The Dangers in Dry Cleaning Solvent
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
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