Home
Share |

Content about Prevention

February 28, 2013
New York City Mandates Dry Cleaners to Disclose Chemicals Used

NEW YORK — DEP will work with affected businesses over next year to implement new rule ahead of enforcement date

NEW YORK — Beginning next February, New York City dry cleaners will be required to disclose to consumers the primary chemicals used in their dry cleaning process, says the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

About 1,400 dry cleaning businesses throughout the Big Apple will be required to list the chemicals and a link to information about their health effects, so that consumers can access their potential impact.

DEP will work with affected businesses over the next year to implement the new rule ahead of the enforcement date.

“The local dry cleaner is an essential part of life for most New Yorkers, and it is important that information about all the chemicals used by these businesses is available,” says DEP Commissioner Carter Strickland. “At virtually no cost to businesses, this rule will ensure that this important public health information is available to the public.”

July 24, 2012
Starting Strong: Getting a New Dry Cleaning Plant Up and Running (Part 1)

CHICAGO — Each start-up is unique, but there are basic guidelines to follow

CHICAGO — Opening a new dry cleaning business is a big step, whether you’re coming in fresh to the industry and are investing for the first time or you’re a current owner who’s looking to expand your operation by adding a new location.

Each plant start-up has its own unique challenges and requirements to meet, but there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind as you pursue your new venture.

STARTING POINT

An entrepreneur has to decide whether to buy an existing plant that will produce immediate cash flow or open a new location, says industry veteran Harvey Gershenson, who worked 44 years as a dry cleaner before selling his California business in 2007 and opening a consulting firm.

And whatever choice he or she makes, Gershenson hopes that it is influenced by a thoughtful business plan. “The No. 1 thing I would suggest for anybody who’s going into the business, whether they buy existing or look to start from scratch, is to do a written business plan.”

July 11, 2012
Tips for Meeting New HazCom Requirements

CINCINNATI — How to successfully integrate new hazcom system in your dry cleaning operation

CINCINNATI — Cintas Corp., a provider of first aid and safety products, has released its top tips for businesses impacted by the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) requirements for chemical classification and labeling. The new system will require millions of businesses and employees nationwide to be retrained on hazard communication.

“Hazardous-chemical information needs to be communicated to any employee who is exposed to or works with chemicals—even bleach,” says John Amann, vice president, First Aid & Safety, Cintas. “With GHS affecting over 5 million businesses, it is important that all employees are trained and understand the upcoming changes to chemical safety so businesses can keep workers safe and maintain OSHA compliance.”

The top tips for transitioning to GHS include:

UPDATE YOUR WRITTEN SAFETY PROGRAM

Anytime a safety standard is created or updated, written programs must be changed to include guidelines for complying with the regulation. Update your written program to incorporate GHS in all of your current hazard communication protocols.

May 5, 2011
Inside Tide

P&G’s new Tide-brand plants could be the wave of the future, if franchise operators can keep the consumer experience fresh.

LEAWOOD, Kan. — Procter & Gamble, maker of America’s best-selling laundry detergent, is now in the drycleaning business. The company picked the Kansas City suburb of Leawood, Kan., as the location for its flagship Tide plant, which won a Merit Award in this magazine’s 2009 Plant Design Awards.

June 14, 2010
Industry Successful in Changing Sprinkler Guidelines

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, Ill. — A group of drycleaning industry organizations, including the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI), TCATA, R.R. Street and others, succeeded in changing International Code Council (ICC) fire code guidelines for Class III drycleaning plants.

November 3, 2009
Martinizing Dry Cleaning Acquires Dry Cleaning Station

LOVELAND, Ohio — Martinizing Dry Cleaning has increased its more than 529-store global presence with the acquisition of Minneapolis-based Dry Cleaning Station.

It’s anticipated that a combination of 10 Dry Cleaning Station full-service plants will initially convert to the Martinizing brand in four markets, including Denver; Southern California; Tulsa, Okla.; and Minneapolis, with other markets to follow, according to Jerry Laesser, Martinizing’s vice president of marketing and franchise development.

August 11, 2008
National Dry Cleaners Files for Bankruptcy Protection

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — National Dry Cleaners Inc., the largest group of affiliated drycleaners in the United States with 231 stores in nine states, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Its assets will be liquidated.

April 4, 2008
How Do I Process Firefighter Turnout Gear?

Q: A smaller fire station near me asked if I could clean their turnout gear on an as-needed basis. Do you have any washing guidelines for turnout gear?

A: Turnout gear, which is used by firefighters and other emergency workers, must be processed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. These standards not only ensure that the gear will not be damaged by processing, they also deal with specific guidelines for decontamination and other maintenance issues.

December 18, 2007
Employer Pays for Protective Equipment, OSHA Says

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Occupational Safety & Health Administration recently published a final rule clarifying who pays for personal protective equipment (PPE) required in the workplace.

Most of the PPE devices covered in the rule are already the employer’s responsibility, OSHA says, including hard hats, gloves, goggles, safety shoes, safety glasses, welding helmets and goggles, chemical protective equipment, and more. However, employers now must provide necessary protective equipment at no cost to the employee.

September 12, 2007
U.S. Dry Cleaning Acquires Top California Chain

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — U.S. Dry Cleaning Corp. announced yesterday it has signed an agreement to acquire the No. 1 drycleaning chain in California’s Central Valley. With 18 stores in and around Fresno, Calif., and two more in Arizona, the chain will add more than $6.5 million to U.S. Dry Cleaning’s existing $10 million in annual sales.