Working conditions, health status and musculoskeletal disorders among hotel employees: A cross-sectional study in Türkiye.

Background: Hotel employees perform a variety of jobs that expose them to numerous occupational health and safety risks, each with distinct dynamics.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the occupational health and safety of hotel employees.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Türkiye. The study population consisted of employees working in touristic facilities for at least one month. Six touristic facilities, with 177 employees, were selected for the study. We aimed to include all employees from these facilities. Data were collected using a form that included socio-demographic variables, work characteristics, and health examination findings. The final sample consisted of 150 employees.

Results: Among the participants, 74.0% were male. A total of 34.6% were aged between 40-49, and 38.7% were high school graduates. Over a quarter worked in the housekeeping department, and one-third had 1-5 years of employment. Half of the participants were smokers and rated their health status as good. Two-fifths reported working under stress. More than half mentioned that they stood for long periods while working and worked at a fast pace. Nearly half of the participants expressed dissatisfaction with their wages. Significant differences were found in neck pain according to the working department, in back pain according to perceived health status and heavy lifting, and in knee pain according to long-term standing.

Conclusions: Hotel workers encounter various occupational risk factors and frequently suffer from related physical ailments. This study highlights the importance of addressing stress factors and ergonomic issues in hotel working conditions to improve workers' health and well-being.