Chemicals are a vital part of the housekeeping department as without chemicals it is impossible for any of us to clean. Chemicals are used everyday in the hotel. Chemicals can be dangerous and at times life threatening if not used properly. Housekeeping personnel, custodians, and other employees involved in cleaning are often exposed to a variety of chemicals. Wearing correct personal protective equipment, use of proper strength solutions, and good personal hygiene can minimize the hazards. Proper storage and usage also minimizes the risk when handling chemicals. For this a continuous training is a must be implemented and regular checks need to be taken to ensure safety. Uses of chemicals Common uses Floors WC Carpets Glass & dishes Polishing Air freshener Disinfectants Dry cleaning Stains Laundry Detergent
Identifying the chemical First we need to identify/educate what chemicals are used for what purpose and how harmful are they. Based on how harmful they are they can be further classified as :
Physiochemicals-Explosive chemicals, Oxidizable chemicals and Flammable chemicals.
Chemicals which affect our health-Toxic, Sensitive Irritant, harmful, sensitising carcinogen and radioactive.
Storage and Usage Storage Next we need to how to store the chemicals. All chemicals need to be labelled and should be stored chronologically. Storage should be done in shelves where an absorbent cloth should be kept at the bottom to minimize spillage and leakage of the chemicals. The room should also have proper ventilation. Usage The procedure involved on how to use chemicals is a must. This is the most important part of training. If usage of chemicals is not thought properly it can lead to fatal accidents. Proper equipment is required to handle chemicals. Protective gear is a must Disposal and Prevention Disposal Chemicals can harm the environment and us if not disposed properly. Training for disposal is also important because if not properly disposed it can be harmful. Prevention Prevention of accidents is a must when handling chemicals . Training should be done to prevent any accident. Training should take place to make aware what happens when an accident occurs and what needs to be done to ensure the safety of a person during an accident. Measures such as first aid kits ,fire extinguishers etc. all should be implemented. Regular checks by supervisors during handling chemicals is a must. Sources In-text: (Hotel Housekeeping Operations and Management, 2014) Hotel Housekeeping Operations and Management. (2014). 2nd Ed. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp.17. Clean Link, (2014). Chemical Safety Training: Proper Usage, Storage And Disposal - How To Content For Cleaning Professionals. Tags: #Training #Cleaners Disinfectants #Safety. [Online] Available at: http://www.cleanlink.com/cp/article/Chemical-Safety-Training-Proper-Usage- Storage-And-Disposal--11521 [Accessed 31 Jul. 2014]. Healthy and safety Authority , Online pdf http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Chemical_and_Ha zardous_Substances/Your_Steps_to_Chemical_Safety.pdf SAIF corp. online pdf http://www.saif.com/_files/safetyhealthguides/ss-401.pdf
