Boston Hotel Workers, Experts to Testify at City Council Hearing on Hotel Safety

Stronger protections are needed, especially at hotels that cater to hospital patients

BOSTON, MA—Boston City Council will hold a hearing Thursday to investigate possible health risks faced by hotel workers who clean for hospital patients.

The hearing was called after workers at the Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill Hotel at 5 Blossom Street said they were not adequately protected to clean potentially infectious materials such as blood, vomit, feces, and needles or syringes.

The hotel advertises to area hospitals including Massachusetts General Hospital, which maintains an 8-bed sleep study at the hotel. MGH patients stay at the hotel while receiving treatment at the hospital.

OSHA began an inspection of the hotel in May in response to worker complaint.

Experts will assess possible risks for transmission of disease and compare cleaning protocols between hospitals and hotels. Workers from other area hotels will testify how they are protected when they clean hazardous materials or clean for hospital patients.

“Boston’s world-class hospitals depend on clean, safe hotels,” said hotel workers union President Brian Lang. “Boston officials are taking needed steps to improve the safety and sustainability of our top industries.”

What: Boston City Council hearing on hotel safety, nurses and occupational health experts to testify on risk of exposure at Boston hotels

When: Thursday June 25, 5:00pm

Where: City Council Chamber, City Hall

Who: 300 Boston hotel housekeepers; nurses, occupational health and safety experts to testify.

Visuals: Hotel housekeepers in uniform, crowd in matching white shirts and signs that read “BOSTON SAFE HOTELS,” hotel housekeeper to dress in personal protective equipment to provide a visual example of needed safeguards

Background: wyndhamexposed.org, bostonsafehotels.org

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For Immediate Release: June 24, 2015

Contact: Tiffany Ten Eyck, 313-515-1807, [email protected]

Hospital or Hotel, OSHA Standard on Infectious Materials Applies

Hospitals have different protocols—or none at all—when it comes to discharging patients to hotels. But the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s bloodborne pathogens standard applies to all.

The Wyndham Beacon Hill hotel uses its proximity to Massachusetts General Hospital as a marketing tool. The hotel website includes a hospitals page featuring a blonde model in a white coat with a stethoscope around her neck. The hotel offers a link to each of the city’s hospitals, discounted rates for patient families, and access to a shuttle bus.

Univision Boston: Hotel located in heart of Boston faces problems

From Univision Spanish-language TV: Wyndham hotel located in the heart of Boston faces problems with its workers and OSHA.

Boston City Councilors to Call for Hearing to Investigate Worker Safety Concerns at Wyndham Hotel

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2015
Contact: Dan Sibor, (617) 635-4561
 
Statement from Boston City Councilors Josh Zakim, Ayanna Pressley, and Tim McCarthy on Health & Safety Hazards at the Wyndham Hotel
“We were shocked to learn about the unsafe working conditions facing staff at the Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill hotel, located at 5 Blossom Street and next to Massachusetts General Hospital.
“Boston is a global destination. We must ensure that the staff who take care of visitors to our City are protected and respected themselves. Moreover, we expect Boston’s hotels to follow the same safety and confidentiality protocols that protect patients when they stay at Boston’s world-class hospitals.”The inadequate protections for staff at the Wyndham against the risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens is a health hazard. It is appalling that management of the Wyndham has not provided sufficient protection for workers who clean up blood and other bodily fluids, nor established a consistent procedure for disposal of needles and syringes.
“We believe it is our responsibility to protect Boston’s workers against health hazards at the Wyndham. As city representatives for this neighborhood, and as leaders of the Committee on Healthy Women, Families, & Communities, we must act. At this week’s Council meeting, we will call for a hearing to investigate how best to protect Boston workers from these potential health hazards, and whether sufficient safety protocols are in place to protect hospital patients who stay at Boston’s hotels.”

Channel 5: OSHA Investigating Boston Hotel After Staff Complaints

OSHA is investigating a Boston hotel after staff claims they were forced to regularly deal with bodily fluids and medical waste without proper equipment or training.