Safety, Hygiene, Sustainability and Legal/Ethical Practices
This domain covers safety, hygiene, sustainability and legal or ethical practice in tourism. The exam tests practical precautions, responsible tourism and the difference between a genuine practice and a slogan.
Safety and hygiene
In a fire, raise the alarm, evacuate and do not use lifts; use an extinguisher only if trained. For first aid, protect the area, assess the casualty, call for help and do not move an injured person unnecessarily. Food hygiene means clean, separate, cook and chill. Record incidents and maintain equipment.
Sustainability and law
Reduce, reuse and recycle; save water and energy; respect local communities and wildlife; avoid plastic where possible. Legal and ethical duties include registration and licences, taxes, guest privacy, child protection, no exploitation, accessibility and accurate advertising. Greenwashing is claiming green credentials without evidence.
Worked example
A hotel claims to be eco-friendly but changes towels daily and dumps waste in a drain. Reasoning: the claim fails because practices contradict it. A defensible practice is a linen-reuse programme with guest consent, segregated waste, recorded water and energy use, and legal disposal. This is sustainability plus compliance, not a marketing label.
Traps that cost marks
Using lifts in a fire; moving an injured guest; greenwashing; ignoring child protection; and breaking guest privacy.
Key points
- Fire: alarm, evacuate, no lifts.
- First aid: protect, assess, call for help.
- Food hygiene: clean, separate, cook, chill.
- Sustainability: reduce, reuse, recycle; measure and comply.
- Greenwashing is a claim without evidence.