Being a frequent traveller I invariably end up staying at hotels on overnight stops. As part of our Risk Assessment controls for employees whilst travelling we have "being in an unfamiliar situation door chains (where fitted) should be applied before opening the door to callers at your hotel room". Reasonable advice - you don't know who is on the other side of the door at 4am in the morning, and a not unreasonable practice as the majority of hotel groups take guest security seriously enough to fit some form of door tether. Now it appears door chains are an "Elf and Safety" risk according to the people at "Purple Prisons Ltd" or at least so I was informed when I asked about the missing chain on a recent stay - initially thinking this was a maintenance issue due to the support and catch being still firmly fixed in place. I can go along with the thought process "in case emergency access is needed" but in the balance of frequency and likelihood what would be wrong with a set of bolt cutters with reception for those rare occasions? So my question for the forum.. are hotel door chains a true health and safety issue or is this another veiled liability issue?

I think a vulnerable person inparticular, would like the extra security particularly if there's no spyhole. This feels like an idea that's not been thought through. Or maybe it has......... There should be a connection between sense and safety, but sometimes "corporations" don't see the........link. Ahem.

Spy holes - great, if you are over 5'6, in most 'chain' hotels. Pointless if you aren't tall enough to see through them . . . Can get doorstopper gadgets often advertised for overseas travel if staff feel vulnerable (and are short!).