Assessment of Occupational Health Hazards and Musculoskeletal Risks among Hotel Staff of Vadodara City

Abstract

The hospitality industry is a field which is characterized by its physically demanding tasks and long working hours which contributes in the development of Musculoskeletal problems among the employees. These tasks often expose workers to perform work in awkward postures which increases the risk of occupational health hazards. This study investigates Occupational Health Hazards experienced by the respondents and perceived musculoskeletal pain among the hotel staff in Vadodara City. The study focused on employees working in Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, and Front Office departments. The sample size comprised of 120 hotel staff whohad at least two years of working experience in the hospitality industry.The hotels were selected purposively and the respondents were selected using Snowball technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and the Nordic Body Mapfrom October to December 2024.The NBM helps in determining the extent to which pain is experienced in 28 different locations of the body encompassing major areas like neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, wrist/hands, low back, hips/thigh, knees and ankles/feet. Scores are to be assigned on a four-point scale with 'no pain' (1 point), 'moderate pain' (2 point), 'pain' (3 point) and 'very painful" (4 point). The results revealed that majority (87.50%) of the respondents from Food and Beverages department reported working 8 to 10 hours per day. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was highest among Food and Beverages employees (52.50%) reporting consistent use. Additionally, 80.00 per cent of housekeeping staff used PPE occasionally. The data indicated that the housekeeping department has the highest numbers in both the medium risk level (35%) which means that they may require improvement and high-risk level (45%) which means improvement is needed immediately. A high prevalence of MSD, particularly among housekeeping staff, with common areas of discomfort particularly among housekeeping staff were lower back, neck, shoulders, and legs. Contributing factors included repetitive movements, prolonged standing, and poor ergonomic conditions. The study recommends ergonomic improvements, staff training on safe work practices, and workplace policies supporting breaks, job rotation, and mental health resources to enhance employee well-being and performance.