TRSA will distribute a fire safety survey to TRSA operator members this week. Modeled after the United Kingdom’s Textile Services Association’s (TSA-UK) 2023 Fire Safety Study, the objective of the survey is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of fire safety practices within commercial laundries.

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.

UniFirst’s Owensboro, KY, distribution center is the Gold level honoree of the 2024 SafeTRSA Safety Excellence Award. The 400-team-partner staff, building on their history of state and federal recognition, has been hailed for moving forward with an “unwavering commitment” to continuous improvement. The 360,000-square-foot distribution and fulfillment space is one of the area’s largest employers.

Keeping employees safe is a key concern for every linen, uniform and facility services operator. However, the tactics that companies use to advance this goal vary significantly. In March’s Textile Services magazine, we highlight the safety practices that several companies pursue in areas including ergonomics, fire-prevention and plant security.

TRSA member virtual networking is in high season. Two events occurred March 5 and 7, with the Production Network Virtual Open Forum and Women in Textile Services Virtual Roundtable, respectively. On March 12, the Human Resources and Safety Networks will conduct a roundtable of their own.

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.

TRSA is hosting its Human Resources and Health & Safety Summit on April 30 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. The one-day event will feature expert speakers, panel discussions and roundtable sessions on topics such as mental health, employee retention, compensation, safety culture, chemical safety and more.

Elevating safety tracking through the use of a dashboard system that gives managers ready access to this data is the focus of a forthcoming article in Textile Services magazine.

After 34 years’ service in the business of supplying mats to the linen, uniform and facility services industry, David Watterson, M+A Matting’s vice president of field and international sales, recently announced his retirement from the LaGrange, GA-based company. M+A helped fuel the growth of the mat-rental market, starting with its founding in the early 1960s as Mountville Mills Inc. Because of Watterson’s pivotal role in that growth, we asked if he’d answer a few questions about where the business is headed in the 2020s and beyond. Excerpts of his responses appear below.

While laundry operators in today’s post-COVID era are breathing easier since the pandemic has passed, the need to prepare for similar contingencies remains, and in fact the risks to laundry operators are more serious than ever due to a range of natural and societal trends.