What safety risks come up in dry cleaning jobs?

Every job has its own particular safety concerns. Today, we will go over some of the hazards that a worker could face in dry cleaning jobs.

The unique aspects of dry cleaning work give rise to a range of potential safety risks, including:

• Ergonomics risks: A lot of the work tasks done at dry cleaners are done with great frequency. This could expose a worker to repetitive motion injuries or other musculoskeletal injuries.
• Chemical exposure risks: Lots of different chemicals are used at dry cleaners. Some of these chemicals could cause a worker great harm if they are inhaled, make contact with a worker’s eyes or are in prolonged contact with a worker’s skin. One of the common dry cleaning chemicals that can raise safety risks for workers is Perchloroethylene.
• Fire risks: Many of the chemicals and materials present at dry cleaners could serve as ignition sources or fuel for fires.

So, chemical safety, ergonomics and fire safety are among the things it is incredibly important for dry cleaning employers to give proper attention to.

As one can see, there are wide range of injuries that a person could end up suffering while doing dry cleaning work, from musculoskeletal injuries, to burn injuries, to chemical exposure injuries. The different types of dry cleaning injuries vary in the kinds of effects they can have. But all of them have the potential to have real impacts on a worker’s life. So, with any type of dry cleaning injury, workers’ compensation can be a significant and important issue for the hurt worker.

Sources: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Safety And Health Topics – Dry Cleaning,” Accessed Sept. 21, 2016

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Safety And Health Topics – Dry Cleaning – Hazard Recognition,” Accessed Sept. 21, 2016