Chapter 5 The Accommodation Sector. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 2 Summary of Objectives To examine the impact of.

Chapter 5 The Accommodation Sector

Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division oCopyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limitedf Thomson Canada Limited

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Summary of Objectives

To examine the impact of To examine the impact of negligence law in the context of negligence law in the context of the accommodation sectorthe accommodation sector

To identify standard operating To identify standard operating procedures which help to procedures which help to preclude liability for negligencepreclude liability for negligence


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Maintenance

Ensure qualifications and licensing of Ensure qualifications and licensing of workers on jobs requiring specialized workers on jobs requiring specialized skills.skills.

Ensure permits and inspections by Ensure permits and inspections by government officials occur when required.government officials occur when required.

Document and retain ongoing Document and retain ongoing maintenance records to show consistent maintenance records to show consistent attention and responsibility.attention and responsibility.

Adjust general maintenance to reflect Adjust general maintenance to reflect CanadaCanada’’s four seasons.s four seasons.


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The House

Front of the house includes fully Front of the house includes fully public, semi-public and guest public, semi-public and guest areas.areas.

Back of the house includes non-Back of the house includes non-public areas such as kitchen, public areas such as kitchen, service stairs and tunnels, offices, service stairs and tunnels, offices, and operating equipment rooms.and operating equipment rooms.


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The Grounds

Lawns, walkways (both private and Lawns, walkways (both private and municipal), and tennis courts must be municipal), and tennis courts must be inspected for safety.inspected for safety.

Sudden changes in elevation on Sudden changes in elevation on sidewalks, steps or ramps should be sidewalks, steps or ramps should be clearly marked.clearly marked.

Outdoor staircases require good lighting, Outdoor staircases require good lighting, handrails and timely snow and ice handrails and timely snow and ice removal.removal.


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Parking Areas

Address dangers posed to guests and staff Address dangers posed to guests and staff due to isolation and potential for attackdue to isolation and potential for attack

• Install surveillance cameras and emergency Install surveillance cameras and emergency phones.phones.

• Post warnings of prosecution for trespassers.Post warnings of prosecution for trespassers.

• Redesign or eliminate alcoves and pillars that Redesign or eliminate alcoves and pillars that could hide attackers.could hide attackers.

• Provide staff to escort guests and ensure valets Provide staff to escort guests and ensure valets are trustworthy.are trustworthy.

• Ensure lighting and surfaces are in good Ensure lighting and surfaces are in good condition.condition.


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Fully Public Areas

Use logos or stripes to mark glass Use logos or stripes to mark glass doors.doors.

Maintain and monitor automatic and Maintain and monitor automatic and revolving doors.revolving doors.

Place barriers on wet floors or those Place barriers on wet floors or those being repaired.being repaired.

Check banisters and carpet rods on Check banisters and carpet rods on stairwells.stairwells.


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Fully Public Areas 2 Anticipate crowd control and security Anticipate crowd control and security

requirements.requirements.

Ensure those who conduct the Ensure those who conduct the maintenance and repair of elevators maintenance and repair of elevators are licensed personnel.are licensed personnel.

Anticipate use by children and large Anticipate use by children and large guests when inspecting hotel furniture.guests when inspecting hotel furniture.

Ensure strength and quality of Ensure strength and quality of hardware used to secure wall hangings hardware used to secure wall hangings and framed art.and framed art.


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Semi-Public Areas

Ensure alcohol is not served to guests Ensure alcohol is not served to guests showing signs of intoxication.showing signs of intoxication.

Control traffic of passers by in the area Control traffic of passers by in the area where a flambé is being prepared.where a flambé is being prepared.

Ensure washrooms are clean, have Ensure washrooms are clean, have safe flooring, and are regularly safe flooring, and are regularly inspectedinspected


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Swimming Pools

Know the governing legislation Know the governing legislation and exceed its standards.and exceed its standards.

Test and inspect water daily, Test and inspect water daily, keeping records.keeping records.

Use disclaimer signs if no life Use disclaimer signs if no life guard is provided.guard is provided.

Post and enforce house rules.Post and enforce house rules.


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Fitness Rooms and Running Tracks Ensure equipment is inspected Ensure equipment is inspected

and running properly.and running properly.

Enclose rooftop running tracks in Enclose rooftop running tracks in fencing and inspect for safe fencing and inspect for safe surfaces.surfaces.


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Guest Areas Outside of Rooms Hallways should be free of Hallways should be free of

obstructions, including vacuum obstructions, including vacuum cleaner cords and room service trays.cleaner cords and room service trays.

Any changes in floor elevation should Any changes in floor elevation should be marked.be marked.

Staff should be vigilant for wet, Staff should be vigilant for wet, slippery floors around ice or vending slippery floors around ice or vending machines.machines.


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Inside Guest Rooms

Keyless entry systems have Keyless entry systems have reduced theft in guest rooms.reduced theft in guest rooms.

A fire escape plan should be A fire escape plan should be posted on the back of the door.posted on the back of the door.

Housekeeping staff should be Housekeeping staff should be especially vigilant for glasses left especially vigilant for glasses left on the floor.on the floor.


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Inside Guest Rooms 2 Hardware supporting the weight of Hardware supporting the weight of

curtains should be attached to the curtains should be attached to the building structure, not just the drywall.building structure, not just the drywall.

Locks on patio doors should be inspected Locks on patio doors should be inspected to ensure they prevent the entry of to ensure they prevent the entry of intruders.intruders.

The method of window screen instalment The method of window screen instalment should anticipate a child pushing against should anticipate a child pushing against the screen.the screen.


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Inside Guest Rooms 3 Inspect rooms for potential Inspect rooms for potential

hazards to children.hazards to children.

Treat seriously any telephone Treat seriously any telephone calls to the front desk for help.calls to the front desk for help.

Use slip-proof surfaces in Use slip-proof surfaces in bathtubs, showers and on floors.bathtubs, showers and on floors.


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Back of the House

Areas which are out of bounds Areas which are out of bounds except to authorized personsexcept to authorized persons

Signs should be posted restricting Signs should be posted restricting access to these areas.access to these areas.

Businesses should nevertheless Businesses should nevertheless foresee use of back of the house foresee use of back of the house areas by unauthorized guests.areas by unauthorized guests.


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Safety Features

Smoke alarms are required in all hotels Smoke alarms are required in all hotels and restaurants.and restaurants.

Fire exit lights must be inspected daily.Fire exit lights must be inspected daily.

For emergency lighting, check For emergency lighting, check batteries and power sources.batteries and power sources.

Don’t hesitate to call an ambulance for Don’t hesitate to call an ambulance for a guest experiencing health difficulties.a guest experiencing health difficulties.


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Safety Features 2 Provide staff training programs Provide staff training programs

for emergencies.for emergencies.

Record events or emergencies in Record events or emergencies in a daily log that can be shared a daily log that can be shared with other staff on other shifts.with other staff on other shifts.

Videotape alleged accident Videotape alleged accident scenes with a witness present.scenes with a witness present.


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Special Considerations

Consider offering supervised daycare at Consider offering supervised daycare at hotels.hotels.

Hotel staff should respond appropriately Hotel staff should respond appropriately when a guest has special needs.when a guest has special needs.

Professional exterminators should be Professional exterminators should be hired for pest control.hired for pest control.

Associated tours should be offered Associated tours should be offered through the hotel.through the hotel.


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Resorts and Recreational Amenities Where there are water attractions, Where there are water attractions,

inspect them carefully and post inspect them carefully and post warnings of danger.warnings of danger.

Ensure equipment is in proper condition Ensure equipment is in proper condition and provide instructions for use.and provide instructions for use.

A duty of care is owed by hotels and A duty of care is owed by hotels and resorts with respect to their recreational resorts with respect to their recreational amenities.amenities.


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Resorts and Recreational Amenities 2 If ice skating is provided, warn If ice skating is provided, warn

skaters of outdoor ice conditionsskaters of outdoor ice conditions

Hazardous sports operators must Hazardous sports operators must warn users about terrain and warn users about terrain and weatherweather

Horseback riding is one of the most Horseback riding is one of the most dangerous sports and guests should dangerous sports and guests should be warned accordinglybe warned accordingly


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Disclaimers and Waivers The language on waivers must be clear The language on waivers must be clear

and not hidden among other language.and not hidden among other language.

The waiver must be brought to the The waiver must be brought to the guest’s attention.guest’s attention.

The waiver must be written in a The waiver must be written in a language which the guest can read.language which the guest can read.

Staff must not minimize the importance Staff must not minimize the importance of the waiver document.of the waiver document.

Chapter 5 The Accommodation Sector. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 2 Summary of Objectives To examine the impact of.

Documents

negligence slide

inspected slide

canada s

accommodation sector

semipublic areas

nonpublic areas

guest areas

good lighting