Laundry Machinery and Operations

What are the hazards associated with laundry operations?

Lack of machine guarding can result in serious physical injury (e.g., broken bones and amputation of fingers), and even death, to employees. The lack of personal protective equipment or the use of inappropriate personal protective equipment can result in serious injury, illness or death when engineering and administrative controls have not been (fully) implemented to eliminate or reduce exposure to a particular hazard. 

Increased physical demands on workers due to awkward work postures, repetitive and forceful motions, and vibration can lead to the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Failure to follow basic electrical safety principles can result in equipment and property damage (e.g., due to fire), severe shock and burns, and electrocution.

Failure of the employer to inform employees about the hazards of chemicals in the workplace can result in property damage, serious physical harm and death. Exposure to chemicals can cause irritation, sensitization, dermatitis, burns, and other serious health effects including cancer. Additionally, chemicals can cause physical hazards such as flammability, corrosion and explosibility.  

What can I do to protect myself?

Before using any chemical, information on the label and accompanying information (e.g., safety data sheets) should be consulted in order to identify any personal protective equipment necessary to prevent direct contact through inhalation, splash or spatter to eyes, nose or mouth, or skin contact.

Workers should try to take breaks to allow soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments) to rest throughout the day. Changing the work area or process to improve posture, reduce force or limit repetition can reduce stress on the body.  Additionally, rotating to another task that involves use of a different motion or body part can help if done correctly.

Be sure to follow lockout/tagout procedures when it becomes necessary to clear a jam or to remove machine guards to perform repair or maintenance. Be sure not to wear loose clothing when working in close proximity to moving machinery parts.

What resources are available to assist employers?

Safety and Health Programs

The electrical safety-related work practices policy, lockout/tagout program, and hazard communication can be downloaded and customized to fit the individual workplace. An example PPE hazard assessment is available and can be customized to fit workplace conditions. Employers are required to perform a workplace hazard analysis to determine what personal protective equipment is necessary to protect employees from continued exposure to identified hazards. Other example safety and health programs are available for employers to download and adapt to their specific conditions.

Training and Outreach Services

The lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, electrical safety, hazard communication, and machine guarding presentations are available to assist employers in training their staff. Other example presentations are available along with pre-recorded webinars which can be accessed at any time. 

In addition, the education, training and technical assistance bureau provides free online safety and health training and outreach services (i.e., speaker's bureau requests, safety booths) upon request. 

Lastly, the NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos (including streaming video services) and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC).

Safety and Health Topics

Other related resources can be found on safety and health topic pages for lockout/tagout, electrical safety, machine guarding, hazard communication, ergonomics and personal protective equipment for more information.

Consultation Services

The consultative services bureau provides free and confidential onsite consultation regarding worksite safety and health hazards.

Which standards apply?

OSH has adopted the following standards which are applicable to laundry machinery and operations in North Carolina. This is not all inclusive.

Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic.

General Industry

• 29 CFR 1910.264 - laundry machinery and operations

Other Related General Industry Standards

• 29 CFR 1910.22 - walking - working surfaces, general requirements
• 29 CFR 1910.37 - maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes
• 29 CFR 1910.141 – sanitation
• 29 CFR 1910.147 - the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)
• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I - personal protective equipment
  • 29 CFR 1910.132 - general requirements
  • 29 CFR 1910.133 - eye and face protection
  • 29 CFR 1910.138 - hand protection
• 29 CFR 1910.212 - machinery and machine guarding, general requirements
• 29 CFR 1910.332 - electrical, training
• 29 CFR 1910.333 - electrical, selection and use of work practices
• 29 CFR 1910.334 - electrical, use of equipment
• 29 CFR 1910.335 - electrical, safeguards for personnel protection
• 29 CFR 1910.1200 - hazard communication

Recordkeeping

• Refer to Recording and Reporting

Other Applicable Standards

The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can help identify other standards that may also be applicable to your worksite.

Where can I learn more?

Industry Guides

• Industry Guide 49 - OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, provides requirements for standards related to laundry machinery and operations in general industry.

Compliance Documents

• SN 07 - Laundry Machinery and Operations clarifies the applicable standards to cite for point of operation guarding of laundry machinery and dry-cleaning machinery (29 CFR 1910.264). 
• Operational Procedure Notice: OPN 149 - Special Emphasis Program for Amputations establishes the OSH Division's enforcement policy for safety and health inspections where employees may be exposed to amputation hazards on machinery due to lack of guarding and/or failure to utilize energy control procedures.

Technical Assistance

• Inquiries about workplace safety and health requirements can be submitted to Ask OSH online or by phone at 919-707-7876.