Brighter Safety Picture in Our Industry

Posted January 25, 2011 at 10:47 am

safetyprimage.jpg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ken Koepper, 703-477-1656, 703-519-0029

ALEXANDRIA, Va., December 13, 2010—Recordable injuries and illnesses in workplaces of members of the Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) are about half their 2005 level and down 17 percent in one year, according to the annual TRSA Textile Services Industry Safety Report. Credited for this exemplary performance are newTRSA resources for educating, training and protecting employees including publications, online resources, videos and more under the SafeTRSA program.

“These impressive gains reflect the success of SafeTRSA in highlighting areas of emphasis and improvement,” TRSA President Joseph Ricci said. “The survey enables members to share information which prompts them to collaborate on new SafeTRSA initiatives that lead to their individual adoption of proven policies and procedures that improve safety performance.”

TRSA members reduced their recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 employees (TRIR Rate) by 5.1, from 10.9 in 2005 to 5.8 in 2009. Also declining was the total number of injuries and illnesses per 100 employees resulting in days away from work, job restrictions and/or job transfers (DART Rate) which fell by a total of 2.2, from 6.2 to 4.0 or more than one-third. The most recent one-year DART Rate improvement was also about 17 percent.

Ricci observed that “SafeTRSA has focused on the industry’s highest risk areas and those cited most frequently by OSHA.” Thus the program has been particularly valuable in helping members develop more effective practices in maintaining equipment (lock-out, tag-out), handling soiled linen (especially blood-borne pathogens) and working in confined spaces.

This year’s survey is based on occupational injury and illness data submitted by 70 textile services companies operating 775 laundry processing facilities (plants) and depots. A plant is defined as having laundry and route distribution functions on site; a depot consists only of the latter. The above figures measure plant performance; depots scored a 4.5 TRIR in 2009 and a 2.3 DART; these rates have declined 56 percent and 58 percent respectively since 2005.

By comparison, according to the U.S. Labor Department, the private manufacturing industry (whose operations are similar to those found in textile processing facilities and, therefore, shares many of the textile services industry’s same safety issues and compliance mandates) reduced its TRIR and DART rates by 31.7% and 34.3% respectively. All of private industry experienced a 21.7% decrease in the TRIR Rate and a 25.0% decline in the DART Rate.

The TRSA Textile Services Industry Safety Report covers a range of safety performance statistics for the industry as a whole andstratifiessurvey response data by number of plant employees and market (linen supply or industrial laundry). The report is distributed free to TRSA member companies who participate in the research; cost to other members is $150; non-members, $995. Order from the online store at www.trsa.org.

About the Textile Rental Services Association of America

Based in Alexandria, Va., TRSA represents a $16-billion industry of companies that employ 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. TRSA member companies’ services minimize environmental impacts on air, water and solid waste disposal while reducing costs for millions of customers.

124