The hotel that is the subject of a complaint filed by some of its housekeeping employees with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) was “quite surprised” to learn of the concerns in the complaint.

Guests of the Sofitel Los Angeles include people whose stays are related to medical treatment at nearby Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Hotel employees allege that they do not have the proper equipment to safely handle linen contaminated with blood or to remove the used syringes and needles that they encounter in guest rooms, potentially increasing their risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and sharps injuries.

Sandra Pinto Duhamel, Director of Communications & Public Relations for AccorHotels, denied those claims.

“At Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills we have rigorous policies and procedures for ensuring the health and safety of our employees, guests and visitors,” said Duhamel.

Duhamel said allegations in the complaint that the hotel does not provide workers with disposable latex or nitrile gloves for changing bloodied bed linen or with sharps boxes to safely dispose of a used needles and syringes are false. “Our employees are provided with proper training and equipment to safely clean our guest rooms.”

She said that an inspector from CAL-OSHA came to the property last week.

“We voluntarily cooperated with this visit which included providing him full access to the hotel and employees. This was the first and only visit from CAL-OSHA.  We will, of course, cooperate fully with any related investigations; however, we will dispute any false and/or misleading allegations.”