New Study Reports High Injury Rates for Hotel Workers, Even Higher Rates for Women and...(d risk by gender with the increased risk...),Health

race/ethnicity suggests an even greater increased risk for women of

color:

Female Hispanic Stewards/Dishwashers: 10.0%

Female Hispanic Room Attendants: 9.5%

Female Asian Cooks: 8.9%

Female Hispanic Banquet Servers: 3.9%

Female Black Hotel Workers: 3.8%

Importance of the Findings

Along with scientific studies that show dangers to housekeepers from luxury rooms, bedding and amenities, this study looks at a variety of jobs in hotels and asks a more global question of employers -- why are injury rates of women hotel workers, workers of color and immigrant workers higher than the rates for all workers? And more importantly, what are hotel employers going to do about it?

According to Dr. Lida Orta-Anes, ergonomics expert and professor at the Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, "This study is a first step towards identifying who, today is doing hotel work in the United States and who is getting injured on the job. The higher injury rates for women across all jobs and for Hispanics in specific jobs is alarming. More research is needed to get at the root of these injuries and difference in rates of injury."

Researchers also asked hotel employers to evaluate hazards of hotel jobs, implement existing remedies and face the challenges they have created in the hotel industry affecting workers' health and safety, and in particular the disparities in injury rates.

For more information about the study and other key fidings, please visit http://www.unitehere.org/presscenter/release.php?ID=3258. To arrange an interview with a hotel worker or a member of the research team, please contact Amanda Cooper (212-332-9376 or acooper@unitehere.org) or Pam
'/>"/>