A hotel environment will need to cater for it's staff, contractors, and guests.  Such a wide range of people will be susceptible to a wide variety of hazards, both on short-term visits as well as overnight stays.

Where children are involved, the level of risk often increases, due to their potential immaturity / inexperience.

Common mishaps in hotel environments include:

• cuts and bruises to staff as well as visitors

• back aches from manual handling (carrying heavy loads without a mechanical aid)

• slips, trips and falls

• fires (as a result of electrical equipment or arson)

The law requires that any UK working environment that is under the control of an organisation with at least 5 employees, must hold valid and up-to-date health & safety documentation.

For hotel environments, the required documents are:

• health & safety policy statement

• fire risk assessment

• general risk assessment

• manual handling risk assessment

• disability access audit

• health & safety annual audit

© Clearworld Health & Safety Ltd 2011