Why Your Checklists Need an Upgrade
Expanding opening and closing checklists for workplaces and outlets can help increase your overall safety and security as well as employee awareness.
Many departments and outlets have logbooks or checklists to allow for a smooth and successful operation, ensuring that information is passed from one shift to the next, routines are followed, and the right equipment and lights are switched on at the right time.
Sometimes people ask why they must tick the boxes on the same checklists every day. The answer, of course, is that it’s what airline pilots do, and flying is the safest mode of transportation there is. People don’t forget what’s on a checklist.
To fully integrate safety and security into your daily operation, it can be very beneficial to add a few simple boxes to your checklist for every workspace:
Are fire extinguishers in place, and do the gauges show they’re properly charged?
Are fire exit routes clear of any hazards that could impede a safe and swift exit?
Can emergency exit doors be easily opened?
When you arrived, was everything locked that should be locked? Every light off that should be off? And every door closed that should be closed?
When you leave, is everything locked that should be locked? Every light off that should be off? And every door closed that should be closed?
Of course, this is just a simple example, and checklists need to be tailored specifically to each workspace. Don’t forget anyone, including room attendants. Guest rooms and corridors are their workspaces. Teach them to look at the fire extinguishers, hallways, and fire exits. After all, they are the ones who need the exit to open if an evacuation takes place!
In addition to improving awareness, in an outlet or department office, knowing that everything was as it should have been when the last shift left, or when the first shift came on duty, helps limit the window of time when an incident may have occurred. If there is no record, it can be very difficult to prove when something may have gone wrong or missing.
Questions for Consideration
Are your current checklists too narrow in scope to fully support safety and security practices?
If an incident occurred, could your existing logs help you pinpoint when it happened and who might have been involved?
Key Takeaways
Safety responsibility should extend to all staff, including housekeeping and support roles, by tailoring checklists to their specific workspaces.
Properly completed logs and checklists help narrow down the timeframe of incidents, making it easier to identify when and possibly how something went wrong.
Thanks for reading Keep Travel Safe, a publication by hotel and travel security experts for hotel and travel company security directors, risk managers, owners, and operators.
At Risk Resiliency, we understand the complexities of the hospitality business, from independent operations to the various forms of brand affiliation and can provide bespoke support no matter where you sit in the matrix. In addition to our operational and corporate experience from the world of hotels and hospitality, the team also has expert knowledge gained through service in the military, intelligence, and diplomatic services.
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