Preventing Wrist and Hand Injuries in Hotels

From making beds and scrubbing bathrooms to chopping ingredients, lifting luggage, and setting up banquet rooms, nearly every hotel task depends on, healthy hands and wrists. They do the heavy lifting day after day until a strain, sprain, or sudden injury brings everything to a stop.

Wrist and hand injuries are among the most common in hospitality. Across Alberta workplaces, they’re the second-most frequently injured body parts, and many happen during routine, familiar tasks. One awkward grip or rushed movement can quickly turn a normal shift into a serious injury; affecting not just the worker, but the entire operation.

 

The Injury Landscape in Alberta

Hand and wrist injuries are a major strain on Alberta hotels. Across all industries, WCB Alberta recorded 43,400 injuries from 2019–2023, averaging 8,700 a year and 17 lost workdays per claim. Hospitality‑related sectors accounted for 17% of these injuries, and nearly half affected workers aged 25–44, the same group that makes up much of the hotel workforce. The leading causes were awkward movements (15%), hand tools like knives and scrapers (12%), and floor hazards (9%).

Within the hotel and convention centre classification, lost‑time hand and wrist claims rose from 32 in 2021 to 79 in 2023, then eased to 50 in 2025. Each injury still averaged 17 days away from work, costing hotels about $4,609 per year, and totaling $1.35 million in lost‑time claim costs from 2021–2025.

 

Where Hotels Face the Highest Risks

• Housekeeping: Housekeepers perform hundreds of repetitive motions daily: lifting mattresses, spraying bottles, scrubbing surfaces, sorting linens, and pushing heavy carts. These tasks can strain wrists or lead to sprains from slips, especially on wet bathroom floors.
• Kitchens and Food Service: Kitchens pose risks from sharp tools, repetitive cutting, hot surfaces, and handling broken glass. A moment of rushing or using a dull knife can significantly increase the chance of a cut or strain.
• Banquets: Banquet teams regularly lift awkward or heavy items such as stacks of plates, chairs, tables, and large trays. These tasks are often performed quickly during tight event turnarounds.
• Maintenance: Maintenance workers face risks from hand tools, moving equipment, and sharp building materials. Without proper controls, the risk of crush or pinch injuries increases dramatically.

 

How Hotels can Reduce Injuries

• Ergonomics - Encourage neutral wrist positions, offer ergonomic tools, and allow micro-breaks during repetitive work.
• Proper Tools - Well-maintained, sharp knives; functional spray bottles; and equipment that fits the task reduce strain and risk.
• Proper PPE - Cut-resistant, heat-resistant, or grip-enhancing gloves protect workers across departments.
• Clear Walkways - Prompt spill cleanup and clutter-free hallways prevent slips that often result in wrist fractures.
• Equipment Safety Training - Workers should never reach into moving equipment and should follow lockout/tagout procedures during maintenance or cleaning.

 

Hands and wrists are essential to hotel operations—and protecting them protects the people who keep hotels running smoothly. Most injuries are preventable with awareness, proper tools, and safe work practices. Focusing on injury prevention not only keeps workers healthy; it supports stronger teams, better service, and a safer workplace for all.

Resources:

1. TourismWorks – Hazard Assessment and Control: A Handbook for Alberta Hotels
2. TourismWorks – Occupational Health and Safety Toolkit for Hospitality
3. TourismWorks - Wrist and Hand Injuries Safety Talk 
4. TourismWorks – Ergonomics at Work Safety Talk 
5. TourismWorks – Repetitive Strain Injuries in Housekeeping Safety Talk 
6. Government of Alberta OHS – Ergonomics 
7. CCOHS Hand Tool Ergonomics – Health Hazards