Industrial workers risking safety by washing workwear at home

In a survey conducted among senior decision makers in firms that are currently buying their garments direct from workwear providers, it was revealed that as many as 77% of employees are cleaning and maintaining their professional garments themselves which, says Berendsen, can lead to the premature deterioration of fabrics and, particularly in the case of high-visibility clothing, render them ineffective and non-compliant with safety regulations.

The research also found the majority of businesses asked viewed workwear as a disposable item that was the source of considerable hidden costs. Nine out of 10 companies replace damaged garments as opposed to repairing them, raising the total spend on workwear per employee, which currently sits at approximately anywhere between £450 and £1000 each year. However, this attitude towards work clothing could come as a result of a perceived lack of product value as an improvement in quality was one of the top answers given when the respondents were asked what their current supplier could do better.

Commenting on the findings, Kiratpal Randhawa, UK product marketing manager for workwear at Berendsen, said: “The impact professional clothing can have on a firm appears to be somewhat underestimated, yet it is an essential business component in most industries. Aside from the significant hidden costs, it is alarming to discover that so many employees are laundering their workwear at home and potentially unknowingly limiting the effectiveness of the fabrics, which can pose a threat to their safety. Employers have a duty to provide and maintain suitable garments for their staff so perhaps it is time to look at fully managed outsourced services as a more reliable alternative to purchasing.”

The findings of Berendsen’s research echo those of a 2014 European Textile Services Association (ETSA) study that found a staggering 92% of UK workers were laundering their workwear at home at the time. The textile rental and services industry trade body warned of the dangers of this risky practice, which can reduce the effectiveness of electrostatic ability, fire-retardancy, high visibility and chemical repellence, and said employers were in danger of losing control of their duty of care. Ultimately, ETSA insisted industrial laundering through an established firm, such as Berendsen, is the optimal way to improve each garment’s lifetime, and uphold its safety properties and protection for wearers.