How Textile Company Insurance Can Mitigate Risk

The work you do as a textile company is woven into the very fabric of society. Whether your textile company manufactures products or components for the traditional or non-traditional textile markets or simply resells those products or components, you play a pivotal role in many Canadian industries from clothing and apparel to household goods to safety and medical equipment to name just a few. In this post we analyze the safety risks and liabilities your textile company faces and how textile company insurance can help cover your operations.

Of course, the first step in managing your textile company’s risks and liabilities is to be aware of the laws and regulations of the textile industry. This Government of Canada page lists the regulations and standards required in the Canadian textile industry.

How Your Insurance For Textile Company Can Reduce Workplace Illness and Injury

Reducing workplace illness and injury will help your textile company reduce downtime and costs. 

In their article “Work safety, risk assessments, and standards”, Textile School identified common hazards and reduction practices for keeping textile workers safer:

“Materials that arrive in the factory are stored

  • Safety measures: Hard hats are worn. Danger areas marked with black-and-yellow warning strips, designated walkways. Safety guards and protective clothing, gloves and footwear worn.

Fabric spread and pieces cut out using a band saw

  • Safety measures: Use finger guard, protective chainmail gloves and steel toe cap footwear.

Fusing interlinings

  • Safety measures: Use a press that is controlled by both hands, one person per machine. Ventilation to remove vapors.

Sewing

  • Safety measures: Finger guards and eye shields/goggles used. Long hair tied up and no loose clothing. Seats adjusted for correct posture.

Scissors, blades and needles

  • Safety measures: All sharp blades, scissors and sharps (needles and pins) stored safely. Finger guards used.

Pressing and steaming

  • Safety measures: Use a press that is controlled by both hands, one person per machine. Use a steam room rather than steaming individual garments. Ventilation to remove vapors.

Cleaning and stain removal

  • Safety measures: Ventilation to remove vapors. Solvent containers labelled with warnings. No sources of ignition.

Production line handling

  • Safety measures: Hard hats are worn. Danger areas marked with black-and-yellow warning strips, designated walkways. Safety guards and protective clothing, gloves and footwear worn.

Packaging

  • Safety measures: Ventilation to remove vapors from heat sealers. Safety guards and protective clothing, gloves and footwear worn.”

If you run a textile mill and your workers are involved in the spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing or other processes that convert fibre into a finished fabric or a garment, your textile industry company must be mindful of :

1) Cotton dust

2) Chemicals

3) Noise

4) Ergonomic issues

To address these issues that are known to contribute to illness and injuries in textile insdustry companies, the following should be implemented:

  • Seats of chairs and tables properly aligned to reduce musculoskeletal strain
  • Proper lighting to reduce eyestrain
  • Properly maintained machinery and/or earplugs for noise reduction
  • Job rotation where possible
  • Proper cleaning and ventilation to reduce exposure to dust
  • PPE including gloves, masks and protective eyewear
  • MSDS and proper chemical handling training
  • Safety audits and preventative medical assessments

If your textile manufacturing company outsources the products or components of products you sell, we’ve included information on protecting your organization below.

Tips for Reducing your Textile Company’s Liability on Sourced Products and Components

Your textile company should keep the following in mind when sourcing textiles and clothing products for consumer safety, reducing liability risks and avoiding bad publicity:

  • Flammability especially of fabrics used in children’s wear 
  • Drawstring placement on children’s wear especially around the neck or in a hood
  • Lead content in painted accessories such as metal snaps buttons and zipper sliders
  • Azo dyes linked to cancer that are known to come from direct dyes; acid dyes for wool, nylon and silk; and disperse dyes for polyester

Risks Faced by Textile Companies

  • Materials, chemicals or products that can harm consumers – especially children
  • Employment related liability issues – ex. allegations of discrimination, harassment etc.
  • Fire
  • Breakdown of equipment 
  • Unreliable / dishonest suppliers
  • Uncertainty when dealing with suppliers or vendors outside of Canada
  • Pollution and waste disposal regulations
  • Supply chain / logistics issues
  • Natural disasters
  • Theft / fraud
  • Cyber attacks
  • Other

Coverages in a Textile Company Insurance Plan that Address the Risks and Liabilities of Textile Companies

When included as part of an textile company insurance plan, the following coverages can help protect your textile company from the risks and liabilities mentioned above (click on the links for more info):

Commercial General Liability Insurance / CGL covers your textile companies from liability associated with bodily injury or property damage caused to third parties while operating your business.

Product Liability Insurance for liability insurance protection specifically for your products.

Product Recall Insurance can cover the costs of issuing a recall, destroying product, communicating to customers and the public, restocking product etc..

Pollution Liability Insurance protects your textile company from third-party claims of injury or property damage due to pollution and the cleanup costs for your location or those of others.

Property Insurance covers your textile company’s assets in case of fires, floods, sewage backups and other perils.

Accounts Receivable Insurance protects your textile company’s profits in case purchasers at home or abroad do not pay their accounts.

Cargo Insurance provides door-to-door coverage for your shipments

Boiler & Machinery Insurance / Equipment Breakdown Insurance protects your textile company from the costs of equipment failure/ breakdown. 

Commercial Auto Insurance / Commercial Vehicle Insurance if your textile company does its own deliveries.

Crime Insurance / Fidelity Insurance covers your textile company in case of employee theft or fraud.

Cyber Liability & Privacy Insurance protects your textile company from the costs of a cyber-attack.

ALIGNING Your Textile Company With the Right Insurance For Textile Company For Your Needs

Every textile company is different and yours will need the right amount of coverage tailored to your specific operations. Contact an ALIGNED broker to discuss your organization’s insurance for textile company needs or get started right away using our online quote tool.

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