Targeted Domain Review: OSHA 10 General Industry and Regulatory Compliance

Why OSHA 10 Matters in a Drycleaning and Laundry Plant

The OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Outreach Program is not simply a certificate to hang on a wall. It is a structured introduction to the federal safety rules that govern every task you perform—spotting, pressing, loading dry-cleaning machines, handling solvent waste, and operating conveyors. Completing OSHA 10 signals to employers that you can recognize hazards, cite the regulatory basis for controlling them, and act before someone is injured. In this lesson you will work through all ten topic areas as they apply specifically to drycleaning and laundry operations.

Topic Area 1 – Introduction to OSHA

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is the federal agency authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health Act to set and enforce workplace safety standards. Employers must comply with applicable standards and the General Duty Clause, which requires them to keep the workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious harm even when no specific standard exists. Workers have the right to request an OSHA inspection, review exposure records, and refuse work they reasonably believe poses imminent danger—without retaliation.

Topic Area 2 – Walking-Working Surfaces

Wet floors around washer-extractors and solvent transfer areas are a leading slip-and-fall source in laundry plants. OSHA's walking-working surfaces standards require floors to be kept clean and dry, drainage provided where wet processes occur, and slip-resistant mats or footwear used where drainage alone is not enough. Aisles must be clearly marked and kept clear of carts and garment bags.

Topic Area 3 – Emergency Action Plans (EAPs)

Every covered workplace must have a written Emergency Action Plan describing evacuation routes, alarm systems, employee assembly points, and designated persons who assist with evacuation. In a drycleaning plant, the EAP must also address solvent release scenarios: who calls 911, who shuts the machine down safely, and where personnel muster. The plan must be reviewed with every new employee before they start work.

Topic Area 4 – Hazard Communication and GHS

Hazard Communication (HazCom) under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) requires chemical manufacturers to supply a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for every hazardous chemical. Employers must maintain an SDS for every chemical on-site—including perchloroethylene (perc), hydrocarbon solvents, spotting agents, and detergents—in a location accessible to workers at all times during the shift. Labels on containers must display the GHS pictogram, signal word (Danger or Warning), hazard statements, and precautionary statements. Workers must be trained to read both labels and SDSs before working with any hazardous chemical. Perchloroethylene is classified as a probable human carcinogen; its SDS will list respiratory protection requirements, exposure limits, and emergency first-aid measures.

Topic Area 5 – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is the last line of defense after engineering and administrative controls. The employer must conduct a written hazard assessment, select PPE appropriate to each hazard, provide it at no cost to employees (with limited exceptions), and train workers on correct use, care, and limitations. In drycleaning and laundry operations: solvent-resistant gloves and a chemical splash apron protect spotters; safety glasses or chemical goggles protect against spray; an air-purifying respirator with the correct cartridge type (organic vapor for perc or hydrocarbon solvents) is required when engineering controls do not reduce airborne solvent concentrations below the permissible exposure limit. Never use a dust mask as a substitute for an organic-vapor respirator.

Topic Area 6 – Electrical Safety

Industrial laundry and drycleaning equipment runs on high-voltage circuits. OSHA's electrical standards require that all electrical equipment be installed and maintained to prevent shock and fire. Workers must not bypass safety devices, use damaged cords, or work on energized circuits without proper authorization and training. Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are required near wet areas. Inspect power cords on irons and pressing equipment before each shift.

Topic Area 7 – Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)

Lockout/tagout is the procedure for controlling hazardous energy—electrical, mechanical, thermal, pneumatic—before servicing or maintaining equipment. OSHA's Control of Hazardous Energy standard requires a written energy-control program, documented procedures for each piece of equipment, and annual inspection of those procedures. The sequence is: notify affected employees → identify all energy sources → shut the machine down → isolate each energy source → apply a personal lock and tag → release or restrain stored energy (bleed pressure, block parts) → verify zero energy state before beginning work. In a laundry plant, this applies to conveyor systems, washer-extractor drums, and pressing equipment. Only the worker who applied a lock may remove it.

Topic Area 8 – Machine Guarding

All moving parts that can cause injury—conveyor nip points, rotating cylinders on flatwork ironers, tumbler openings—must be guarded. Guards must be strong enough to withstand the work environment, must not create an additional hazard, and must not be removed unless the machine is locked out. Report missing or damaged guards to a supervisor immediately; do not operate the machine until guards are restored.

Topic Area 9 – Fire Safety

Hydrocarbon solvents are flammable liquids; their vapors can ignite if they reach a source of ignition within their flammable range. Storage, handling, and disposal must follow OSHA standards and NFPA guidelines. Fire extinguishers must be mounted, inspected monthly, and maintained annually. Workers must know the location of the nearest extinguisher and how to operate it (PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep). Emergency exits must be unobstructed and clearly marked at all times.

Industry-Specific Area – Solvent Exposure Controls

Drycleaning plants using perc or hydrocarbon solvents must apply the hierarchy of controls: engineering controls first (closed-loop dry-cleaning machines, local exhaust ventilation), then work-practice controls (keep machine door closed during cycle, handle solvent waste in labeled closed containers), then PPE. Understand that OSHA sets permissible exposure limits (PELs) and that exceeding them without controls is a violation subject to citation and penalty.

Putting It Together for Exam Day

OSHA 10 scenario questions ask you to apply a standard to a situation—not just recite it. Practice by asking: What is the hazard? Which standard area covers it? What control is required, and in what order on the hierarchy? What PPE is appropriate? Use this four-step framework on every scenario question and on the practice exam.