AN EXAMINATION INTO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARD PRACTICES OF HOTEL STAFF IN BUDGET HOTELS. A STUDY AT SELECTED HOTELS IN THE NEW JUABEN NORTH MUNICIPALITY, KOFORIDUA, EASTERN REGION

Abstract

Poor health and safety practices have resulted in a lot of challenges including accidents, injuries and untimely demise of working staffs. This study sought to examine the health and safety standard practices of hotel staff in some selected budget hotels in the New Juaben North Municipality, Koforidua in Eastern region of Ghana. A cross-sectional study which employed convenience sampling technique using a well-structured questionnaire was used to recruit 98 budget hotel staff. Descriptive and inferential statistics like means and standard deviations, frequencies and their corresponding percentages were used to assess staffs’ experiences and responses on the health and safety standard practices under study. The results revealed that, more than two-thirds of the respondents agreed that the overall rate of health and safety standards of the hotel is excellent. About one-third of the respondents agreed to have notice lapses in the health and safety practices. Majority of the respondents agreed that lack of resources and insufficient training is one of the biggest challenges in maintaining health and safety practicesl. More than two-thirds of the respondents agreed that health and safety standards in the area of room cleanliness need to be improved. One-third of the respondents disagreed that the current practices is enough for any future pandemic. Almost all of the respondents agreed that they would recommend any additional training for staff to enhance health and safety protocols. There still exist lapses in the health and safety practice. Provision of additional or refresher training for staff in the areas of food safety, food hygiene and room cleanliness is highly recommended.