When Seconds Count: Nationwide, Hotels Agree on Implementing Mobile Panic Alarms to Protect Staff
Five major hotel brands promise to provide U.S.-based hospitality employees with safety devices such as HELP ALERT from RF Technologies (RFT).
BROOKFIELD, Wis., Sept. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- High profile security incidents demonstrate the gravity and impact that workplace violence has on our nation. Recent attacks have rightfully captured the public's attention, and the unfortunate truth is that every workplace is at risk for situations involving violence and harassment. Within the hospitality industry, where housekeeping staff often work alone or in relative isolation, particular attention is being paid to the need to provide protection against such incidents.
The last year has seen increasing demand for personal panic alarms for hospitality staff, often in response to labor union demands; in contrast with this workforce-driven demand, however, is the recently agreed-upon '5-Star Promise' under which five major U.S. hotel leaders (Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott, and Wyndham) on September 6 announced a pledge to enforce stronger safety and security measures for hotel employees. While a handful of cities in the U.S. currently have ordinances that require panic buttons for hotel workers — New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Seattle, among them — this new pledge calls for nationwide implementation of the devices by 2020. Also joining the five brands, with varying levels of commitment to safety device implementation, were AccorHotels, Best Western, Loews Hotels, Las Vegas Sands, Outrigger, Radisson, and Red Lion Hotels Corporation.
RF Technologies Vice President Brian Kinne, who heads up the company's HELP ALERT mobile panic alarm product line, says, "We recognize the needs of the many dedicated workers in the hospitality industry, and are fully committed to providing the best tools possible to help mitigate potential threats. We know HELP ALERT notifications are effective… about that, there is no doubt." Kinne adds, "There's growing recognition in the industry that employees working in isolation are at particular risk for harassment and/or assault. If the individual has the ability to promptly and discreetly alert security to a situation while remaining calm, knowing that help is on the way, escalation can almost always be deterred."
RFT is pleased to be a part of such an important initiative focused on keeping hospitality workers safe. We are ready to put to work our 30+ years of experience keeping people safe in hospitals, senior living facilities, schools, higher education, and hotels, with our HELP ALERT Mobile Panic Alarm System.
For background information on this important issue, follow these news links:
WTTW-TV feature on HELP ALERT: https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/06/25/starting-july-1-chicago-hotels-will-need-have-panic-buttons.
FOX32-Chicago feature on HELP ALERT: http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/293929523-video
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-hotel-housekeepers-panic-buttons-xxxx-20180605-story.html
http://www.mychinews.com/news/chicago-hotel-workers-may-soon-have-a-panic-button
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-chicago-city-council-0418-story.html
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/hotels-urged-to-combat-sexual-harassment-against-female-employees/
http://abc7chicago.com/news/panic-button-ordinance-proposed-to-protect-hotel-workers/1885056/
Also, a July 2016 report issued by Unite Here Local 1:
https://www.handsoffpantson.org/wp-content/uploads/HandsOffReportWeb.pdf
About RF Technologies
RF Technologies provides safety solutions at over 10,000 senior living, healthcare, education and hospitality facilities nationwide. Life safety solutions such as CODE ALERT® Wander Management, QUICK RESPONSE® Wireless Nurse Call, SAFE PLACE® Infant Security, and HELP ALERT® reduce risk for residents, staff, and the facility; innovations such as RFT CARES® smartphone application improve caregiver coordination and efficiency. Backed by 30 years of experience in senior living, RF Technologies' solutions are UL-certified to meet today's life safety standards. For information visit: http://www.rft.com.
SOURCE Rf Technologies, Inc.
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