Workers employed in industrial laundries constantly come into contact with aggressive chemical products which can irritate the respiratory system quite seriously. They can protect themselves by using PPE.
Risks to workers in industrial laundries
Industrial laundries are facilities for washing and sanitizing large quantities of linen. They work for the textile industry and large accommodation facilities. This sector is a large-scale b2b service, full of machines and chemical product for laundering, where operators work on a daily basis.
Workers employed in industrial laundries constantly come into contact with chemical products which are often quite aggressive and can seriously irritate the respiratory tract as well as the skin, often causing serious rashes. The chemical detergents used in industrial laundries are high intensity products for the deep-cleansing and sanitation of fabrics in the briefest possible time. These chemical products may be composed of highly irritating and / or toxic substances for humans, such as Alkylphenol ethoxylates.
The biggest risk that effects workers in industrial laundries is to come into direct contact with these products. A simple exposure of the skin while on the job can lead to serious problems which can evolve into chronic dermatitis and even become disabling in time. Another risk is linked to respiratory system exposure. In many cases the substances present in industrial cleansing products are highly volatile and are easily inhaled with consequent irritation of the respiratory tract. Furthermore, not all risks are related to biological factors but to hearing as well, as workers who spend the entire day for long periods of time working in an environment where a large number of noisy machines are activated simultaneously will develop hearing problems in the long run.
PPE for protection against risks
Employees who work in an industrial laundry, therefore, are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) which will protect them from the risks related to the job performed. It is evident that in an industry like this one, workers are not all employed in a single task but are assigned to different tasks, which require different PPE.
In general, however, everyone who is employed in a structure like this one is required to wear hearing protection devices, that is, ear protectors able to dampen the loud noises made by machines in action. This will protect the auditory system from traumas caused by long exposure to constant noise of medium-strong intensity. In fact, one should not think that only the louder noises are harmful to hearing because the more serious damage is actually caused by long exposures to noise – it is not so much the decibels but rather the time of exposure to them which is harmful for the auditory system.
Moreover, employees who work closely with the washing machines are also required to wear gloves and masks to avoid biological risks. The gloves to be worn for this kind of work are to be certified to national standards and be resistant to penetration and permeation. Masks, on the other hand, are to be equipped with filters that block harmful particles and substances present in the environment being inhaled into the respiratory system. PPE used in industrial laundries protect against both the biological and the auditory risks associated with this type of work.
Kasco srl, supplies a powered half-mask respirator which is particularly suitable for industrial laundry work.
Mar 26 2018
What are the risks to industrial laundry workers? Which PPE can be used for protection?
Risks to workers in industrial laundries
Industrial laundries are facilities for washing and sanitizing large quantities of linen. They work for the textile industry and large accommodation facilities. This sector is a large-scale b2b service, full of machines and chemical product for laundering, where operators work on a daily basis.
Workers employed in industrial laundries constantly come into contact with chemical products which are often quite aggressive and can seriously irritate the respiratory tract as well as the skin, often causing serious rashes. The chemical detergents used in industrial laundries are high intensity products for the deep-cleansing and sanitation of fabrics in the briefest possible time. These chemical products may be composed of highly irritating and / or toxic substances for humans, such as Alkylphenol ethoxylates.
The biggest risk that effects workers in industrial laundries is to come into direct contact with these products. A simple exposure of the skin while on the job can lead to serious problems which can evolve into chronic dermatitis and even become disabling in time. Another risk is linked to respiratory system exposure. In many cases the substances present in industrial cleansing products are highly volatile and are easily inhaled with consequent irritation of the respiratory tract. Furthermore, not all risks are related to biological factors but to hearing as well, as workers who spend the entire day for long periods of time working in an environment where a large number of noisy machines are activated simultaneously will develop hearing problems in the long run.
PPE for protection against risks
Employees who work in an industrial laundry, therefore, are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) which will protect them from the risks related to the job performed. It is evident that in an industry like this one, workers are not all employed in a single task but are assigned to different tasks, which require different PPE.
In general, however, everyone who is employed in a structure like this one is required to wear hearing protection devices, that is, ear protectors able to dampen the loud noises made by machines in action. This will protect the auditory system from traumas caused by long exposure to constant noise of medium-strong intensity. In fact, one should not think that only the louder noises are harmful to hearing because the more serious damage is actually caused by long exposures to noise – it is not so much the decibels but rather the time of exposure to them which is harmful for the auditory system.
Moreover, employees who work closely with the washing machines are also required to wear gloves and masks to avoid biological risks. The gloves to be worn for this kind of work are to be certified to national standards and be resistant to penetration and permeation. Masks, on the other hand, are to be equipped with filters that block harmful particles and substances present in the environment being inhaled into the respiratory system. PPE used in industrial laundries protect against both the biological and the auditory risks associated with this type of work.
Kasco srl, supplies a powered half-mask respirator which is particularly suitable for industrial laundry work.
By Kasco Srl • Blog •