--- title: "Hotel Ergonomics Design: Building for Visitor & Staff Safety" description: A hotel's design has to keep the ergonomic safety and comfort of employees AND guests in mind. 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You'll need to be as cognizant of [hospitality ergonomics](https://www.weberknapp.com/hospitality-lid-door-lift-assist/) behind the front desk and in the laundry room as you are in the guest rooms. Add in bars, restaurants, exercise rooms, and [multi-use equipment and rooms](https://blog.weberknapp.com/hotel-design-trends-and-motion-control-solutions-for-luxury) like conference centers, and there are a lot of opportunities to implement ergonomics and experience-enhancing motion control. This is a good thing! By installing ergonomics-friendly fixtures, you can: - Reduce the physical effort staffers need for repetitive tasks - Make furniture and equipment easier for guests to use Here are some tips to help you take your hotel ergonomics more seriously – and improve employee ROI and visitor satisfaction. ## Hotel Ergonomics for Your Hospitality Employees [Proper hotel ergonomics](https://bsmhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/Hospitality-OCC-Health-Healthy-Worker-Series-Article.pdf) can mean the difference between happy, healthy staff members and an unacceptably high turnover rate. It can also reduce the number of expensive worker’s compensation claims. ![Hotel ergonomics- Office worker with back pain at desk in a modern workspace](https://blog.weberknapp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hotel-ergonomics-back-pain.png?width=640&height=327&name=Hotel-ergonomics-back-pain.png)Small changes can make a huge difference in the everyday work experience of your employees. Let's consider a few of the areas where an ergonomic workspace is especially important. ### Bar Lift Gates [Bar lift gates](https://blog.weberknapp.com/bar-lift-gate-innovations-applications) **increase staff mobility and safety** while keeping guests out of potentially dangerous staff-only areas. The key is the counterbalance technology inside the gate – it reduces the force needed to raise a heavy section. At its  most powerful, a counterbalance-hinged countertop can turn a 105 lb. lift into a 5 lb. one. That's a much safer setup than a non-counterbalanced mechanism, both short-term (smashed fingers) and long-term (repetitive strain). When designing or manufacturing a flip-up countertop, consider: - The weight of the moving countertop or panel - The force required to open and close it - The frequency of operation - Available space for hinges and counterbalance hardware - Movement control and pinch-point considerations ### The Laundry Chute Door Motion-controlled **laundry chute door** hinges reduce the chances of repetitive-stress injuries and greatly improve the comfort of your housekeeping staff. Again, it's a simple matter of lowering the effort needed to lift the door. [OSHA says ergonomics in housekeeping and maintenance are essential](https://www.osha.gov/etools/hospitals/housekeeping/work-related-musculoskeletal-disorders)to reducing turnover and long-term injuries, so you can't go wrong addressing this area of the facility. ### Ergonomic Keyboard Trays Do you have [ergonomic keyboard trays](https://blog.weberknapp.com/correct-office-ergonomics-whats-the-best-position-for-a-keyboard) at your reception desk? These space-saving additions to the workstation allow staff to keep their hands in a comfortable and preferred negative-tilted position while using the keyboard. ### Ergonomic Monitor Arms Installing [ergonomic monitor arms](https://blog.weberknapp.com/buyers-guide-to-the-best-ergonomic-monitor-arm) allows each staff member to **adjust the monitor's height and orientation**. Adjustable screens reduce the need to workers to repeatedly tilt their heads or lean forward. This ensures better alignment with their eyes, neck, and back; and more comfort (and less strain) throughout their shift. [![Manager's Equipment Guide](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5515947/f25ebf3f-5fc8-4c78-8c8d-83ee3238f80c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5515947/f25ebf3f-5fc8-4c78-8c8d-83ee3238f80c) ## Hotel Ergonomics for Guests Now that you've considered the safety and comfort of your hotel staff, it's time to turn your attention to your guests. Think of all the situations in which guests might have to exert effort in your building:  - Reaching for stored belongings - Operating fold-down fixtures - Adjusting screens - Repositioning furniture **So, what can you do to make their stay as ergonomically comfortable as possible?** Add some innovation, convenience, and comfort – the [hallmarks of hotel guest satisfaction](https://blog.weberknapp.com/small-hotel-room-design-motion-control-manufacturer)! ### ![Hotel-ergonomics-mounted-television](https://blog.weberknapp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hotel-ergonomics-mounted-television.jpg?width=420&height=566&name=Hotel-ergonomics-mounted-television.jpg)Television Mounts Let's start with the television. A TV on an adjustable arm allows your guests to watch television at an angle that's comfortable for them. If they can swivel the TV to allow them to view it comfortably from different areas of the room, even better! ### Storage Have you considered convenient and easy-to-reach storage solutions? Guests need places to put keys, drinks, toiletries, jackets, shoes, and luggage. Providing ergonomic storage solutions that don't require excessive bending or stretching will **increase your guests' comfort, safety, and satisfaction.** To reduce users' need for deep bending, overhead reaching, and awkward lifting, place these items within practical reach: - Shelves - Luggage storage - Hooks ### Murphy Beds If you're following the trend toward smaller hotel rooms, consider installing lightweight, [pull-down beds](https://blog.weberknapp.com/hotel-bed-design-trends-and-ideas). By using [the right hinges for a Murphy bed](https://www.weberknapp.com/case-studies-draft/case-study-vertical-murphy-bed-for-hotel-room-design/), you can make it insanely easy to raise and lower this space-saving sleeping option. A properly engineered counterbalance offsets part of the bed's weight, reducing the force guests must apply when raising or lowering it. ### Folding Furniture Why not include other fold-out furniture options? [A more spacious room](https://dornob.com/new-capsule-hotel-brings-cheap-micro-lodging-to-italy/) reduces the chances of banged shins or twisted ankles.  Let your guests fold out a desk or pop up a monitor when they need it and put it away when they don't. Today, counterbalance technology makes [innovative hotel design choices](https://blog.weberknapp.com/6-tiny-hotel-room-design-innovations-that-save-designers-money) like these easy to install and attractive to guests. Carefully engineered hardware can reduce the effort required to deploy and stow fold-down desks or other heavy movable fixtures. ## The More Ergonomic, the Better It's hard to overstate **the importance of ergonomics in the hospitality industry** since it affects both your employees and guests. The key design parameters are operating force, accessible reach, safe control of movement, and available floor space. Of course, you'll also need to factor in an attractive aesthetic, durability, and budget constraints. Trying to strike the perfect balance in your hospitality design? To learn more about creating a healthy ergonomics setup for your business, download our Workspace & Equipment Guide: [![Wk-Ergo-Ebook-Horizontal\_CTA](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5515947/interactive-186267478702.png)](https://blog.weberknapp.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLLKEgGVF9IPnZUYD40dn8i9PQxNFTqeXfJmvDSlllGleGRtPYLadS8pDSXpt%2BT4kv4%2BOcNRtnGntLRQBN9BWVzi93ul%2BvByTp9JFvYiHzSrD9msa2oEKad197jE6NLxXiSlNoOZ1MZ%2FSBTYgxQyFz0k718CRVSXsnLdbkLesK0Z3c7j9aNvCamJrCPgMFFI%2BL%2FyTwN8lRc5jQVsGMhTKkju2trvL7lOfswBfrbsaIaiSnmT49qu8votEye0LWDBtQWJqYQL8w%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=186267478702&portalId=5515947)       *(Editor's note: This post was originally published in April 2021 and was recently updated with fresh insights.)* Topics: [Applications](https://blog.weberknapp.com/tag/applications), [Ergonomics](https://blog.weberknapp.com/tag/ergonomics), [Motion Control](https://blog.weberknapp.com/tag/motion-control), [Design](https://blog.weberknapp.com/tag/design), [Safety](https://blog.weberknapp.com/tag/safety), [Hospitality Furniture](https://blog.weberknapp.com/tag/hospitality-furniture) ### Join Our Monthly Email List! 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