January 8, 2007
Stories Right Column
Reino Linen Highlighted For Its Training of Hispanic TRSA Calendar
Employees
February 27-March 1, 2007
Reino Linen Service Inc., Gibsonburg, OH, received high- Tech/Plant Summit
profile praise last month in an article in the Winter edition of Atlanta, GA
Workers’Comp, a publication sponsored by the Ohio Registration: George Ferencz
Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. The article focuses on April 20-26, 2007
how Reino maintains effective relations with the company’s Production Management Institute
Hispanic employees, who comprise roughly 40% of its 160- Denton, TX
member workforce. Contact: Bill Mann
Titled The Language of Safety in a Multilingual Workforce,
June 10
the article cited Reino Linen’s use of multilingual training to th
TRSA 95 Annual Meeting & Clean Show Reception
reduce turnover, improve safety and productivity among its
Las Vegas Hilton
Hispanic workforce.
Las Vegas, NV
When asked about Reino Linen’s approach to its Hispanic Contact: George Ferencz
employees, Ken Dotts, the company’s VP of operations and June 11-14, 2007
its HR manager said, ―What we have learned is treat them Clean ‘07
the same—just communicate better in their language.‖ All Las Vegas, NV
of the company’s written or video materials are provided to Web site/Registration: View (www.cleanshow.com)
employees in both English and Spanish, Dotts said. Contact: George Ferencz
Reino Linen seeks team leaders and supervisors who September 17-19, 2007
speak both English and Spanish, he added. ‖One of the Joint Committee Meetings
things we look for when we hire a team leader is St. Louis, MO
bilingualism,‖ he said. ―(it’s the) same with supervisors. Contact: George Ferencz
We’ve got two supervisors and two team leaders that are October 7-9, 2007
bilingual.‖ Managing Maintenance Institute
Lansdowne, VA
The company also offers classes to its Hispanic employees Contact: Bill Mann
through its Employee Assistance Program. These sessions
address cultural issues that can cause friction on the Fed Business Opportunities
production floor. For example, some Hispanic employees
have difficulty working with female supervisors, Dotts said.
―We have female supervisors and that was a problem, but This Month’s Textile Rental
we’ve set up classes to help with that,‖ he said.
January Issue Picture
The Workers’Comp article on Reino Linen grew out of a
relationship the company has fostered with state officials New Textile Service Member
who develop classes on maintaining good relations with Purity Services Inc., New Bedford, MA
Hispanic employees. The classes are now offered to Universal Linen Service, Louisville, KY
companies statewide, Dotts said.
New Associate Member
When asked how his staff—and especially those whose American Associated Companies, Fayetteville, GA
photos appeared in the article—reacted to the story, Dotts Phoenix Scale Company, Glendale, AZ
said they were delighted with the recognition. ―They were Softrol Systems Inc., Acworth, GA
running around with the magazines in their pockets
because this wasn’t so much on us (Reino). It was a lot on
the employees. It made them proud,‖ he said.
TRSA Expands Offerings in Digital Library
TRSA’s Digital Subscription Library is a collection of more
than 130 industry training resources found on TRSA Online
that members can download for free. This week, the Library
expands with the addition of four new publications focusing
on competing with OPLs and reusables.
Three of the new offerings are powerful spreadsheet
applications that members can use to illustrate the savings
of textile services. The TRSA Hospital Textile Cost
Calculator (#71908) allows operators to illustrate to hospital
administrators the true cost of running an OPL; in most
instances, hospitals to not accurately capture all of their
expenses of running an in-house laundry, such as
employee benefits. A PDF publication called Hospital
Textile Cost Manual (#71400) should be used in
conjunction with the spreadsheet to get an accurate
comparison between outsourcing and textile services.
A third publication being added to the Digital Subscription
Library is TRSA’s C.A.R.D. (Cost Analysis of Reusables
and Disposables)(#71910). This spreadsheet program
compares and analyzes costs of a reusable underpad with
a disposable. C.A.R.D. is a very effective tool for
developing meaningful dialog with healthcare CFOs and
nursing home administrators about the savings they can
realize by using reusable underpads.
TRSA is also helping its linen supply members also to close
OPLs of hotels and restaurants. A tool this segment of the
industry can use is TRSA’s Textile Cost Calculator for the
Hospitality Industry (#719139). This product, like the
Hospital Textile Cost Calculator, lets operators show the
actual cost of maintaining a hospitality OPL; TRSA and its
members have consistently seen in analysis after analysis
that when all expenses of running an OPL are accounted
for, outsourcing is a clear winner.
TRSA hopes by making these publications available to a
larger audience that more operators will seek to convert
OPLs to outsourcing and disposables to reusables.
Members can get their user name and password to the
Digital Subscription Library by contacting Dennis Mangual
at dmangual@trsa.org or 877/770-9274.
Tech/Plant Summit Program Strengthens; Look for
Special Promo This Week
With five weeks to go before Tech/Plant Summit 2006, an
already comprehensive agenda is getting even better.
Speakers from outside and within the industry are lined up
and preparing their presentations on how innovation is
changing the way the industry does business. The Summit
runs from Feb. 27 to March 1 in Atlanta.
The strength of the program can be seen in its general
sessions. The first general session kicks off the Summit
with a detailed look at innovations in logistics and their
impact on the industry. UPS will be providing a keynote
speaker to explain how the package delivery company
optimizes its routes. This will be followed by a presentation
highlighting how logistics software and hand-helds are
already benefiting textile service companies.
Another general session, also on Feb. 27, introduces
attendees to the potential of XML. The data interchange
protocol is being examined by a TRSA/UTSA task force as
a way of allowing more integration among plant systems.
Members of the task force will provide an overview of the
technology first, and then a speaker from Oracle will explain
how other industries have adopted this technology. Finally,
the session concludes with a ―proof of concept‖ that will
show a theoretical XML application for the industry.
Production management systems will be the focus of a
general session on March 1. This discussion will deal with
how these systems are giving operators the real-time data
they need to improve the efficiency of their operations.
The general sessions alone are powerful, but the Summit
also includes an additional 18 sessions, all dealing with
innovative solutions to meeting the challenge of increasing
efficiency, boosting productivity and raising profitability.
A special Tech/Plant Summit promotion will be sent to
members later this week, which will include information on
the Summit’s two plant tours. Registration forms and hotel
information can be found on TRSA Online at
www.trsa.org/Summit2007.
LaundryESP Survey Moves Forward
The new LaundryESP survey forms were mailed out last
week with the additional request for 2006 data; the new due
date is April 15. If you have already completed the three
previous years, simply enter your 2006 data and submit the
new form separately.
The success of this effort will play an important role in
maintaining the industry’s good reputation with EPA and
other regulatory bodies. By participating, members boost
their environmental leadership image with their customers
and communities. It’s not too late to join LaundryESP.
Contact TRSA’s Director of Environmental Affairs Robert
Schaffer at rschaffer@trsa.org or call 877/770-9274.
House Committee to Consider Reauthorizing Clean
Water Revolving Fund
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
will consider legislation this month that would re-authorize
the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) to pay for
repairs to local treatment plants and sewer systems. SRF
would also be responsible for the payment of prevailing
wages to workers under the Davis-Bacon Act, which
pertains to federal government construction contracts.
The SRF’s steady source of federal funding depleted when
it expired in 1994. Since then, Congress has been unable
to re-authorize the fund because of disputes over Davis-
Bacon. With less federal support, POTWs have increasingly
turned to their customers to make up the difference, which
has lead to spikes in sewer charges.
The Bush administration prefers to turn the revolving fund
into a self-sustaining loan program that is replenished by
interest payments made on loans to communities. There is
still concern that Congress will miss the opportunity to find
a long-term solution for federal funding mechanism.
Right from the Start, PMI Provides Knowledge, Value
Students who come to TRSA/UTSA’s Production
Management Institute for their first year of training dive into
a deep program encompassing all aspects of laundry
management.
First year participants begin the week with extensive
training in washroom management. Dr. Charles Riggs, co-
author of TRSA’s Textile Laundering Technology – the
Bible of our industry – leads a team of laundry chemical
industry specialists in this session. Subjects include wash
formula steps, chemical processes and controls. Other
topics incorporate lessons on surfactants, enzymes, alkalis,
bleaches, specialty chemicals and safe chemical handling.
Ergonomics education will emphasize the factors
concerning industrial biomechanics. One class covers
healthcare handling and processing, providing information
on the basics of bloodborne pathogens; an assistant clinical
professor and a registered nurse from TWU’s College of
Nursing will discuss pertinent issues. They will present on
transmission-causing microorganisms, occupational risks,
PPE’s and safe work practices to help avoid or minimize
exposure to blood borne pathogens. To top it off, TRSA
President and CEO Roger Cocivera will give a presentation
entitled ―Management Skills.‖
All of the above will be offered in just the first two days.
The week continues with dynamic presentations on relevant
industry issues. Highlighted subjects include the following:
conditioning/finishing, dryers, water/wastewater
management, communications, human resources,
workplace safety, energy management, time management,
production scheduling, customer service and stockroom
management. Academic and industry experts conduct
every class with helpful instruction backed by career
wisdom.
For the first time, Year 1 attendees receive the added
bonus of a plant tour.
PMI is an excellent resource for associate members as
well, providing unique and important insight to the textile
service industry. Register on-line at www.twu.edu/lifelong,
follow the link to Production Management Institute. Contact
Bill Mann at 877/770-9274 or bmann@trsa.org.
Labor Unions Sue OSHA for Not Issuing PPE Rule
Earlier this month, two labor unions sued OSHA charging
that the agency had failed to complete a regulation
requiring employers to cover the costs of Personal
Protective Equipment. The AFL-CIO and United Food and
Commercial Workers (UFCW) wand the rule, which OSHA
proposed in 1999, finalized. The rule would require
employers to provide and pay for goggles, face shields,
gloves, helmets, earplugs, respirators, etc. to as many as
20 million workers in a variety of relevant industries.
The rule would creates an obligation and an opportunity for
the textile services industry. The obligation is that operators
who currently are not supplying PPEs to its employees
would have to do so; however the industry’s track record in
this area has been exemplary. On the other hand the rule, if
passed, could also be an opportunity to textile service
companies to market PPEs to existing and potential
hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing and construction
customers, among others.
State Watch
Several States Expected to Address Paid Sick Leave in
2007
Currently, no federal or state laws require employers to
provide employees with paid sick leave. However, change
is in the air. Already, about half of U.S. employers provide
the benefit voluntarily, and a newly-enacted San Francisco
law requires paid sick leave.
Federal legislators, including Rep. George Miller (D-CA),
Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA),
have repeatedly pledged to push for legislation that
mandates paid sick leave for all U.S. employees.
Additionally, lawmakers in at least seven states are
expected to pass similar legislation this year. These states
are: Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Vermont, Maine, Montana,
Michigan, and Maryland.
Many states are likely to introduce a similar measure for
those employers who voluntarily offer paid sick leave. This
ruling would require businesses to allow employees to use
their sick leave to care for family members or dependents
with an illness or disability. Maine, California, Connecticut,
Hawaii, Minnesota, Washington and Wisconsin already
have enacted such laws.