The Dangers in Dry Cleaning Solvent

The variable chemical compound, perchloroethylene, popularly used in dry cleaning of garments, is a primary cause of serious problems with regards to health to laundry and dry cleaning employees. This liquefied solution, used to dissolve solid dirt in garments, affects the employees by entering the employees’ body via nasal inhalation of vapor emitted by machines or by spilling it on the skin of the employee.

Symptoms

These exposures will cause the victims to experience the following symptoms:

• Light-headedness, drowsiness or loss of balance
• Appearance of blisters and red rash on the skin after an untreated contact
• Low level loss of memory
• Decreased eye sight
• Slower reactions to any situation may materialize after years of constant exposure
• Severe damages to the kidney and the liver which could progress into cancer.

Carcinogen
The National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, on top of these findings, have both proclaimed perchloroethylene as a “probable human carcinogen”. In their studies and researches, these two reputable health agencies have found specific parts of perchloroethylene may cause cancer to other parts of the body aside from the liver and kidney. This chemical is not just a health hazard to these employees, but it is also a death sentence to them. Proper safety measures should be installed and practiced. And employees should never compromise their employees’ health for business.

Employees exposed
Employees working in dry cleaning companies are exposed to this harmful chemical by just doing their regular duties and responsibilities as well as doing maintenance jobs on the dry cleaning machines. The contamination happens when the employees start:

• Loading soiled clothes into dry cleaning and washing machines, which emits chemically infused air, blowing it out of these machines
• Removing newly washed and cleaned clothes from the machines, especially thick items, before these dry up
• Transferring by hand without gloves clothes that have been soaked in this chemical from the machines to the dryer
• Ironing newly dried clothes
• Applying a perchloroethylene based cleaning agent by hand without the use of gloves, goggles, face mask
• applying a perchloroethylene based waterproofing liquid by hand witout the use of gloves, goggles and face mask
• Cleaning garment fiber and button holes on the machines without the use of gloves, goggles, face mask
• Taking out the still to inspect and clean liquifying unit residue without the use of gloves, goggles, face mask
• Changing the chemical filter without the use of gloves, goggles, face mask
• While cleaning and inspection of the water separator without the use of gloves, goggles, face mask
• The disposal of chemical waste without the use of gloves, goggles, face mask

Add to these the fact that dry cleaning machines emit what people call ‘fugitive emissions’ which are not caught by vapour recovery and are emitted through an opening or when the machines loading vessel is opened. Leakages in the machine’s armour, hoses, vents, screws and bolts also contribute to this type of emission. So, careful inspection, scrutiny of every inch of every part of every machine should always be done on a periodic basis. Machines that are found to have leaks and defective should be given the proper attention and repaired right away for the sake of the employee’s health.

Updating machines with newer ones will lessen the employees health hazards because older type of dry cleaning machines, also known as transfer machines, expose employees to extreme amounts of vapours while transferring clothes from the washing machine to the dryer. The newer dry-to-dry-machines filter the vapour and re-circulate the solvent for use. This decreases vapour release to the employees, so unlike older machines that always vented outside. The newer machines also lessen the employee’s exposure to the chemicals thus minimizing the use of this solvent.

Old and new machines should be maintained and serviced on a regular basis and, if possible, older machines should be replaced. To effectively control the existence of perchloroethlylene in the dry cleaning places, a sufficient exhaust system should be put in place. Ducting, overhead fans, exhaust vents and a superior, functional exposed ventilation hood are effective ways to suck the vapours away from employees and customers, while an external ventilation system continuously supplies the concerned areas with fresh air. Newer machines do not emit unfavourable vapours as these have built in ventilation systems. With the installation of air monitoring gadgets, the level of chemicals can be kept in check.

Preventive measures
Listed below are preventive measures to lessen or eliminate employees’ exposure to harmful vapours produced by perchloroethlylene. This can be exercised by:

• not loading dry cleaning machines beyond capacity.
• not opening machine doors while these are in operation.
• keeping machine doors close most of the time.
• not making shortcuts by stopping the drying cycle before drying is done and finished.
• Keeping the head and face turned away from the machine while handling clothes that are laden with solvent.
• not transferring the solvent to the dry cleaning machines by hand or with the use of an open container. A closed tubing system that’s connected directly from machine drum to dry cleaning machines should be used.
• waiting for machine and solvent temperature to come down before employees star performing maintenance.
• not always using spotting agents.
• storing solvent containers and waste vessels in air tight vehicles.
• cleaning up spills immediately with the use of the correct materials and implementation of proper procedures.
• washing off with soap and water the part of the skin that has been exposed to the chemical.
• flushing immediately with water any splashes to the eyes.
• A certain portion in the dry cleaning area should be focused on how to deal with eye splashes. This area should have the proper first aid kit.

Employees in dry cleaning environments should be given the proper training procedures pertaining to safe work and how to handle solvent spills. Employers should also provide employees with protective equipment such as goggles, safety masks and jumper uniforms and safety gloves.

See: How to start a cleaning service

Our planet is beginning to turn green as lot of people become aware of the dangers and risks posed by hazardous chemicals and substances that are daily staples of our lives. People are now aware of the long-term effects of household chemicals to their health, including their families’ and pets’.

Household products which we constantly handle or get in touch with contain hazardous substances like organic solvents and petroleum based substances that release volatile organic compounds (VCOs) into the environment. Exposure to these hazardous and toxic chemicals, by way of ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation, can result to acute or chronic effects to our health. Common ailments like fatigue, headaches, skin rashes, burning eyes, allergic reactions, respiratory tract irritation, and kidney or liver damage are traced to a person’s exposure to these hazardous chemicals in the household.

It is the trend nowadays for hospitals, schools, and businesses to promote environmentally safe products, especially cleaning agents that easily damage our environment and cause illnesses. By switching to environmentally friendly products, workers in these establishments can enjoy a healthy environment. Savings are also realized in terms of decreased cost of disposing household toxins.

Natural cleaning business is an emerging trend that results from the desire of many people to adopt an environmentally friendly lifestyle. If you are planning to start your cleaning business, you should take advantage of the green mentality by putting up an all natural cleaning business. You do not only make money out of your business but you also give your share in the greening of the planet.

At the outset of your business start up, you should conduct your research to find out what environmentally friendly products you can use, where to procure them, and which company offers the least cost without sacrificing quality. Also, you should know if the supplier is capable of a continued supply of the products you need. There are many companies that supply environmentally friendly products for an all natural cleaning business, Aromalogics is one of them.

Incidentally, a lot of natural cleaning products have strong vinegar smell that at times can be really unpleasant. This may not be appreciated by your clients so it is necessary that you look for suppliers of all natural cleaning products that contain essential aromatherapy oils. These products, besides being environmentally safe, will leave a pleasant smell too. Bear in mind also that almost all of pure essential oil possesses antibacterial, germicidal, anti-fungal, antiseptic and healing properties.

You have to see to it that the products that you will order and will use servicing your clients are naturally plant based and that the supplier used only pure essential oils in producing them.

All natural products that contain essential oils require special care in handling and storage. They must be kept in a tightly closed container and must be stored in cool location, away from sources of light and heat. When used on a daily basis while cleaning houses and buildings of clients, they must be stored indoor at the end of the day. Never leave them inside the vehicle overnight especially in extreme weather.

While natural cleaning products cost more than chemical products, the benefits to everybody in terms of health far outweigh their cost.

See: How to start a cleaning business