Throwback Thursday - Safety-Kleen

By Keith MacCauley

Initially started by entrepreneur Ben Palmer as a parts washer device sales operation back in the mid 1950’s, today Safety-Kleen is the well-known nation-wide fluids recycling corporation. Reportedly, leasing, rather than selling the parts washer equipment was one of Ben’s brainchild’s as was ‘Kleen’. While perhaps a clever marketing ploy, no doubt the alternate spelling has been an annoyance to grade school English teachers ever since! 

Tank car wise, the entrepreneurship continued decades later as Safety-Kleen eschewed default ‘Henry Ford’ black paint in favour of audacious, eye hurting yellow. As further emphasis, Safety-Kleen specified full length reflective tape, long before it was Federally mandated in 2005. Post lease term, most tank cars were repainted black (see PROX 50245 below), or as a minimum, had the bold ‘Safety-Kleen’ decal removed or otherwise obliterated. While some lease contracts included an End of Lease (EOL) repaint clause, simultaneous financial woes on behalf of Safety-Kleen denied their enforcement. For more history on Safety-Kleen go to; 60 Years Leading Environmental Services | Safety-Kleen

60 Years Leading Environmental Services | Safety-Kleen Since 1954, Safety-Kleen has been at the forefront developing practical, sustainable processes.