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Comparisons of Trunk Motions and Low Back Injury Risk between Alternative Hotel Room Cleaning Methods

Author

Listed:
  • W. Gary Allread

    (SRI-Ergonomics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Pamela Vossenas

    (Department of Labor Studies, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, New York, NY 10036, USA
    Study conducted while Pamela Vossenas was employed at UNITE HERE International Union.)

Abstract

Hotel room cleaners frequently report job-related pain, with high rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorder injuries established for this group of workers. Surprisingly, there is limited published research documenting the impact of interventions to reduce ergonomic-related injury risks specific to hotel room cleaners’ job tasks. In this study focused on hotel bathroom-cleaning and furniture-dusting tasks, twelve experienced hotel room cleaners used their standard method and a risk-reduction method—a tool with a handle that could extend, to perform these tasks. The female study participants’ average age was 45.3 ( SD 8.7) years with an average of 10 years of work experience as cleaners (range: 0.8–26.0 years). Trunk kinematics and a low back injury risk assessment were measured using the Lumbar Motion Monitor. All study metrics were significantly reduced when cleaning tasks involved use of adjustable, long-handled tools ( p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that commonly available cleaning and dusting tools with extendable handles can significantly reduce low back injury risk among hotel room cleaners and potentially reduce injury risk to other body parts known to be the site of musculoskeletal disorders in this workforce. The study findings suggest that cleaning or housekeeping jobs in other industries where these same tasks are performed could benefit from use of extended-handle tools like those investigated here.

Suggested Citation

  • W. Gary Allread & Pamela Vossenas, 2022. "Comparisons of Trunk Motions and Low Back Injury Risk between Alternative Hotel Room Cleaning Methods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:14907-:d:970974
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Scherzer, T. & Rugulies, R. & Krause, N., 2005. "Work-related pain and injury and barriers to workers' compensation among Las Vegas hotel room cleaners," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(3), pages 483-488.
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    Cited by:

    1. Roger Jensen & David P. Gilkey, 2023. "Risk-Reduction Research in Occupational Safety and Ergonomics: An Editorial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-4, March.

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