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Dry Cleaning |
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Recognition |
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Dry cleaning shops contain all elements necessary for uncontrolled fires: fuels, ignition sources, and
oxygen. Potential combustible materials include furniture, garments, lint, and portions of the building. The greatest
risk of fire and explosion exists if the dry cleaning shop uses a petroleum-based solvent in dry cleaning machines.
Ergonomic risks occur during garment transfer, pressing, and bagging. These
activities, combined with a high work rate and frequency, may cause physical
discomfort and musculoskeletal problems for workers. Disorders may include
damage to tendons, muscles, nerves, and ligaments of the hand, wrist, arm,
shoulder, neck, and back.
The following
references aid in recognizing hazards associated with dry cleaning.
- 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane.
OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin (HIB), (1984, April 23). Discusses the toxicity and health effects associated with
1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane also referred as
Fluorocarbon 113, Freon 113, FC-113, Refrigerant 113, Ucon 113, or Arklone
R-113.
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Stoddard Solvent.
OSHA Chemical Sampling Information, (1994, June 13).
Provides exposure limits, health factors, and monitoring information for
this dry cleaning solvent.
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Drycleaning.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Safety and Health
Topic. Provides links to
all NIOSH dry cleaning publications and related articles.
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Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene).
US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Publication No.
76-185, (1976, July). Presents the recommended standard based thereon
which were prepared to meet the need for preventing occupational diseases
arising from exposure to tetrachloroethylene.
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Tetrachloroethylene.
National Institute of Health (NIH), National Toxicology Program, (2003, November
26). Provides testing status information on tetrachloroethylene, a synonymous chemical to perchloroethylene.
Also includes
short and long-term carcinogenicity as well as genetic toxicology information.
- Perchloroethylene.
Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance (HSIA), Inc., (1999, November). Discusses the use of perchloroethylene
or perc in drycleaning processes and includes
information about its health effects and regulation.
- Ford, E.S., et al.
"Deaths from Acute Exposure to Trichloroethylene." Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine 37.6(1995,
June): 749-754. Advises employers to ensure that their employees are adequately
trained in the dangers of working with trichloroethylene (TCE), that adequate
ventilation of the working environment is provided, that the proper personal
protective equipment (PPE) is available to their workers, and that workers
should not work alone or unobserved when using TCE in confined spaces.
- Goldenhar, Linda, et al. "Concerns of the Dry-Cleaning Industry: A Qualitative Investigation of Labor and Management." American Journal of Industrial Medicine 35(1999): 112-123.
Also available as a 137 KB
PDF,
38 pages. Describes dry cleaning owners’ and workers’ concerns regarding health and safety and whether certain health
and safety practices might or might not be followed. This information could be used to determine what
motivational techniques might be useful for influencing employer and employee safety and health
behaviors.
- Ruder, Avima, Elizabeth Ward, and David Brown.
"Mortality in dry-cleaning workers: an update." American Journal of Industrial Medicine 39.2(2001): 121-132.
Also available as a 137 KB
PDF,
32 pages. Discusses the excess cancer mortality found in dry cleaning workers exposed to perchloroethylene (PCE), a known animal carcinogen and
probable human carcinogen. Many of these workers also had exposure to Stoddard
solvent, a petroleum-based dry cleaning solvent.
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