Content about Safety

CHICAGO — For Toledo’s NuCentury Textile Services, 2012 began under horrible circumstances.

Published reports indicate that, on Jan. 3 last year, an employee failed to turn off and lock a folder before servicing it. His clothes got caught in the machine, and his hand and forearm were injured. He later died from complications while recovering at home.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) cited NuCentury for several alleged safety violations and fined it $40,000. NuCentury hired a safety consultant and took other steps to improve its safety program, prompting OSHA to lower the fine to $19,600.

Despite best efforts, on-the-job accidents do occur in and around textile service facilities, and employees are injured or, on rare occasions, even killed.

There are resources available to  help an operator ensure his plant is being run safely, and among them is SafeTRSA, a program offered by the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA).

It provides safety training materials to TRSA members and measures the industry’s progress in implementing enhanced practices to reduce and eliminate occupational injuries and illnesses in plants and depots, according to Ken Koepper, director of marketing and public relations for the association.

Success is quantified when TRSA administers its annual survey of its members’ occupational injury and illness data, he explains. “Such tracking over the past several years has prompted TRSA’s creation of industry-specific initiatives and resources to focus on the industry’s highest risk areas and those cited most frequently by OSHA.”

This has resulted in TRSA members’ adoption of proven policies and procedures for maintaining equipment (lockout/tagout), handling soiled linen (especially bloodborne pathogens) and working in confined spaces, Koepper says.

“The networking and information-sharing between members on such matters has generated new programming for educational institutes and conferences as well as publications, online resources, videos and more.”

Membership-wide safety statistics enable TRSA companies to easily compare their improvements to the industry norm and foster further gains.

Data from 2011, reported in 2012, will be released by TRSA shortly.

“Our survey from 2010 covered 59 textile services companies operating 720 processing facilities and depots,” Koepper says. “It showed that in the prior four years, the industry experienced across-the-board reductions in its injury and illness rates. TRSA calculates separate TRIR and DART rates for plants and depots.

“The new report will reflect further reductions. Also, participation in the survey increased in 2012, to 66 companies operating 792 facilities.”

TRIR stands for Total Recordable Incidence Rate. DART is short for Day Aways, Restricted or Transferred.

From 2006 to 2010, TRSA respondents reduced their total number of recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 employees (TRIR Rate) from 9.5 to 5.5, Koepper says. Injuries and illnesses per 100 employees resulting in days away from work, job restrictions and/or job transfers (DART Rate) dropped from 5.8 to 3.9.

TRSA also calculates separate figures for the industrial and linen segments. The new report will cross-reference these with the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) industry-wide figures, according to Koepper.

In 2011, at TRSA’s request, for the first time in roughly a decade, BLS published separate TRIR and DART rates for textile services (industrial and linen) as opposed to the agency’s prior practice of only consolidating them with all other types of commercial laundry (mostly dry cleaning and coin laundry).

Koepper says TRSA requested this reporting enhancement as a means for tracking future industry-wide improvements.

“Although TRSA and BLS results show that the industry is still short of achieving its ultimate objective—eliminating occupational injuries and illnesses in its facilities—these reports also demonstrate dramatic progress towards achieving that goal,” he says.

TRSA hosted a Safety Summit last year that focused on enhancing safety cultures across the industry.

“It had been four years since the industry conducted a single-subject meeting on safety,” Koepper says. “Although it was a seminar topic in conferences and educational institutes, too much time had passed since an event dedicated to the subject was held.”

Audiences for prior safety-focused meetings had consisted mostly of hands-on safety professionals. The Summit concept involved the highest levels of textile services management, elevating TRSA’s involvement in guiding operators in increasing the prominence of safety in their corporate cultures.

“The Summit went beyond day-to-day injury prevention tactics,” Koepper says. “It examined options the industry could exercise collectively to hire the proper expertise, immediately assess the greatest risks and devise near-term action plans for developing standards and communicating them to operators.”

The TRSA Safety Committee is working on those plans, and a second Safety Summit has been scheduled for May 22 in Indianapolis.

Koepper says he’s seen the industry make great strides in automation in recent decades.

Automated material handling reduces the “manual labor requirement for this purpose. Soil bags are hoisted and carried on rails automatically to washers. Computing drives clean-side garment sorting. To prevent hazardous discharge of energy, smart systems are limiting access to areas where electricity must be controlled to ensure machines don’t start unexpectedly.”

But automation isn’t likely to ever completely eliminate all the different types of human movement required to provide textile services.

“Route service, for example, will always involve an individual walking from a truck to a customer’s receiving area,” Koepper says. “To reduce exposure, the industry has increased its proficiency in safer lifting, carrying and pushing. More individuals are cross-trained to perform different jobs in the course of a day to curtail redundant motion.”

TRSA is guiding members in their quest to convince every employee that safety comes first and productivity second.

While it is still a huge job to get to zero incidents in an industry so heavily dependent on athleticism and individual workers’ judgment, Koepper says TRSA is pleased with the gains of recent years and believes more improvement lies ahead.  

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Safety and textile services industry leaders addressed representatives from many of the nation’s commercial textile services facilities regarding the importance of continuous safety improvement “in our plants and on our roads” during TRSA’s recent Safety Summit.

“The objectives of this first TRSA Safety Summit were to increase safety awareness and generate initiatives for continuous safety improvements,” says TRSA President/CEO Joseph Ricci. “We must continue to move the industry from compliance and benchmarking against ourselves to a culture of safety measured against the best companies.”

More than 30 textile services companies—national and regional chains as well as independent local operators—participated in the “Safer Together” Summit, with more than half of participating companies sending multiple representatives.

“I’m inspired to be here; I’m inspired to talk to people. Hopefully, when we leave here, we reach out to each other,” says Michael Anderson, assistant general manager, Paris Healthcare Linen Services, DuBois, Pa. “Whether we’re in similar markets or not, when it comes to safety, we all should be involved in making it better for our plants.”

Rick Pollock, the incoming President of the American Society for Safety Engineers (ASSE), kicked off the event by providing a framework for establishing a safety culture. He was followed by facilitated breakout sessions of 12-15 participants focused on sharing best management practices and developing “next steps” for TRSA’s pursuit of continuous safety improvement, including sessions on ergonomics, injury prevention, fleet safety and management support.

The highlight of the Summit was a panel of the industry’s highest-ranking executives discussing their companies’ safety challenges and their integration of safety into daily operations.

The group included Bill Evans, AmeriPride Services, Minnetonka, Minn.; Scott Farmer, Cintas Corp., Cincinnati; Karl Filip, Alliance Laundry & Textile Services, Atlanta; and Jeff Wright, G&K Services, Minneapolis, Minn.

The panel called for shifting industry-wide improvement efforts from an OSHA-compliance-focused agenda to a risk-based, zero-tolerance approach.

“When measuring against ourselves, the textile services industry has made impressive gains in the reduction of illness and injury,” says Farmer, CEO of Cintas. “For continuous improvement, we must begin measuring ourselves against the safest companies regardless of their industry.”

As a result of the Safety Summit breakouts, TRSA will increase its commitment to developing and disseminating safety training and awareness resources, as well as establishing a safety advocate for the industry.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is “struggling” with incentive programs that recognize employers for exemplary efforts in preventing workplace injuries and illnesses, Richard E. Fairfax, deputy assistant U.S. labor secretary, told an audience of Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) members on Tuesday.

Fairfax, speaking to TRSA’s Leadership & Legislative Conference, said limited resources have prevented OSHA from expanding these efforts after they grew significantly in recent years, particularly during President George W. Bush’s administration.

In more recent years, OSHA has concentrated on evaluating their effectiveness. “I think the world of the program,” Fairfax says of the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), but he indicated that such endeavors might need better quality control.

The VPP, Safety & Health Achievement and Recognition Program (SHARP) and other honors awarded to employers, including many in the textile service industry, are under evaluation by an OSHA team Fairfax appointed last summer. “I told them to take as long as they want, to do a top-to-bottom review,” he says.

In the meantime, he urged employers to take advantage of other compliance assistance programs, such as the free OSHA consultation service for companies with 250 workers or less. Agency personnel who visit a business and find violations don’t notify the federal office of these unless the location’s management refuses to fix them. This program saw a budget increase in 2011, Fairfax notes. Each OSHA area office employs a compliance assistance specialist who performs these inspections.

“Our senior and best compliance officers have moved into those positions,” he explains. “They’re not allowed to do anything in enforcement.” They exist for training and outreach and usually “all it takes is a phone call to the office” to involve them in a voluntary compliance effort.

Fairfax also pointed out that the agency hopes to increase its use of private-sector safety pros to help with other employers’ preventive efforts. In this special government employee (SGE) program, such an individual receives three days of free OSHA training, and then participates annually as a member of an OSHA team evaluating other companies’ safety procedures. The agency wants to increase the number of SGEs who can help permanent OSHA staff work with employers in preventive efforts.

Fairfax’s presentation included numerous statistics on the agency’s enforcement activities in 2011, such as a leveling of inspection totals from the prior year (down about 300 to 40,600) and a 6,000 decline in violations to 91,000. The textile services business had no willful or repeat violations, a rarity among industries, Fairfax says.

Those findings are consistent with TRSA’s SafeTRSA education and benchmarking program, which has logged results of improved safety practices among member companies during the past five years:

• 42% reduction in total recordable injuries and illnesses rate (TRIR)
• One-third reduction in DART Rate (days away from work, restrictions or transfers)
• Most recent annual improvement of 5% in TRIR and 2.5% in DART rate

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An investigation is under way to determine how a Cintas Corp. maintenance technician was killed early Friday morning when the industrial dryer he was servicing started.

Kevin Lee Burgess, 55, died from blunt-force trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to local authorities. Police are conducting a death investigation but believe the incident that occurred sometime before 4:45 a.m. Friday was an accident, according to local media reports.

“Cintas is devastated to have learned about the accident that took the life of one of our employee-partners at our uniform rental facility in Louisville overnight,” the company says in a prepared statement. “Our deepest heartfelt sympathy is extended to his family.

“The safety and security of our employee-partners is a priority at Cintas, and we are shaken by this news. The company remains focused on providing support to the family and his co-workers at the facility. A thorough investigation has begun to determine the cause of this accident.”

In March 2007, a Cintas worker was killed when he fell into an industrial dryer at the company’s Tulsa, Okla., plant. The death sparked a federal investigation of Cintas and prompted U.S. lawmakers to introduce laws for even greater federal oversight of worksite safety. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) later fined Cintas for safety violations at the Tulsa plant and five other locations.

Cintas reached an agreement with OSHA pertaining to all automated and semi-automated laundry facilities under OSHA’s federal jurisdiction in December 2008, and agreed to pay $2.76 million in fines.

The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) says this latest incident “comes amid steady improvements in the industry’s overall safety record as reflected in TRSA’s latest Safety Survey, which indicated that total recordable injuries and illnesses (TRIR) dropped by 5% from 2009-10.”

“This incident occurred despite substantial improvements and our industry’s investment in safety,” TRSA CEO Joseph Ricci says in an association blog entry. “We should respond by strengthening the industry’s resolve to continue our focus on developing safety cultures and striving for zero tolerance.”

Cintas has worked closely with TRSA to help educate industry colleagues on best practices for accident/illness prevention, according to the association, sponsoring tours of its semi-automated wash aisle facilities (one is scheduled at the company’s Lawrenceville, Ga., plant next week) and participating in various panel discussions on safety issues.

“I know that my laundry operation is due to be inspected sometime soon, but I’m not sure how to get ready for it. Where should my focus be? In what areas are we most likely to get nailed if our operation is deemed substandard?”

Equipment Manufacturing: Chuck Anderson, Ellis Corp., San Diego, Calif.

They say procrastination is a universal human behavior and I have to agree, since I procrastinated in writing this article. But one area we must not procrastinate in is having our laundry ready for inspection at any time. Here is an abbreviated pre-inspection checklist:

OSHA — Occupational Safety & Health Administration

Bloodborne Pathogens — Make sure a documented exposure control plan is in place and reviewed at least yearly with employees. Ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) is in good condition, clean, and being worn in areas of occupational exposure. Check that engineering controls (e.g., sharps containers, shields, etc.) are in place and sterile.

Hazard Communications — Transmittal of information is to be accomplished by means of comprehensive hazard-communication programs, which are to include container labeling and other forms of warning, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and employee training.

Confined Spaces — Tunnel washers, chemical tanks, boilers and wastewater pits are all examples of confined spaces. The employer shall inform exposed employees by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means.

Lock Out/Tag Out — Establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections. Ensure that before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative. Electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical and thermal are all examples of energy sources.

Machinery Guarding — Ensure guards are in place and function correctly. Guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, etc. Barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc., are examples of guarding methods.

HLAC — Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council

Soil Sort Area — Items to check include employee training for BBP, functional separation between soil and clean processing areas, cleanliness that is maintained and documented, proper hazard communication in affected work areas, the provision and wearing of PPE, and cart-washer utilization schedule and functionality.

Wash Aisle — Check to see that wash temperatures and times are maintained, and machines are being loaded properly and documented. Prevent cross-contamination of clean and soil in this area. Wipe down machinery frequently with a good quat disinfectant cleaner.

Finishing Area — Proper blow-down schedule and cleanliness, workflow patterns to prevent cross-contamination, preventive-maintenance documentation, linen-inventory management and proper lighting are the keys here.

Staging and Storage Areas — Make sure these areas are uncluttered, cleaned frequently, and protected from lint blow-down.

Fire Department

General — Are address numbers for the building clearly visible from the street? Is exterior fire department access unobstructed? Is combustible vegetation removed so as to not create a fire hazard? Is a minimum 3-foot clearance maintained around fire hydrants?

Egress — Are the exits and doors easily recognizable, unobstructed and functional? Are the exits and exit enclosures free from combustible materials? Are doors with self-closing hinges maintained in the closed position (not blocked open)?

Electrical — Are all electrical outlets, switches and junction boxes properly covered with cover plates, and is the electrical system safe from any apparent shock and/or other electrical hazards?

Are circuit breakers/fuses labeled? Is the area maintained clear at least 30 inches in front of the electrical panel(s)?

Fire Alarm System — If the building is equipped with an alarm system, has a qualified fire alarm company performed the required annual service?

Fire Extinguishers — Is there access to fire extinguisher(s) rated minimum 2A-10BC? Is the travel distance from all portions of the building less than 75 feet to an extinguisher? Are all extinguishers visible and accessible (not blocked)? Have the extinguisher(s) been serviced and tagged by a fire extinguisher company within the last 12 months?

Fire Suppression Systems — Is the top of storage maintained a minimum 18 inches below head deflectors in fire-sprinkler areas?

Storage of Flammable, Combustible Liquids, and Compressed Gas — Are quantities in excess of 10 gallons of flammable and combustible liquids used for maintenance purposes and the operation of equipment stored in liquid-storage cabinets? Are cylinders of compressed gas, such as helium, argon, oxygen and acetylene, chained securely to prevent them from tipping over?

Local Agencies/Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

State and local agencies may visit to check for valid permits such as boiler operating licenses, business licenses, worker documentation, etc. The Environmental Protection Agency may visit to see that you comply with air cleanliness measures or wastewater discharge limits.

Maintain clear records about anything in the workplace that carries inherent risks, especially if there is a history of accidents with that particular object or situation.

If you have an employee manual, it should be up to date with the most recent laws and regulations regarding health and safety.

Keep the working area clean, free of dangerous surfaces or items that can cause injury, and make it easy to access in case of an emergency or accident. Make sure emergency exits are clearly marked and first-aid kits and fire extinguishers are readily available. While these may seem like minor details, they are, in fact, the areas where most companies fail to comply with OSHA regulations.

Long-Term-Care Laundry: Gary Clifford, Pines of Sarasota, Sarasota, Fla.

Due to be inspected “sometime soon” is really waiting until it is almost too late to do anything about getting ready.

The best time to get ready for your next inspection is immediately after your last inspection. However, if you have waited and are feeling unprepared for an impending inspection, get to work now on improving your chances of passing your inspection.

Take a good look around your facility and honestly evaluate what you are seeing.

A lot of times, we look through things we see every day without actually seeing them. Fight that tendency and you will often spot areas that need improvement.

You may find it helpful to get someone from the outside to evaluate your operation. If you know other laundry managers or feel comfortable with one or two laundry vendors, ask them to check things out.

Soiled and clean linen must be separated and not come in contact with each other at any time during processing. Remember to keep everything—soiled and clean—covered to eliminate contamination. And your staff needs to use standard precautions (PPE) when handling soiled linen.

Cleanliness is something that all inspectors will look for. Not only does it appear clean today, do you have a policy (doesn’t have to be in writing) for keeping things clean? This is especially true when it comes to lint removal. Every member of your laundry staff must be able to tell the inspector when and how they keep things clean.

Schedule a few extra staff meetings to make sure everyone is educated and on the same page. As often as you can, ask the questions you would ask if you were an inspector. And look up the results of any past inspections to make sure you do not repeat mistakes.

If you had a specific problem during a recent inspection, you can be sure the inspecting party will be looking to make sure you corrected that problem!

Don’t wait until “sometime soon” is here to get ready for the next inspection. The facilities that do the right things all the time and are best prepared have the most successful inspections. Make sure your facility is one of them.

Click here for Part 1.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Recordable injuries and illnesses in Textile Rental Service Association of America (TRSA) member workplaces dropped 17% from 2008 to 2009, according to the annual TRSA Textile Services Industry Safety Report just released.

WASHINGTON — The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has recently taken more action to impose fines and enforce regulations concerning combustible dust and lint in laundry facilities.

This extra attention has translated into a regulatory push for higher standards and the potential for significant fines for lack of compliance.

FRANKFORT, Ill. — The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) accredited its 100th healthcare laundry when HandCraft Linen Services, Richmond, Va., earned the distinction in May, HLAC reports.

WASHINGTON — The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new directive targeted at reminding employers of their duty to protect Latino and other non-English-speaking workers from hazards.

“At what points during the laundering process are workers most vulnerable to injury or even death, and what precautions should be taken to minimize the risk? I want to make sure I am doing everything I can to protect my staff.”

Consulting Services: Charles Berge, American Laundry Systems, Haverhill, Mass.

WHEELING, Ill. — Healthcare Laundry Systems (HLS), a leading provider of laundry services to hospitals and clinics in the greater Chicago area, reports it has launched a companywide initiative focusing on employee and workplace safety.

Blue Wolf Capital Fund II formed HLS and announced the acquisitions of the assets of Wheeling-based Hospital Laundry Services and Rockford, Ill.-based Northern Illinois Hospital Services in November.

Since then, the company has initiated the procedures, which augment existing policies, to include: