The Concerns of the Empire Hotel at the Fortitude Valley - Case Study Example

INTRODUCTION To ensure a company is allied with the legislation in terms of its health and safety, it is vital for a company to operate along the workplace health and safety regulations. According to Bos et al. (1999, 39), workplace health and safety audit identifies a workplace’s health and safety performance in relation to its compliance with the law and regulations. Therefore, this report will systemically describe the nightclub, Empire Hotel; identify the method of auditing; discuss the hospitality and entertainment industry in general and examine the company’s performances. The hospitality and entertainment industry covers a large number of workplaces that provides services like accommodation, meals and drinks as well as theme parks and music. In the context of analysing the health and safety aspects, a workplace inspection also called the job performance sampling, is done to identify the work procedures and the policies. This is done with due consideration to changing skills, technology and specific work patterns of the industry. Stress is also laid on the work environment as the most important part of the system. In these terms, this inspection report shall address the concerns of the Empire Hotel at the Fortitude Valley. Policies & Procedures The whole hotel and its operation is taken ad-hoc for review with a literary sample as applicable to the case and introducing various aspects of the directives in terms of compliance at the venue. For this we consider the management system and Peter Drucker's statements on the subject. We will examine the operations in the light of legislation namely: Manual Tasks advisory Standard 2000, Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2000, Australia Government directives, and other relevant literature. The hazards manual states that the hazards for the hotel industry may include the following: Hazards in this industry include: 1. Manual handling; 2. Heat stress; 3. Electricity; plant, equipment and machinery; 4. Hazardous substances 5. Noise. Employers and workers must recognise these hazards and effectively address any that pose a significant threat in their workplace. DESCRIPTION OF WORKPLACE Empire Hotel is a nightclub located in the Fortitude Valley which serves alcohols and provides entertainments including pools and gaming machines for its patrons. The venue contains three levels with two dance floors and two balconies. Moreover, loud music such as electronic house and R&B are played throughout the night; and lighting system is provided in which strong lights are flashing in a dark environment. It operates from 11am to 3am from Sunday to Thursday and until 5am on Friday and Saturday nights. There are approximately 70 staff including all administrative and operation staff. Due the differential working hours among one another’s working hours and most of the tasks are independent, staff themselves might not know one another and therefore the degree of interaction among the staff is fairly low. In addition, the employed staffs are mainly part-time and casual with a lot of students and travellers. Hence, the staff turnover rate is very high. AUDIT METHODLOGY The research of this report was based on primary and secondary data including personal interview with its staff and information search on books and internet websites respectively. To conduct the compliance audit, an interview has been conducted with the staff of the Empire Hotel so as to familiarise and understand the situation of the workplace. Besides, a structured checklist concerning the elements of health and safety management systems; consultation structures; manual handling; noise and workplace environment risks has been gone through in order to audit the health and safety of the workplace systemically. We have compared the findings with the ABS system and arrived at conclusions. RESEARCH ON HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY According to ABS Industry Standards which is in line with section 22 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, describes risk management for this industry. Safety is ensured when workers are protected against risks: Of death, injury or illness created by workplaces, and specific hazards of the Industry. This industry can have hazards in: a) Tools & Equipments b) Handling equipments in Kitchen, Trolly, and other equipments c) Odours, and stifiling workplace d)Posture Stress d) Stress caused by pressure e) Noise Hazards We were aware from statistics available that the Cafes and restaurants’ Injury rates is about 5.94% and therefore concentrated on those areas that are likely to be more dangerous. Methodology The method adopted for this research is two fold. 1. Direct interview of workers based on questionnaires appended at the end of this report. 2. Observation of the actual premise and noting made by the researcher. The questionnaire reviewed with a sample population of 18 persons from the total workers provided the information that: 1. The hotel has provided fume free kitchens, and has conducted training for the use of equipments, sharp tools and machines, mostly outsourced to the suppliers of the machines. While the senior members have received adequate training, newly recruited members receive instructions from their peers. No accidents involving the equipments in the kitchen or workplace was reported in the last 14 months. It is noted that there is no records kept of individual training, and periodic appraisals, and method of reporting the incidence is not chalked out. 2. That shifts were so timed that staff manning the front office found time to move around, stand and shift postures. The office staffs were however not trained on fatigue, using the computer and related injuries like carpel tunnel syndrome. It is important that they be given training on posture and use of computers at the desk for a long time. This relates to the foyer staff, reception and lobby. 3. As far as conducting the guest related operations there were found no system to train or comply with lifting loads manually. It was noted that there was no recurring need, hence It was not considered necessary to give special training and notice. 4. Noise levels could not be reduced at the bars and café as the customers delighted in having blaring music. Negative facts noted were: The system has no accident prevention policies, No hierarchy was seen for accident reporting and there was no safety supervision documents or methods that was conspicuous. Observed Facts. At the Cafe all trolleys were covered, had adequate rubber stoppers so that they did not cause injuries on impact. The floors of the rooms have matte finish décor lending to proper grip of footwear. Adequate measures like cushioning of seats, and provision of bucket seats without sharp handles or edges and worker protection by using trolleys more than trays, provision for carrying hot material using thermal resistant trays, gloves and stepping passage between seats without rugs that can create falls is noted. The noise levels may hurt the persons involved, and we can only recommend that noise level be controlled a little. DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS We have to say that while reported accidents were said to be nil, we observe that there was no official and proper method to report injuries. It may be possible that some injuries have gone unreported. The Kitchen is adequately provided and is fume free. There is a claim that some training were given to the staff. In the absence of records, it is not verifiable. It appears that suppliers of equipments train the employees on installation of machines. However no system to train others when the employee leaves and his substitute takes over is shown. No accidents involving the equipments in the kitchen or workplace was reported in the last 14 months. It is to be remarked that injuries of minor nature may not be reported. There are flaws in the system and it is recommended that the unit maintain records of education and training given, books and manuals of equipments and their use, and quarterly review of worker knowledge in these areas are tested. It is noted that there is no records kept of individual training, and periodic appraisals, and method of reporting the incidence is not chalked out. The office has to be trained by professionals on the posture and use of computers and other electronic equipments. Noise levels are unbearable and are a hazard. There has to be changes made in the method of using amplifiers, and also in the floor and bar of the Café. The staff ought to be trained to use earmuff or the customer not be allowed to create noise by tuning up amplifiers. Noise created by vehicles and other movement are unavoidable. It is recommended that an accident prevention scheme be created and adhered to, with reporting formats, and responsibility fixed on individual officers be chalked out. Documentation of the incidents must be made to avoid future accidents. The measures regarding the structure, furniture and other accident causing objects including floors, ventilators and doors are found to be adequate. The checks for H&S Management Systems, Consultation, Manual Tasks, Noise & first aid were found to be inadequate, and needs to be highlighted. The following table illustrates the point: Table of Findings The Table of Findings should be laid out along lines similar to that below: AREA AUDITED CRITERIA COMPLIANCE H&S Management Systems Clearly defined policies; formal incident recording and reporting procedures; monitoring of H&S performance; Compliance with Risk Management Code of Practice 2000 POOR: no policies, no induction, no incident reporting and recording; no monitoring of OHS performance; no risk management procedures Consultation Compliance with Provisions of Part 7 of Act POOR: no WHSO, No WHS committee; no WHSR Manual Tasks Compliance with Manual Task Code of Practice 2000 POOR: no risk assessment of tasks; items stored above shoulder level and below knee level Noise Compliance with Noise Code of Practice 2004 POOR: no noise measurement; no defined high noise areas First Aid Compliance with First Aid Code of Practice 2004 POOR: no first aid training Occupational Health & Safety Comparison of Empire with ABS Standards With comparison to the ABS system, we find that as a model the ABS follows OHS requirements by forming a network of committees for safety consultation for staff. It is noted that they have selected 41 staff in 2005-06 as representatives for Health and Safety. 15 accidents were notified to Com care in 2005-06. In the same period Illness and injuries were found reduced on account of workplace inspection programs and studies to increase employee awareness and compliance in reporting hazards. Rehabilitation is zealously followed by early compensation and ongoing training. Measures taken during 2005-06 further include education, OHS responsibilities, Prevention and Risk Management. The annual inspection program is the benchmark for annual inspections. Tabulated, their records are as under: TABLE 19.6: WORKPLACE INJURIES AND COSTS Year Claim Incidence Empire Hotel 2002-03 116 not reported 2003-04 115 not reported 2004-05 98 not reported 2005-06 68 not reported The insurance and claims were not forgotten either. Com care was entrusted with the insurance angle. Com care Premiums are set at 1.69 percent it was reduced in gross on account of policy by $900,000. There was no such insurance available with Empire, and the usual Employee insurance was relied upon. Their premium rates were also not available for review. Table 19.7 provides details of the ABS and the agency pool average premium rate and the comparison with Empire TABLE 19.7: COMCARE WORKERS' COMPENSATION PREMIUM RATE (% of wage and salary expenditure) 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 ABS 1.33 1.76 1.88 1.69 Agency pool Average 1.43 1.67 1.77 1.77 *Empire (Based On Response)N.A 0.05 0.08 0.23 In comparison with ABS, the case under study has not implemented safety measures as required by the standards. What ever information was gathered was based on statements and not written records since no records were noted or made available. There is no system in place for maintaining or reporting procedures and records. In the table we find that Empire also is relatively within the industry standards. However, it may be partly because injuries may be overlooked and not reported. Secondly workplace monitoring as in ABS is not found. LITERATURE REVIEW For this research we consulted the following books and websites which are reviewed. Manual Tasks advisory Standard 2000, Page 66 of 74 Concerns with discomfort at workplace. It contains sample questionnaire which we have used for survey at the reception and other repetitive task work noted at the site. This manual also gives the sample survey format and introduction to many safety measures that have to be studied and researched upon while taking surveys. The Queensland Government The Queensland Government website is the most comprehensive medium of reference regarding the accidents, injuries, law and legislation for all types of industries. We have referred to their various pages including Business: Hospitality, Queensland Govt Site: Http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/business/hospitality/about In review we have to say that the information available is not in one continuous stream but in bits and pieces, and PDF versions though available for some, are not arranged in such a way that the reader can get a comprehensive view. We had to flit from page to page back and forth. The information gleaned has however helped us to research and prepare this case study. Obligations and the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 The Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 codify responsibilities for work place safety to keep work place free from the risk of death, injury or illness caused by practices at work places. Obligations of owners of business are clearly spelt out and adherence to this is made mandatory. These mandatory obligations can be studied with regulations, ministerial notices and codes of practice. Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2000 The code commenced on 1 February 2000.and amended on 28 April 2006. The Manual Tasks Code of Practice explores ways to minimize exposure to risk factors that can contribute to or aggravate work related disorders. The definitions given for manual tasks are illustrative. According to it, “'Manual tasks' include activities requiring a person to grasp, manipulate, strike, throw, carry, move (lift, lower, push, pull), hold or restrain an object, load or body part.” The code of practice deals with manual tasks, musculoskeletal disorders and risk factors. It also defines the obligations of workers as per the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995. Separate sections also deal with principles of design, consultation and training to implement the Code of Practice's risk management process. These ought to be consulted to create safety solutions. Australian Government Statistics A comparative study is not complete without proper assessment using quantitative methods and for this purpose we have referred extensively to the Australian Government statistics found at various sites listed below. It is from this literature that we drew out information for our comparative study with ABS and Canfim insurance. Check industry journals with respect to suggested problems Check Journal of OHS – Australia & New Zealand, for relevant industry related studies Drucker Peter, the management ‘Guru’ has written a number of books on management and the definition of management as made by him is : “Management, which is the organ of society specifically charged with making resources productive, that is, with the responsibility for organized economic advance, therefore reflects the basic spirit of the modern age. It is in fact indispensable-and this explains why, once begotten, it grew so fast and with so little opposition.’” Management; Whettan & Cameron –Developing Management Skills By Merrill C. Anderson In this book we find discussions of OD value process - diagnosis, design, deployment, evaluation and reflection. Additional information on knowledge management, organization capability, and executive coaching is explored. Of current interest to us is the value of executive coaching. The book is more about organization development initiatives for senior management CONCLUSION So far as the research into the safety system of Empire is concerned, we find that they have not taken any steps to ensure safety procedures, or have an accident prevention scheme. They are required to fix responsibility on individual officers, Periodical training and seminars as to use of equipments, must be chalked out. Documentation of the incidents must be made to avoid future accidents. The checks for H&S Management Systems, Consultation, Manual Tasks, Noise & first aid were found to be inadequate, and needs to be highlighted. There is a need to review the system thoroughly and prepare a new policy at the management level and revamp functioning. REFERENCES Manual Tasks advisory Standard 2000, Page 66 of 74 Government policies, workplace (web) at http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/business/hospitality/ Government policies, workplace (web) at http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/law/codes/noise/ Government policies, workplace (web) http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/law/codes/firstaid/index.htm At Government policies, workplace (web) at t http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/law/codes/riskman/ Government policies, workplace (web) at http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/law/codes/manualtasks/ http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/law/codes/handlingpeople/index.htm Australian Government Statistics at http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/2f762f95845417aeca25706c00834efa/6ec89be314bd28a5ca2570ec000ace6d!OpenDocument Australian Government Statistics at http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/2080A291A288E3D4CA2571FD00194B6A?opendocument (2006, 9-11) Management; Whettan & Cameron –Developing Management Skills By Merrill C. Anderson Published 2003 Elsevier ISBN 0750674857 Read More