Must a Buff City Soap franchisee comply with OSHA regulations?
Buff_City_Soap Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
and measures. You must also comply with applicable environmental regulations related to disposal of containers used for storage of lye used in making the products. Specifically, under the Occupation Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA"); you must comply with requirements relating to worker safety when handling hazardous materials such as lye and making sure that the Makery has sufficient personal protection equipment ("PPE") for workers and such employees are properly trained on use of PPE and safety procedures.
In addition, as most of our body products are produced on the premises of the BCS Makery, you must manufacture products in accordance with the Clean Air Act, specifically as it relates to the pH level, the content of oil and grease in wastewater and disposal of hazardous waste. A franchisee will be required to satisfy all federal regulations and all state and local requirements relating to the disposal of wastewater, including but not limited to, consulting with local authorities, installing appropriate grease traps, obtaining permits where necessary and adhering to on-going monitoring requirements.
A franchisee will be required to comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations that generally apply to private businesses.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 9–12)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buff City Soap's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must comply with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations. This is specifically in regards to worker safety when handling hazardous materials like lye, which is used in making the products. Franchisees must ensure their Makery has sufficient personal protection equipment (PPE) for workers, and that employees are properly trained on the use of PPE and safety procedures.
In addition to OSHA regulations, Buff City Soap franchisees must also comply with other federal, state, and local laws and regulations that generally apply to private businesses. These include, but are not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the rules and regulations of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, Federal Truth in Lending and other laws dealing with credit transactions and collections, Digital Millennium Copyright Act, regulations governing MMS, SMS, emails and telemarketing, the payment of license fees, general location rules and regulations, and any advertising or content related rules and regulations.
Buff City Soap emphasizes that it is the franchisee's responsibility to investigate and comply with all applicable laws and regulations on an ongoing basis, as these can vary and change over time. The FDD encourages prospective franchisees to seek legal counsel to understand their legal responsibilities. As a public accommodation, the Makery must be accessible to persons with disabilities. The franchised business must accept credit cards and will be obligated to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, which includes twelve requirements for any business that stores, processes or transmits payment cardholder data.