Hospitality Focus on Safety: Mobile Technology
Definition:
Mobile Technology has caused increase exposure in worker’s compensation recently. The use of mobile devices while working, driving to and from work or as an arguable part of their jobs creates a necessity for companies to be proactive in creating clear guidelines for its’ employees.
Potential Exposures:
- Using
a cell phone for company business after hours.
- Using
a cell phone while at work.
- Mobile
device usage or computer usage causing bone or joint pain.
Prevention:
- Companies
must create a comprehensive guideline for employees and the use of mobile
technology on the job and after hours, to include:
- When
the use of cell phones, tablets or computers is allowed and not allowed during
working hours.
- Policies
on texting and answering calls while driving.
- Policies
on texting and answering calls outside of work hours.
- Acceptable
forms of communication for different situations.
- How
to handle emergency situations with mobile technology.
- Driver’s
safety policies.
- Company-paid
or reimbursed technology and the culpability of the company vs the employee.
- Acceptable
searches and usage of company-provided mobile technology.
- Policies
should take into account work/life balance, efficiency, and liability on and
off the job.
- Proper
care for company-provided mobile technology.
- All
staff members should be knowledgeable about and compliant to company policies.
- As
a general guideline for safety and security, employees should:
- Never
text or talk while performing manual duties.
- Never
text while driving.
- Only
use hands-free if the state laws allowed, while driving.
- Never
talk on a cell phone in front of clients while at work.
- Never
carry on business conversations in front of strangers.
- Never
use company-provided technology for personal use.
- Never
use text or email to handle time-sensitive or HR sensitive situations.
- All
staff should be fully trained in what to do during emergencies.
In the event of Mobile Technology related incident:
- If you feel you may have incurred an injury of any kind while at work, report it immediately to your supervisor.
- If you feel that an injury was caused by a company-related use of mobile technology while not working, report it immediately to your supervisor.
- Be very clear on whether you require immediate medical attention, imminent medical attention or request additional accommodations to prevent injury in the future.
- Report the incident to the Risk Management Team.
- Inform the staff of the incident and make corrections to procedures or errors to ensure that this incident does recur.
June McCreight
June McCreight began her career in the hospitality industry as a housekeeper in 1996. In the years since, she has risen through the ranks, learning maintenance, front office, sales and revenue management, property management and district management, bench management and opening team management. She has trained hundreds of hoteliers and won many awards for her management successes. In 2011, June wrote and published, The Strangers in My Beds, a fictional novel based strictly on the strange events of her career in hotels. In 2014, June partnered with her father, a very accomplished software architect, and opened the business, Coba Enterprise Management, LLC with a very unique and specialized CMMS (Computer Maintenance Management System) software for hotels.
