19. Do not strike a match before opening the valve of a gas
stove or oven
20. Keep kerosene cans outside the house.
21. Do not leave flammable objects is hot place.
22. Do not substitute home remedy fuse to a burned fuse.
23. Never leave lighted candles unattended. It can fall
without you knowing and ignite fire it once it catches a
flammable material.
24. Do not overload electrical outlet nor use octopus
connection to prevent fire.
25. Be sure that oil cookers or lamps do not leak and do not
over- turn.
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26. Keep store burners clean and do not turn the flames to

30. 28. If possible, never leave kerosene can outside the house.
29. Never leave the kerosene uncovered.
30. If repairs are needed do not attempt to do the job unless
competent to do so. Make service request from a
professional technician.
31. Do not use any pipe line or appliances until the leak is
corrected.
32. If you are about to install a new gas cylinder is turned an
empty one, be sure all valves are shut off before the new
cylinder is turned on.
33. Always observe the usual precaution if seeing to it that an
oven is not filled with gas before lighting. When burners are
equipped with pilot light, they should be provided with
automatic shut off should the flames get blown out or
otherwise fail to light and burn.
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31. In case of Fire at Home
1. Extinguish it with the use of fire extinguishers.
2. If the fire is of type A classification it can be
extinguished by pouring water into it.
3. Don’t use water for fires that emanate from faulty
wirings as this can cause electrocution and
serious damage. Call for help.
4. When a kettle or pan catches fire, do not pour
water on burning fat or lard. In the absence of
extinguishers, use or pour earth, sand or baking
soda or cover with a metal cover that is big
enough to cover burning kettle or pan.
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32. 6. Fire spreads quickly; a speedy attack is essential. If
anyone is near, tell him to report the outbreak and
then give assistance. Extinguishers can only be uses
with small fires.
7. Do not continue to fight a fire if it is dangerous to do
so as when:
There is a possibility that the escape route may
be cut off by fire or smoke.
If the fire continuous to grow in spite of your
efforts.
If there are explosives in the vicinity of the fire.
8. Extinguishers should YBANEZrecharged immediately after
AIREEN
be - CLORES 32

33. Home Safety Tips
1. Never use any appliance that is
damaged or a stove that has a leak
2. keep all chemicals, medicines,
matches, tools and knives out of reach
of children
3. dry all wet floors at once because
they are slippery and can cause slips
and injuries. Wipe them with dry cloth.
Oily spills maybe removed with warm
water which should be dried at once.
4. Unplug unused appliances and close
unused cabinets.CLORES
AIREEN YBANEZ - 33

34. 5. Do not use electrical appliances when
electrical cord or its plug gets hot.
6. Do not use electrical appliances with
exposed wires or broken insulators.
7. Do not allow children to slide along
stairs railings as they may fall.
8. Keep all toys in their proper storage
after use to avoid slips.
9. Have a first aid kit available at all times.
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 34

35. Common Danger Spots That
Can Trigger Accidents
• Scattered rugs- Make sure they are placed
or tacked on non-slid mats.
• Electric cords- Keep them off the floor and
fasten then so that no one can trip on
them.
• Bathtub or Showers- a non slip mat should
be used to eliminate the serious threat of
falls while bathing.
• Kitchen- In cooking and washing,
occasional spills and grease spots are
bound toAIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES them at once.
happen. Wipe 35
Liquids on the floors make slips and slides

36. • Stairways- Be sure they are
well lighted. Firm handrails
should be provided. Toys and
others objects should not be
left on stairs or the landing
area.
• Check ladders for possible
defect or worn out tiles.
• Do not read while going
up or down the stairs.
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 36
• Do not carry objects that

37. Prevention of Accidents
Type of Accident
How to Avoid Them
 CUTS Use knives properly
with the blade
away from
the body.
2. Do not grab knives.
3. Pick up broken
glass with sweepers
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 37
and dustpan, not

38. Prevention of Accidents
Type of Accident How to Avoid Them
 BURNS 1. Use dry side towels
for handling hot
pans and pots.
2. Keep pot handles
away from the
aisles.
3. Open hot water
faucets carefully to
avoid splash.
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 38

39. Prevention of Accidents
How to Avoid Them
Type of Accident
1. Keep floors clean. Wipe spills
 FALLS right away.
2. Remove all obstructions on
floors like scattered toys, rugs,
etc...
3. Do not stand on boxes tables or
chair to reach high objects. Use
the stairway to prevent
accidents. Do not over reach.
4. Do not block your view when
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 39
transporting objects. Make sure

40. • STRAINS 1. Do not attempt to carry too
heavy loads.
2. Lift objects properly as
mentioned next page.
Preventing Exposure to Pathogens
1. Wear personal protective equipment.
2. Handle potentially contaminated items as little as
possible
3. Use proper container for disposal of items.
4. Clean contaminated areas.
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 40

41. Moving and Lifting Safely
1. Wear the right shoes. Working shoes should be slip
resistant, with a closed toe and fit to give the best
comfort.
2. Watch where you are going to prevent slips and
falls.
3. Use door stopper and not linens or objects that
could cause a slip or fall.
4. Turn on lights and look at all sides before entering
any room. There maybe spills or broken glasses on
the floors that needs to be cleared.
5. If broken glass isAIREEN YBANEZsweep the floor and place
found, - CLORES 41

42. 6. To push the room boy’s cart easily, check if it has sticking
wheels. Without it, it will be harder to push and could injure
the user. Remove sticking Thread on the wheels.
7. Loose screw or sharp edges could catch on one’s clothing
and can cause cuts.
8. When pushing the cart, lean forward into the cart, rely on
one’s legs and feet not unto one’s back or across the body.
9. Pull or maneuver the cart in very short distances.
10. Keep the cart close, use feet and legs and not the arms
and shoulders.
11. In case a cart falls down, do not try to stop or stand it up by
alone. It is heavier AIREEN YBANEZ - think and can cause accidents.
than you CLORES 42
Ask for help.

43. Lifting Objects
1. Bending with the knee is easier than on the back, nor
with the waist, whether one is tucking in sheets, picking
up a laundry or cleaning a tub.
2. When reaching for something, especially in the tub,
never stand on the edge of toilet bowl. You might loose
your balance and fall.
3. Do not hang unto the soap dish or shower head as it
may break and cause injury.
4. Do not stand on a terry bath mat or towel since it has a
slippery surface.
5. The safest way to reach the walls around the tub is to
stand in the tub, close to the walls so you can reach
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 43
high surfaces without over stretching.

44. 6. Check the size of the object and get help if it is too
heavy.
7. Do not rotate mattress or move heavy furniture
alone.
8. To lift safety, bend at the knees and hips, not at the
back and keep the load close to body. Keep back
and head straight and avoid twisting.
9. Lift with your legs and not with your back, so you do
not have to stoop.
10. If it is hard to reach an object comfortably, use an
extension handle tool.
11. When kneeling on floor, cushion your knees with
bath mat or towel.
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 44

45. 12. Use your body weight in pushing and pulling the
vacuum, not just your arms and shoulder. If you
vacuum correctly, a relax grip on the handle is all
you need.
13. To avoid slipping, hold the cord and coils as you
go.
14. Keep the cord of cleaning machine out of walk-
way in public areas.
15. Use your body weight in pushing and pulling the
vacuum. Not just your arm or shoulder. To avoid
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 45
slipping, hold the cord and the coil as you go.

46. Handling Chemical
Safety
1. Read the labels and the materials safety
datasheet.
2. Wear personal protective equipment like goggles
and hand gloves for protection from spills and
splashes.
3. To use the chemical correctly, follow the direction
of the label.
4. Use only one chemical for its intended purpose.
5. Be sure the correct chemical goes in a properly
labeled container when refilling spray bottles.
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 46
6. Cap of bottles/containers should be tight and the

47. 7. Never mix chemicals; the result can be potentially
deadly like fumes created by mixing bleach with
ammonia.
8. Use the right amount of chemical. Excessive amount
may damage surfaces.
9. If a chemical spills, block the surface. A minor spill can
easily be cleaned up. If not sure of how to clean up a
spill, ask the supervisor.
10. If a chemical spill blocks your skin, rinse as directed in
the material safety data sheet.
11. If your eyes are exposed -and contaminated by a 47
AIREEN YBANEZ CLORES spill,

48. First Aid for Accidents
1. Be calm. Do not panic.
2. Take the injured person to the clinic or
to as safe place if there is no clinic.
3. Inform your supervisor right away.
Make an accident report.
4. In case the accident is caused by
electrical power contact, do not
touch the victim. Turn off the main
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 48

49. 5. For light burns, apply cold compress.
6. For heavy burns bring to the clinic or
hospital.
7. Never open blisters.
8. If a person is fractured, do not move the
victim so as not to cause more serious
injury. Call for professional help.
9. If there is so much bleeding apply clean
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES 49

50. Security tips at home
1. Keep all doors of the house locked at all
times.
2. Do not entertain unknown callers nor allow
them to enter the house. There are robbers
who are in disguised as suitors or lady maids
with an intention to get inside the house and
steal.
3. If there are service men, meter readers or
collectors attempting to enter the house, ask
for their proper identification (ID) first before
allowing them AIREEN YBANEZinside and never leave 50
to get - CLORES

51. 4. Do not give personal information to unknown
callers like address of the house, names of persons
in the family, telephone numbers etc. The caller
may have evil motive for seeking such information
and you will be putting the family in a dangerous
predicament.
5. Be careful of syndicates who play their tricks on
ignorant people especially house maids. One of
them is a gang that attempts to call a house and
tells the receiver of the call that an employer or a
member of the household is sick or has met an
accident and that he is advised to get money and
valuables and bring it to a certain place for the
caller to use in the treatment. If such call is
received, get the full name of the caller and
telephone number if there is a caller ID to refer to.
Then call the police and give information. Call your
employer for verification and inform him of the
incident. Keep the house closed and take extra
precaution..
51
AIREEN YBANEZ - CLORES