A New Year! A New Program!
by Professor Ray Ellis, Jr.
HAVE A WONDERFUL, SAFE AND SECURE YEAR IN 2008! In August 1997, the series of Loss Prevention Bulletins, which have appeared from time to time since 1955 and which have appeared under different titles, resumed publication through the Loss Prevention Management Institute, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston.
Effective January 1, 2008, the Loss Prevention Management Institute will continue publication of the BULLETIN as an affiliate of HospitalityLawyer.com. The copy will be available on the internet only. The postal service copy will no longer be provided. The archived data, August, 1997 through December, 2007, will still be available at www.hrm.uh.edu/lpmi or on a link from HospitalityLawyer. Current copies will be obtainable at HospitalityLawyer.com.
The material is also re-formatted as articles with attribution at www.losspreventionbulletin.com which is maintained in Washington, D. C. by the AH&LA Educational Foundation, The Loss Prevention Management Institute looks forward to its affiliation with HospitalityLawyer.com. A special word of thanks to the Founder, Dr. Stephen Barth. |
OSHA Rules Employer Pays for Personal Protective Equipment
by Professor Ray Ellis, Jr.
Pursuant to an 88-page final rule issued in the Federal Register on November 15, 2007, the following are a few examples of the PPE required in the lodging industry:
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Face shields, visors, goggles, hard hats, reusable gloves;
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protective aprons, gowns and head cover for handling bloodborne pathogens; and
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air-support face masks where chemicals such as ammonia or chlorine might require an engineer’s intervention.
The final rule becomes effective on February 15, 2008 and must be implemented by May 15, 2008.
Read more for Some Exceptions |
A Reminder to Subscribe to the Consumer Product Safety Commission List Serve
by Professor Ray Ellis, Jr.
I frequently urge you to subscribe to www.listsrv.cpsc.gov If this newsletter regularly covered all of the items, it would become a re-run of the CPSC release. Without presenting the back-up information, the importance of having such data was apparent on November 8, 2007 when the following recalls were listed:
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Cribs sold by Bassettbaby recalled due to entrapment and strangulation hazard.
Sold exclusively at Babies R Us
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Coby Electronics. recalls DVD/CD/MP3 players due to fire hazard.
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American Honda Motor Corp. Recalls lawn mowers due to fire hazard.
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Yamaha recalls AC power adaptors due to electric shock hazard.
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Curious George plush dolls recalled by Marvel Toys due to risk of lead exposure.
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Children’s sunglasses recalled by Dollar General due to violation of lead paint standard.
Items 3 and 4 might apply to the lodging industry; but ALL could apply to members of your staff and, as previously suggested, become an effective element in an off-the-job safety program.
To join a CPSC email subscription list, click here www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp |
An IRS Phishing Experience Follow-up
by Professor Ray Ellis, Jr.
An article entitled “A RECENT PHISHING EXPERIENCE!” appeared on page two in the December, 2007 BULLETIN. I received a bogus request for information so the IRS could send a refund to me. IRS never communicates via email and H. Thomas Whitlatch, President of Risk Services, LLC (770-833-4011) advises IRS requests that such an email request or any other purporting to be from IRS be forwarded to a new IRS mailbox: phishing@irs.gov |
"Who You Should Know"
Loss Prevention Spotlight
Sally Brand
Sr. Risk Services Administrator
Sage Hospitality Resources
Sally has been with Sage since 1991, starting in operations and moving to the Risk Management department in 1996. Over the past 12 years the Sage portfolio has changed dramatically. Currently Sage is recognized as an innovative leader in the industry, specializing in the management and development of premium-branded and independent hotels. With this growth came some interesting challenges.
As the company changes and develops, Sally and the Risk Services team constantly strive to maintain a safety culture that emphasizes safety awareness for all associates; consistent, well-documented training; a strong return to work program; and very high safety and security standards throughout all the hotels. Sally has worked on the development and implementation of all these processes and she continues to actively enhance the Sage safety programs.
Sage measures their safety awareness and success through several yearly audits that include general hotel safety practices, kitchen sanitation and water resort safety.
One of Sally’s passions is to encourage as many properties as possible to send one or more safety leaders to the Hospitality Lawyer Loss Prevention Seminars that are held 3-4 times each year throughout the country. She states, “There is nothing better than this hospitality-based session for our associates. They learn so much about so many safety topics in just one day.” |
"Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Hospitality Industry "
Online Courses offered at HospitalityLawyer.com
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Register Now!
Early Registration Ends January 15, 2008
February 11-13, 2008
Houston, Texas
This year's Safety, Security, and Risk Management Track will feature the following sessions:
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Tips on Testifying/Mock Deposition Demonstration/Witness Demonstration
Security expert Thom Davis and Attorney Robbie Foster will be conducting a demonstration of a mock deposition with explanations concerning proper and improper handling of the deposition.
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Solutions to Credit Card Fraud/Collecting on No-Smoking & Other Damages
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Special Issues in Loss Prevention, including Pools; Spas; AED Litigation - Public Access, Timely Response, What if you do not have them; Carbon Monoxide Detectors; Issues Arising from Smoking; Dealing with Inclement Weather; Norovirus and Other Contagious Diseases; and Special Issues arising from Mixed-Use Properties
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Understanding Duties of Care, Reasonable Care, Standards of Care, Negligence, Gross Negligence
For more information, please click here.
Click here to register and receive the Early Registration discounted rate!
Have a suggestion for the Conference?
Post it here! |
Your Annual OSHA Recordkeeping Reminder
by Professor Ray Ellis, Jr.
The OSHA Log 300 and Summary Form 300-A should now be complete for the year ending December 31, 2007.
- It is hoped you have followed the recommendation to number the incidents by department, rather than using a continuing number system for all injuries.
- The chief executive officer at the property must certify the accuracy of the report for the entire establishment.
- An OSHA Summary Form 300-A must be completed and posted on February 1st in a location readily accessible to ALL employees.
- The data will be retained for five years unless the Bureau of Labor Statistics contacted your organization prior to 2007, with the request for providing data on the year’s experience.
- Access the January 2007 BULLETIN in the archives for a lead article on other methods for effectively utilizing the Log data in day-to-day operations
Read more for additional information on Each Suggestion
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"Product Showcase"
 The Traction Plus Story -
15 Years and Counting
Traction Plus offers a simple yet comprehensive approach to slip-and-fall prevention called the Traction Plus Safe Surface System. Combining the most advanced products available, the Traction Plus Safe Surface System ensures maximum safety for your employees and customers and peace of mind for you.
These state-of-the-art prevention and maintenance products are effective on most problem surfaces. Designed for easy implementation, this three-part system is revolutionary in its ability to produce a slip-resistant surface, even when wet!
Since 1990, Traction Plus has been researching and implementing ways to prevent slip-and-fall accidents. In the beginning, Traction Plus introduced its first products, TP-321 and TP-421, a two-part floor treatment and maintenance system designed to prevent slips and falls on ceramic and quarry tile floors.
2005 brought new product introductions including a line of "High Traction" no-wax, commercial-grade resilient flooring.
For more information, visit Traction Plus or contact Russ Kendzior, the President, and CEO of Traction Plus, Inc. and Founder of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). |
Some Housekeeping Challenges
by Professor Ray Ellis, Jr.
During November and December 2007 FOX NEWS did a series of “stings” on sanitation in the guest room. Hidden cameras were installed in rooms reserved by members of the FOX NEWS organization. They recorded the following sanitation lapses:
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Failure to send glasses and mugs to be washed in the dishwasher.
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Gloves were worn for both commode cleaning and the cleaning of other surfaces and countertops. Similarly, the same towels were used to wipe commode and counter top surfaces.
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A towel left upon the counter was folded and hung on the towel bar.
Read more for Ellis' Thoughts on Addressing These Issues |
Stephen Barth, Founder of HospitalityLawyer.com, Challenges the Industry to Go Non-Smoking
To see a humorous, unique perspective on smoking,
watch this video.
Also read Stephen Barth's Blog and his
Challenge to the Hospitality Industry to Be Non-Smoking
Finally, please vote in our
Poll Question
Do you support a nation-wide ban on smoking in restaurants and hotels?
Vote Now
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This poll is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, nor the public as a whole. |
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