Following the passing of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly referred to as OSHA. This was done in an effort to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for men and women by setting and enforcing certain quantitative standards and by providing appropriate training, outreach, education and assistance.
OSHA guidelines dictate the general dos and don’ts of industry practices. It is imperative to follow them, as failure to do so will result in rather costly violation reports. The goal of OSHA is to protect and support workers by holding owners and those with power responsible for dangers, hazards, and other potential areas of concern, so that those issues are taken care of before accidents or greater problems arise.
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, for every 100 employees, an average of 3.3 people will injure themselves or be injured at work in a given year. Of those cases, about half will require a leave-of-absence, or time-off, from work. While this number may not seem like a lot, it is important to understand the cost of a single injury.
The National Safety Council claims that the average cost to a company for a non-medically consulted injury is around $1,100. Should that injury require medical consultation, the average cost increases to an average of $41,000. And in the rare occurrence of an employee’s passing, costs can be as high as over $1.1 million. Additionally, an OSHA infraction discovered upon inspection or accident investigation can cost up to $13,000 if it is serious, and up to $133,000 for a wilful or repeat violation. Consequences for the injured employee are severe as well, as they will, on average, make 15% less over the next 10 years following their injury.
For hotel executives and directors, ensuring OSHA compliance is not only a social responsibility, but a fiscal one as well. Being informed, staying up-to-date, and adhering to OSHA guidelines is beneficial for everyone. Maintaining safe, proper working environments for employees will also have a significantly positive impact on hotels’ reputation and brand awareness. However, failure to comply can lead to scandals, lawsuits, fines, guest and employee mistrust, and many other negative results for hotels.
Especially now, in the age of social media, where information spreads like wildfire and a single article can make or break a company’s reputation, hotels must take steps necessary to become and remain OSHA compliant. It is without a doubt that now, more than ever, hotels must be ready to adapt and conform to new standards and regulations in order to meet the needs of both employees and guests. And there is no better way to do so than with WrkSpot. An all-in-one, revolutionary compliance-management software that does all of the hard work for you. From tracking and alerting managers to potential OSHA violations to providing easy-to-access means of assistance for employees and guests, WrkSpot is pioneering the future of hospitality and good service, one hotel at a time. Every hero deserves a sidekick, every hotel deserves WrkSpot.