A Report on the Frequency and Nature of Injury in the Textile Rental Industry

Don Bock, ARM | Seabright Safety Solutions

The purpose of this paper is to determine the most frequent injuries as well as the nature of those injuries experienced in the Textile Rental industry.

As background, the industry has recently shown an interest in understanding the frequency as well as nature of injuries as opposed to the rate of injury.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) promulgates the TRIIR, or total rate of illness and injuries annually.  In order to produce the rate, BLS and OSHA randomly select businesses to submit a survey identifying the injuries and illnesses that occur during a subject year from employers.  To collect that data BLS requires that the businesses use the OSHA forms 300 and 300(a).  The rate of injury is then calculated using the number of injuries or illnesses relative to employee hours worked to establish the rate.   That calculation is as follows: # of incidents/employee hours worked * 200,000 (hours worked annually by 100 workers).  An example of this calculation is 2 incidents/80,000 hours * 200,000= a rate of 5.0. The rate of injury does not speak to the severity of the event.  It speaks only to the fact that the injury occurred.  BLS further provides a calculation for Days Away Restricted or Transitional incidents. This calculation is completed in the same fashion using only those injuries that resulted in Days Away or Restrictions or Transitional employment.

The most recent rates for the Textile Rental Industry promulgated for the year 2023 which is the most recent year for which the rates have been calculated are as follows:

NAICS 812331—Linen Supply—Total TRIIR 4.0, DART 3.2, Days Away 2.1, Restricted 1.1, Other .8*

NAICS 812332—Industrial Launderer—Total TRIIR 3.4, DART 2.6, Days Away 1.2, Restricted 1.4, Other .8*

*TRIIR= Total Recordable Injury and Illness Rate, DART= Days Away Restricted or Transitional Rate

*Days Away=Rate of injury creating missed work days, Restricted= Rate of injury creating modified, restricted or transitional days, Other=Rate of injury to be recorded but not creating missed work or restrictions (e.g. bandage without medication).

This compares with the rates for Private Industry rates as follows:  TRIIR 2.4, DART 1.5, Days Away 1.0, Restricted .6 and other 1.0.  It’s easy to see that the Textile Rental Industry rate of injury is significantly higher.  For Linen Supply the rate of injury is 1.6 greater than private industry which means for every 100 employees, 1. 6 more workers are injured.

Linen Supply (NAICS 812331)

Using data provided by BLS for the years 2011 through 2022 of recordable injuries resulting in lost work days, the actual injuries incurred for those 12 years are identified in the following paragraphs.  The total number of injuries for that 12 year period in the Linen Supply Classification (812331) is 21,300.

The injuries experienced most frequently are musculoskeletal disorders with 5,500 being recorded.  Of the 5,500 MSD’s,  5,420 are the result of “sprains, strains and tears” or 25% of the total number of injuries.   When considering the category “soreness or pain” in which 2,430 injuries were reported or 11% of the total the result is 7,850 injuries meaning that 36% of all injuries are soft tissue injuries. The leading contributors to these soft tissue injuries are those injuries caused by overexertion or bodily reaction with 5,710 or 27% of the total being reported.  Of those 5,710, 1,470 were the result of overexertion in lifting or lowering.    After these 2 categories the next most frequent injuries are contusions 1,420 total  or 10% followed by cuts/lacerations and punctures 580 or less than 5%.

When considering causes in Linen Supply after overexertion the next most frequent injury cause is Contact with an Object or Equipment occurring 3,600 times representing 17% of the total injuries for Linen Supply.  Under this category is being struck by a cart in the laundry which occurred 1,700 times, or 8% as well as failure to use Lockout/Tagout which occurred 1,000 times or 5% of the total injuries.

Next, Falls, Slips and Trips occurring  2,530 times represent 12% of the total.  Of those 2,530 falls 1,430 (7%) were falls on the same level.

In terms of body parts affected by injury in Linen Supply classification the following represents those body parts injured and percentage of the total.

  • Head (including eye and neck-960 (5%)
  • Trunk (including back). 3,060 (15%)
    • Back –2,200 (10.5%)
  • Upper Extremities-4,710 (22%)
    • Shoulders—1,910 (9%)
    • Hands—1,120 (5%)
  • Lower Extremities—2,630 (12%)
    • Knee—920 (4%)
    • Ankle—540 (2.5%)
    • Foot—700 (3.2%)

Industrial Launderers (NAICS 812332)

Using the same data provided by BLS for the years 2011 through 2022 of recordable injuries resulting in lost work days, the actual injuries incurred for those 12 years are identified in the following paragraphs.  The total number of injuries for that 12 year period in the Industrial Launderers Classification (812332) is 15,390.

The most frequent injuries are musculoskeletal injuries (sprains, strains and tears) 4,540 injuries or 29%.   Adding to that is the category “soreness or pain” 1,700 injuries or 11% we have 40% of the total being soft tissue injuries.  The leading contributors to these soft tissue injuries are those injuries caused by overexertion or bodily reaction in lifting or lowering.  While 4,540 MSD’s have been reported 4,710 injuries are related to overexertion or bodily reaction.   This represents 30% all injuries.  Of the 4,710 overexertion injuries, 1,170 are the result of lifting and lowering.   After these 2 categories the next most frequent injuries are soreness (1,700 reported cases) contusions with 810 total recorded cases or 8% followed by cuts/lacerations and punctures 370 or less than 4% of the total.

When considering causes in the Industrial Launderer classification after overexertion the next most frequent injury cause is Contact with an Object or Equipment occurring 2,000 times representing 13% of the total injuries for Industrial Laundry.  Under this category is being struck by a cart in the laundry which occurred 980 times, or 6% as well as failure to use Lockout/Tagout which occurred 930 times or 6% of the total injuries.

Next, Falls, Slips and Trips occurring  1,900 times represent 12% of the total.  Of those 1,900 falls 1,100 (7%) were falls on the same level.

In terms of body parts affected by injury in Industrial Launderer classification the following represents those body parts injured and percentage of the total.

  • Head (including eye and neck-620 (5%)
  • Trunk (including back). 2,630 (17%)
    • Back –1,800 (11.6%)
  • Upper Extremities-2,940 (19%)
    • Shoulders—980 (6.3%)
    • Hands—940 (6.1%)
  • Lower Extremities—2,420 (15.7%)
    • Knee—660 (4.2%)
    • Ankle—760 (4.9%)
    • Foot—620 (4%)

Summary:  There is similarity when considering incidence, cause and nature of injury between Linen Supply and Industrial Launderers.   The major difference is the total number of injuries.  Since Linen Supply employs more equipment and workers it stands to reason that there are more injuries in that classification as there is greater opportunity.  Industrial Launderers tend to have more automation as a rule resulting in fewer  employees and fewer opportunities for injury.  That might explain the difference in the totals. Both classifications depend on an excessive amount of manual material handling both in production and in serving customers therefore MSD’s (Musculoskeletal Disorders) are the greatest loss driver for each classification.

Seabright Safety Solutions

About Don Bock:

After graduating from Cal State University Hayward, CA, with a BA degree in Political Science, Don began his career at a regional textile supplier as a production worker.  During a 32 year career, he advanced to increasingly responsible positions in Operations, ultimately serving as District Manager at one of the company’s largest linen plants.  For the final 13 years Don served as Safety Director and Director of Risk Management earning an Associate in Risk Management in a company of 2500 employees.  During his tenure serving as Safety Director/Risk Manager, Don successfully led the organization in reducing the number of injuries and commensurate Workers Comp claims by over 70% in the first 5 years.  That reduction continued to improve over the final 8 years.  Since 2013 Don has provided Safety Consulting to a number of Textile Rental companies with an emphasis on improving employee performance to reduce risk as well as to guide organizations in achieving HLAC Accreditation and TRSA Certification for Hygienically Clean Programs.

Don Bock has presented concepts and examples of cross functional teams in leading organizational change at several national safety and risk conferences, including RIMS (Risk and Insurance Management Society), Behavior Safety Now, and TRSA Clean Show. In addition, Don also presented at several Workers Comp conferences outlining strategies to reduce workplace injuries.  Don received the Liberty Mutual Vice President’s Award and was invited to serve on the Liberty Mutual Loss Prevention Advisory Board.  Don also served as one of the original members of the TRSA Safety Committee formed in 2008.  Recently, Don authored a comprehensive approach to plant safety inspections for the American Laundry News.

Don continues to provide Safety and Risk consulting to several organizations in the Textile Rental Industry by stressing the dignity of the individual as the driving force behind reducing worksite injuries.