Cursory attempt to condemn industry practices distorts reality
ALEXANDRIA, VA, August 12, 2011—A July report by a Massachusetts labor-union-activist group incorrectly characterizes the risks of work practices and equipment commonly used in textile services plant operations and does not recognize the industry’s consistent improvements in workplace safety and health, according to a Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) analysis of the assessment.
In a published critique of the Angelica Textile Services facility in Somerville, the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) portrays laundry work as perilous, failing to note the prevalence of mechanization throughout the industry that eliminates heavy lifting and other strenuous activities. While the report admits that “many” laundries “address” hazards, it does not acknowledge their absence is the industry norm.
MassCOSH is not a public agency. TRSA believes its involvement with Angelica was prompted by union posturing on labor issues such as contract provisions and productivity requirements rather than safety concerns. The MassCOSH report did not refer to any of Angelica’s OSHA filings on workplace injuries and illnesses nor did MassCOSH determine the extent of this laundry’s compliance with the complete range of applicable safety regulations, such as providing workers with material safety data sheets for chemicals.
In its assessment of the industry, MassCOSH alleged that workers are exposed to heat from washing, drying and ironing machinery. To the contrary, washing and drying equipment is automatic and has cooldown operations; nothing hot can be touched. Ironers generate heat but only in their core, not in exposed portions of these units where linens are inserted by hand. The report refers to feeding “from” ironers; actually, laundry staff only feeds linens “to” the front of these machines. Their back end is connected to folding apparatus.
MassCOSH asserts that textile services facilities are sources of excessive noise; TRSA knows of none cited by regulatory authorities for such a violation. “Machine paced work” is described in the report as straining workers; but this only occurs when individuals are being trained to operate equipment. If they cannot reach the prescribed productivity level, they are reassigned. “Prolonged standing” is identified as a risk factor; work in commercial laundries is no different in this respect than numerous other industries and morning, noon, and afternoon breaks are common.
Textile services work has become safer more quickly than the similar gains made by businesses as a whole. According to TRSA member surveys, member companies have reduced mishaps by more than 50 percent over the past six years. Since 2006, their reportable injury and illness rate (TRIR) has fallen 42% and days away or restricted or transferred work (DART) have dropped 33%. General industry saw only 22% and 25% declines while the manufacturing sector had a significantly smaller TRIR decrease over four years (32%) and a comparable 34% DART decline.
“These documented gains provide irrefutable evidence of our members’ diligence in eliminating hazards,” stated TRSA President Joseph Ricci. “But the MassCOSH report offers no indication of the widespread practice of making safety the number 1 priority for textile services facility operations.” This dedication is reflected in TRSA members’ attendance at conferences and education programs featuring presentations on safety, use of SafeTRSA web-based training resources and adoption of each other’s successful techniques as reported in TRSA’s e-news and magazine.
Prompted by OSHA’s citation of the Angelica facility for its maintenance practices, the MassCOSH report mostly criticized this location but alleged high risk in any laundry that serves hospitals. TRSA countered that it has long aided members in complying with legal mandates for preventing needlesticks and other transfer of bloodborne pathogens from linens to laundry workers.
MassCOSH inferred that lifting laundry and pushing filled carts is a common problem for workers in textile services facilities. To the contrary, lift tables and mechanized cart dumpers are often deployed and the largest amounts of laundry are loaded into sling bags at ground level and propelled toward the ceiling to be moved by trolleys that run on overhead rails.
The report created the impression that laundry employees are overworked (too much overtime) and vulnerable to repetitive-motion ills. But there are very few 24/7 operations; most have 4, 5, or 6-day schedules with two shifts at most. And the industry addresses redundant work motion by training individuals to handle multiple tasks and rotating them through different jobs.
Because of unfounded assertions about the industry and the likelihood that pro-labor interests have influenced MassCOSH’s conclusions, TRSA also questioned the validity of the group’s findings on the Angelica facility. TRSA was aware of the OSHA activity in Somerville but noted that the case had yet to be settled.
About the Textile Rental Services Association of America
Based in Alexandria, Va., TRSA represents the $16-billion textile services industry that employs nearly 200,000 people at more than 2,000 facilities nationwide. These companies provide laundered textiles and other products and services that help businesses project a clean and attractive public image. The industry reaches every major business and industrial region, Congressional district and city in the country. Most Americans benefit at least once a week from the cleanliness and safety provided by the industry—through its laundering and delivery of reusable linens, uniforms, towels, mats and other products for the healthcare, hospitality and industrial/manufacturing sectors.
