NJ mandates panic buttons for hotel room cleaners
This June 6, 2019 photo shows the Resorts, Hard Rock and Ocean casinos, along with the non-gambling Showboat Hotel on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a law requiring most of the state's hotels to provide their workers with wearable panic buttons they can press to quickly summon help in an emergency.
The Democratic governor signed the bill Tuesday. He and several nationwide unions say New Jersey is the first state to mandate the devices, although at least two others are considering similar measures.
The law takes effect in January and applies to hotels with 100 or more rooms.
That includes all nine Atlantic City casinos. Iris Sanchez, a room cleaner at Caesars, says she's relieved to know she'll be going home safely each night after working.
In 2018, a room cleaner at Bally's casino was pushed into a room by a man who then sexually assaulted her.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.