HSE Urges Laundry Business To Heed Equipment Safety Warnings

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned laundry businesses to train employees to pay attention to safety warnings on commercial laundry equipment, after a laundry worker was seriously injured using a commercial ironer.

The man was working at a laundry firm in Southend-on-Sea in Essex when the incident occurred. The 23-year-old was cleaning one of the companys commercial ironers when his arm was pulled inside and pinned against the roller. This caused his arm to be seriously burned and crushed to the extent that he lost two fingers on one hand.

After the incident, the HSE prosecuted the mans employers for failing to take steps to prevent the incident. Southend Magistrates Court heard that a guard had been removed from the machinery, despite numerous warning labels and notices in place advising that the guard must be in place before cleaning or servicing could be carried out.

Commercial laundry equipment, and especially commercial ironers and other heated machinery, is one of the biggest causes of injury to people working within the laundry industry. This is why the HSE recommends that businesses and their employees pay heed to all safety warnings and guidance provided by the manufacturer.