IKL Knowledge

Policies & Procedures

LODGE & ROOM SECURITY

28. Untidy rooms that can’t be serviced

Untidy rooms that can’t be serviced

Risk of lost property allegations Where a guests room is very untidy and a large amount of personal belongings will need to be moved then the housekeeper must notify the manager. There is a potential for a guest to allege that items have been lost. In this situation a manger must observe the housekeeper whilst they service the room. Where possible guest belongings should be left undisturbed.

The bed should be made; bathroom cleaned and limited hovering undertaken where possible.

29. Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs

Introduction Bedbugs are small blood-sucking insects that can live in cracks and crevices in and around your bed. Attracted by your body heat and carbon dioxide, they crawl out at night to bite your exposed skin and feed on your blood, just as mosquitoes do. Although bedbugs can be upsetting and stressful to find, they aren’t dangerous and don’t transmit any human diseases. Most people don’t develop any serious skin reaction. However, you should take action straight away to prevent the spread of an infestation. They’re not attracted to dirt, so a bedbug infestation isn’t a sign of un-cleanliness. Bedbugs may be found in all types of housing, but are more common in short-term accommodation such as hotels. This policy details how to prevent a bed bug infestation and what action you need to take should you think you may have these insects in your business. Background The bugs are usually transported in luggage, clothing, furniture and bedding from one building to the next. This makes it easy for tourists and commuters to unknowingly spread bedbugs. The number of call outs for bed bugs across the UK has doubled over the last 6 years. Once introduced into our rooms, bedbugs can spread easily from room to room. They don’t jump or fly, but can crawl quickly. Because their bodies are flat, bedbugs can squeeze into the smallest crevice or crack, such as a mattress seam or the joints of a bed frame. This can make them very difficult to spot. They live and breed in cracks and crevices in rooms, beds and furniture as well as behind peeling wallpaper, pictures and electrical light sockets. They tend to prefer fabric or wood over plastic and metal, and often hide near to where you sleep – for example, under the mattress or along the headboard. They are more likely to be found at the head end of the bed. However, Bedbugs can crawl considerable distances, which is a significant factor when considering infestation in our hotels Adult bedbugs look a bit like lentils and are visible to the naked eye. Before feeding they are no bigger than a pin head. Adult bugs are oval-shaped, flat and grow up to 5mm long. Their colour can vary between dark yellow, red or brown. Bedbug bites are usually found on the face, neck, hand or arm (as this is easy accessible skin for them to feed on), and are often mistaken for mosquito bites. However, while mosquito bites tend to be random in pattern, bedbug bites more often occur in straight lines. Not everyone develops a skin reaction to bedbug bites, but some people develop itchy red bumps. These appear around 15 to 30 minutes after being bitten and can last for several days. Bedbugs need to feed on blood to be able to mature, but they’re very resilient. Adults can survive for up to a year without feeding. Blood is their only source of food. Each bug can suck on human blood for up to 15 minutes until they are 6 times their original size!! A special chemical keeps the blood flowing and numbs the pain so the sleeper doesn’t know they have been bitten until it’s too late.

CONTINUED

6

Innkeeper’s Lodge

Policies & Procedures Guide