TRSA Coronavirus Announcement

To Our Members and Staff,

We would like to provide an update from TRSA during these challenging, rapidly evolving times. First, and most importantly, we hope you, your families and co-workers are healthy and safe.

Our industry supplies, launders and maintains essential reusable textiles for industries that need it most. These items include linens, uniforms, personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as hygiene, first-aid products and other facility services. The importance of our industry is recognized by the “essential services” designation by several state governments allowing laundries to stay open during quarantine/isolation guidelines. Other industries designated as “essential” include healthcare operations, infrastructure maintenance and repair, grocery stores, food processing, manufacturing, home-based care and long-term care, water and energy facilities, first responders, laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturers, other fundamental supply chain businesses and government agencies. You are on the front lines providing clean, safe environments for your employees, customers and the general public.

As the economy has slowed to a grinding pace, we know many of you are struggling. As your trade association, we are working to ensure that you have the information and resources necessary to continue operations and disseminate accurate, relevant information to your customers, employees and the general public regarding the hygienically clean processing and handling of reusable textiles. We are here for you.

TRSA is seeking several opportunities to aid the linen, uniform and facility services industry, including sharing in industry bailouts or incentives for the industry’s we service and supply including restaurants, hotels, outpatient medical facilities, manufacturing and other client businesses. We are also working with the Small Business Administration (SBA) on programs that will benefit the linen, uniform and facility services industry.

Therefore, TRSA will remain open and fully operational to assist its members with communications, and available to answer questions and facilitate information sharing to identify and share emerging best practices. Due to the recent CDC recommendation to not have gatherings of more than 10 people for the next 15 days, TRSA has instituted a voluntary telework policy to help prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. However, we anticipate maintaining full operations and communications without interruption.

While we have had to cancel several events, we will be announcing other initiatives in the coming weeks, including:

• Market-Specific Surveys and Teleconferences facilitated by TRSA Committees for healthcare, workwear/uniforms, restaurants/F&B and hotel/hospitality to increase information sharing regarding best practices and market-specific issues and opportunities
• Virtual Events including Human Resources (HR) and Safety
• Weekly COVID-19 Resources Review and Updates posted online at www.trsa.org/covid19

The current environment is extraordinarily challenging for our industry and we are communicating daily with our counterparts around the world to share experiences and information. As we get past the immediate crisis, TRSA, with the support and assistance of its Board of Directors, Committees and subject-matter experts, will continue to anticipate the emerging needs of the linen, uniform and facility services industry and adapt events, resources, research and other activities to address them. It is also more important than ever that the industry communicate consistent messages to its customers and employees regarding the handling and processing of potential COVID-19 linens and uniforms, emphasizing CDC and WHO guidelines. TRSA is reviewing and updating materials for employees and customers, as well as other resources and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to share best practices and debunk myths on the TRSA website at www.trsa.org/covid19. This includes treating all items as potentially carrying the COVID-19 virus using gloves and other PPE for handling and implementing hygienically clean processing guidelines. These items are NOT Hazardous Medical Waste requiring destruction, or remaining bagged and stored at customer facilities.

We assure you that the entire TRSA team is concerned for the health and safety of our members, your families and colleagues, and the industry. We must all pull together as a global community to address this challenge.

Please know, we are here for you.

Sincerely,
Joseph Ricci, CAE
President & CEO
TRSA, The Association for the Linen, Uniform and Facility Services Industry