CHICAGO — There’s no question that industrial laundries can be dangerous.
Major machinery, chemicals, electricity, heat and steam … there are many hazards that employees must be aware of and navigate to stay safe during the workday.
Industrial laundry operators have a responsibility to their employees, and to their businesses, to create a safety-conscious work environment — and to constantly elevate safety awareness and knowledge among their employees.
American Laundry News asked four insiders for their insights and advice about evaluating and improving industrial laundry safety.
Donald Bock is principal of Seabright Safety Solutions Inc. in Santa Maria, Calif. Caleb Paige is director of safety for ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists headquartered in King of Prussia, Pa.
Representing CORE Linen Services, a provider of hospitality and healthcare services with corporate offices in Huntersville, N.C., are Sandi McCulloch, director of safety and risk, and Pamela Barnett, manager of people and projects.
How do you define safety in an industrial/institutional laundry operation?
BOCK: Generally, when people think of safety, they think of the absence of injury or “safety concerns.” Actually, the definition of safety in any operation is recognizing and identifying the risk that is present in the operation. Once identified and qualified or quantified, safety is the reduction of that risk.
When using “safety concerns” as the definition, there can be differing opinions that don’t necessarily address the underlying risk and often result in temporary or ineffective solutions. It’s not unusual for an operation to learn that installing a lift will correct a safety concern and then find that the lift is not used.
PAIGE: Our industry is, first and foremost, a people business. Associates touch every part of the process, which is why we define safety as both a personal responsibility and a shared commitment. Associates must not only be responsible for their own safety but also be actively involved in the development and continuous improvement of safety solutions across the organization.
Why is it important for a laundry operation to focus on safety?
MCCULLOCH: Focusing on safety in an operation is essential because it protects the well-being of employees and the public, ensuring that everyone involved in or affected by the operation remains safe. It also helps organizations comply with legal and regulatory requirements, avoiding costly fines, shutdowns, and damage to their reputation.
From a financial perspective, prioritizing safety reduces expenses related to medical care, workers’ compensation, and operational disruptions, while potentially lowering insurance premiums. Moreover, a safe work environment promotes operational efficiency by minimizing interruptions and boosting employee morale, retention and productivity.
Ultimately, emphasizing safety reflects an organization’s ethical responsibility and commitment to corporate social responsibility, demonstrating that it values people and operates with integrity.
PAIGE: Safety impacts every aspect of laundry operations — from plant processes to route service. A safe work environment protects associates while enabling the delivery of quality products and exceptional service to our customers.
Safety is not separate from operational excellence; it is a key enabler of it.
BOCK: Employees are the most valuable asset in an organization, but don’t often get treated with the same attention that operators pay to CAPEX (capital expenditure). If employees are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve, the outcomes in terms of injuries and equipment damage will be improved.
Seriously focusing on safety, not just talking about safety, will improve morale, especially if the people who do the work have something to say about reducing risk by providing solutions. Obviously, failure to focus on safety will result in financial loss as well as increasing both workers’ compensation premiums and incurred costs of injury.
Check back Thursday for part 2 about measuring laundry safety through outside standards and internal processes.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
