Another invention aimed astatine supporting cleaning unit is nan preamble of hydro-cleaners. Credit: YIUCHEUNG / Shutterstock.com
Hotels crossed Benidorm are embracing automation, introducing robots, height-adjustable beds, motorised trolleys and high-pressure cleaning systems to amended moving conditions for their cleaning staff, peculiarly room attendants—one of nan astir affected groups successful nan hospitality manufacture erstwhile it comes to work-related injuries.
Several edifice chains successful nan celebrated edifice metropolis person already adopted these technologies, pinch much expected to follow. Among nan long-standing demands of Las Kellys, nan main corporate representing edifice cleaning staff, is nan installation of elevating beds. These beds, now being introduced successful immoderate establishments, are designed to assistance and set to a comfortable height, helping trim strain connected nan back. Equipped pinch wheels, they tin besides beryllium moved pinch greater ease, reducing nan consequence of injury.
Another invention aimed astatine supporting cleaning unit is nan preamble of hydro-cleaners, machines that expanse and mop communal areas much efficiently, redeeming some clip and beingness effort earlier unit move connected to individual rooms.
Still mopping up nan aged ways
Despite these advances, immoderate accepted devices stay successful use—often to nan detriment of workers’ health. The modular mop and bucket system, for example, still relies connected manual wringing. Union representatives reason that these should beryllium replaced by lever-operated alternatives to thief forestall repetitive strain injuries specified arsenic carpal passageway syndrome aliases tennis elbow. These injuries are commonly linked to nan continuous twisting and pressing movements required erstwhile cleaning pinch a accepted mop.
“The housekeeping section continues to beryllium 1 of nan astir physically demanding successful nan edifice sector,” said Cristian Casas, president of nan UGT national conception astatine nan Magic Hotel Group. “Staff are often overwhelmed by nan gait and strength of their work.”
The group has introduced motorised trolleys for transporting furniture linen and towels betwixt rooms, easing different beingness load for employees. These upgrades are nan consequence of ongoing discussions betwixt UGT and nan edifice chain’s quality resources department.
In a connection issued connected Tuesday August 5, nan Magic Hotel Group said it had “taken different measurement guardant successful its committedness to nan wellbeing of its team, particularly cleaning unit and successful peculiar room attendants”.
Robot waiters raise eyebrows
The edifice group has besides begun utilizing robots to transportation retired constricted array work successful its restaurants. But not everyone is convinced. “It’s a measurement backwards,” said Casas, “because they person a constricted load capacity and often request to beryllium accompanied by a quality waiter.” While nan conception whitethorn suit themed restaurants, he added, it is not due for buffet settings.
Despite immoderate reservations, nan group stands by its automation strategy, saying it “reduces manual handling, improves clip guidance and increases ratio successful some housekeeping and nutrient services”. The institution claims nan caller technologies person led to a 20% summation successful customer loyalty.