We have covered the importance of connecting workers to physiotherapy for a wide variety of industries, including shipping ports and delivery services to agricultural interests and universities. Today, our focus is on the hospitality industry, namely for the staff who work in hotel and resort properties. Day-in and day-out they are on-site and in-service of guests from all over the world. In doing their various duties they are exposed to a number of risks to their musculoskeletal health. When compromised by injury and resulting acute/chronic pain they are not able to work and as a result productivity and guest satisfaction is impacted. Below is a breakdown of these risks, and why your organization should invest in their wellness by improving access to physiotherapy care.
Why Hotel and Resort Staff Will Benefit by Having Physiotherapy Become a Part of Their Health Plan
Prevention and Rehabilitation of Injuries Commonly Suffered by Hotel/Resort Staff
To paint a clear picture of the injury-risk faced by your valued human resources, we have separated them into staffing categories.
Let’s begin with the individuals guests first see upon arrival. Porters help new arrivals (and departing parties) with their luggage. As such, they are at risk of sprains and strains that come from lifting and carrying bags and suitcases full of clothing and more. There is a prevalence of low back pain and dorsalgia (which includes low back, mid back, and sciatic pain) amongst hotel porters, in addition to neck pain, shoulder pain (rotator cuff, etc.) and even carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A combination of physiotherapy services (massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, etc.) can rehabilitate and help prevent these injuries.
Once porters have assisted guests, patrons next meet with guest services personell such as the check-in/check-out counterperson and/or concierge. While it may not seem like their job is physically taxing, it is. They are primarily vulnerable to sore feet, which may compromise the way they stand and walk and can lead to other physical complications. Share this guide on how to treat sore feet from standing all day with your frontend staff.
The next day, guests may also get to meet housekeeping staff. Housekeepers are susceptible to a number of injuries. Lower back pain is a primary culprit given the nature of the work that housekeepers do. They scrub bathtubs, picking up items that are strewn about the floor, and bend to vacuum and clean every nook and cranny on the premises. These chores are included in the list of the worst activities for lower back pain. Not only will traditional physiotherapy interventions be required (massage therapy, etc.) you should also connect housekeeping staff to chiropractic care as well.
The above three hotel staff categories may represent the bare minimum of your concerns. Resorts have a more robust staffing chart, including food services, activities personnel, and speciality service providers. Each workforce category comes with its own set of injury risk. To reiterate, as a hotelier you should consider adding physiotherapy coverage to your private health plan. Moreover, work directly with a physiotherapy clinic near you so that you can provide staff with a consistent resource to physical support services.
PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR HOTEL STAFF IN GREATER VANCOUVER BC:
CALL: 604.558.2273
EMAIL: in**@ab****************.com