HC 20

Control of Spotting Chemical Hazards In Commercial Drycleaning

Many hazardous chemicals are commonly used in drycleaning shops to remove garment stains.

Workers performing stain removal may be exposed to these toxic chemicals through skin

absorption, eye contact, or inhalation of vapors. The primary hazard is dermatitis from chronic or

acute exposure. Dilute hydrofluoric acid, found in some products that remove rust stains, may

cause severe chemical burns with deep tissue destruction that may not be evident until several

hours after prolonged contact. 

ISOLATION

g The spotting process should be isolated from other workers. Process isolation is most effective

when used in conjunction with good ventilation.

VENTILATION

g Local exhaust ventilation (e.g. an exhaust hood) should be used to reduce solvent exposures

during the spotting process. An exhaust hood should be located near the source of the spotting

chemicals to prevent the vapors from entering the workers’ breathing zone. A slot hood at table

level or a downdraft table exhausting to the outside of the building provides good protection for

workers. Spotting tables equipped with an exhaust hood are now commercially available (See

Figure 1).

g General ventilation should include both supply and exhaust air. Make-up air supply should be

designed and used in conjunction with the exhaust system. An inadequate volume of make-up

air may result in negative pressure areas, perhaps resulting in drafts that interfere with the

exhaust hood. When make-up air is introduced, it should enter the opposite side of the room

from the exhaust to prevent short circuiting. Ventilation systems in drycleaning shops should

provide a minimum of 30 cfm of outside air per person. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Figure 1. Diagram showing spotting table

with local exhaust ventilation hood.

September 1997

WORK PRACTICES

g Spotters should be trained in selective pre-spotting. They should know the proper techniques

for stain removal and the correct way to use spotting chemicals in limited quantities. The spotter

should recognize stains that will be removed in the drycleaning process and do not require prespotting. Spotters who are trained to reduce the number of treated garments will reduce

personal exposures. 

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

g The spotter should routinely use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as chemical

resistant gloves and goggles to reduce dermal exposures. Gloves should be made of solventresistant materials, such as Viton® fluoroelastomer, polyvinyl alcohol, or unsupported nitrile.

If a solvent permeates a glove material and breaks through to the inside of the glove, the glove

can increase chemical exposure by trapping the chemical close to the worker’s skin.

Manufacturers of PPE often assist in making the proper choices regarding glove types and life

expectancy of the glove material, while considering the specific spotting chemicals being used.

Different gloves may be needed for different types of spotting chemicals. Barrier creams may

also be used but are less effective than gloves.

g Chemical splash goggles should be worn to prevent eye injury during spotting. Accidental

contamination of the eye could result in minor irritation or complete loss of vision. An easily

accessible eye wash station should be located near the spotting area. If chemical

contamination of the eye occurs, prompt irrigation for at least 15 min can help limit the extent

of damage (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Chemical splash goggles, gloves, and an eye wash station

located near the spotting station are all important to protect the health

and safety of the spotter.

For More Information

— call NIOSH* at 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674) or

— visit the NIOSH Home Page on the World Wide Web at

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html

Acknowledgments

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted. NIOSH encourages all readers

of this HAZARD CONTROLS to make it available to all interested employers and workers.

To obtain more information about controlling this hazard or for information about other occupational

health and safety issues:

A NIOSH technical report, Control of Health and Safety Hazards in Commercial Drycleaners:

Chemical Exposures, Fire Hazards, and Ergonomic Risk Factors, has been published on this

subject. This document is one in a series of seven HAZARD CONTROLS concerning control of

hazards in the drycleaning industry that are available free upon request.

*NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for preventing workrelated illnesses and injuries. All HAZARD CONTROLS are based on research studies that show how worker

exposures to hazardous agents or activities can be significantly reduced.

The principal contributors to this publication are Gary S. Earnest, Lynda Ewers, Avima Ruder, Linda

Goldenhar, Daniel S. Watkins, Rosmarie T. Hagedorn, and Jerome P. Flesch.

October 1997 DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-158