For years, laundry operators have mounted cameras both in and out of laundry operations in order to enhance security and help ensure compliance with workplace policies. Now, as artificial intelligence (AI) comes to the fore, a Swedish company is taking this idea in a new direction with a camera-based AI system that analyzes safety conditions.

As noted in Textile Services Weekly on March 11, Shasta Linen Supply Inc., Sacramento, CA, recently acquired five electric step vans worth roughly $1 million. This change moved Shasta Linen into compliance with California’s pending commercial-vehicle regulations. It also put the company in the vanguard of independents that have embraced alt-fuel route vehicles.

Many of today’s leading linen, uniform and facility services operators have learned that embracing a culture of safety and regulatory compliance can fuel their business success in 2024 and beyond. That’s the upshot of this month’s cover article in Textile Services magazine, which was mailed the week of March 4.

Running a successful laundry today takes a commitment to clients. But if operators emphasize the bottom line over complying with employee wage/hour rules, they could face fines or jail time. You can get the latest on wage/hour rules and enforcement trends in this month’s Textile Services magazine.

Laundry operators typically scoff when they hear “We’re from the government and we’re here to help.” But in the case of Balfurd Linen and Uniform Co., Tipton, PA, access to state and federal grant money for improving energy efficiency is generating a big payback, including a $182,976 grant for new dryers that are expected to net the company $54,630 in yearly utility-cost savings. A similar grant request is in the works for a new tunnel washer, according to a news release from the Penn State Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP).

TRSA’s 2023 Maintenance Management Institute (MMI), the association’s educational program for advancing best practices and strategies for engineering and maintenance leaders, concluded its 2.5-day program on Sept. 29.

Anytime a safety incident occurs in a plant – including ‘near misses’ – laundry operators have a moral duty, as well as a legal obligation, to investigate what happened and why. Then they must take steps to prevent the incident from recurring. That’s the essence of a forthcoming article in Textile Services magazine on how companies can uncover the root causes of safety mishaps in a laundry operation and take steps to mitigate them.

A rising tide of regulatory mandates limiting the use of gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles is making the internal combustion engine an endangered species. Federal and state environmental agencies in jurisdictions such as California are leaving businesses, including linen, uniform and facility services companies, with little choice but to begin converting their fleets to alternative-fuel vehicles.

Managing the fleet operations of linen, uniform and facility services companies comes with challenges that can generate stress and sleeplessness for fleet managers and other executives. Textile Services Weekly heard a lot about the difficulties confronting these managers during a panel discussion at the TRSA Fleet Summit in Baltimore.

Next month’s Textile Services magazine will feature a topic near and dear to many in the linen, uniform and facility services industry: the need for effective strategies to retain employees. Highlights of the ideas suggested by industry consultant Katie Cosgrove follow.