elaundercare; On Premise Laundry Procedures Education and staff development program Slide 1 of 23
Introduction Note Laundry operations play a vital role in providing clean, sanitary linen and promoting guest satisfaction. Laundry operations include all people, processes and maintenance involved from point of soiled linen collection through to clean linen reuse. All laundries must comply with the Australian and New Zealand Standards and Guidelines of Laundry Practice (AS/NZS 4146:2000 Laundry Practice). Slide 2 of 23
Objectives By the end of this elaundercare training program you will: 1. Be aware of the laundry standards and their implications. 2. Ensure "Safety First" with laundry products. 3. Understand the basic principles of cleaning - "The 5 factors of Cleaning". 4. Understand the Linen Flow Cycle and how to apply key principles. Slide 3 of 23
General Requirements Maintain a clean and safe environment Maintaining a clean and safe environment is achieved through: 1. Using appropriate cleaning chemicals your Ecolab representative can advise; 2. Documenting Laundry Facility Cleaning schedules, tasks and equipment maintenance (AS/NZS 4146:2000 section 2.2.2.); 3. When cleaning the laundry, always start from the clean area and finish in the soiled area. Slide 4 of 23
General Requirements Hand Hygiene Cross-contamination control starts with clean hands. Always wash your hands: Before and after handling any linen (clean or soiled) Before moving from laundry to any other area After removing your gloves Before closing the machine door Before eating or preparing food After contact with any bodily substances Before leaving work If you have any questions regarding these general requirements please speak to your supervisor or Ecolab representative. Slide 5 of 23
Safety First It is important that you always take a Safety First approach when using cleaning products. There are a few steps you should follow to ensure you are using each cleaning product in the safest possible way. Ask your supervisor or your Ecolab representative about Ecolab s online safety training Slide 6 of 23
The 5 Factors of Cleaning Ecolab ensures you achieve the best wash quality and efficiency by getting the right balance of the 5 Factors of Cleaning. 1. Time 2. Temperature Time 3. Mechanical Action 4. Chemical Action 5. Procedures Temperature Mechanical Action Chemical Action It is important to note that any reduction in one of these factors must be balanced by an increase in one or more of the remaining factors. Slide 7 of 23
The 5 Factors of Cleaning Time: The duration of the individual wash steps and/or overall wash program. Chemical Action: The chemical action is performed by using water combined with Ecolab washing detergent. Mechanical Action: The mechanical action is performed via the washing machine. Temperature: The water temperature in the machine is adjusted during the wash cycle. Procedures: The series of procedures within the laundry have to be executed in the same manner in order to always obtain the same result under the same circumstances. Slide 8 of 23
Linen Flow Cycle The linen flow cycle outlines the different operations involved in linen treatment and use through your facility. Note All eight steps in the linen flow cycle impact costs and / or quality. It starts with soiled linen collection, transportation and then continues with sorting, washing and drying. Clean linen is then folded and stored ready for use. The following frames will look at each of these steps in more detail. Slide 9 of 23
Collecting & Transporting Soiled Linen Collecting and transporting soiled linen are the first 2 steps of the linen flow cycle. These steps include: Sorting by classification into appropriate cart, bin or bag; Being careful not to add any additional soils. If the linen is contaminated it must be placed straight into a leak proof bag. Once this has been done, secure and cover the soiled linen for transportation to the laundry. It is important to always think about your hygiene and safety during this process. Always wear gloves and be aware of sharps and foreign objects. Slide 10 of 23
Sorting Soiled Linen Note It is very important that soiled linen is sorted correctly. Why? 1. Because it is one of the most important steps (as stated in the laundry practice standard). 2. It maximises overall efficiency. 3. It maximises results (whiteness and cleanliness). 4. It is physically easier than sorting after washing. How do you sort soiled linen? 1. DO NOT SORT CONTAMINATED LINEN, these must be placed directly into the washer. 2. Sort all other articles according to: Soil load and type; Fabric type (e.g. separating cotton from poly-cotton); Colour. Slide 11 of 23
Loading Soiled Linen Make sure you always wear gloves and an apron when handling ALL soiled linen. Note Loading varies according to linen classifications: For towelling it is recommended to fill all available space; For bed linen, leave 15cm space at the top of the drum; For contaminated linen load should be reduced by approximately 25%. To verify correct loading, observe the linen fall when the machine is running. In simple terms the linen should fall from 11 o clock to 4 o clock. Slide 12 of 23
Improper Loading Consequences Tip Improper loading of the machine can have significant consequences. UNDER-LOADING will result in: OVER-LOADING will result in: Loss of productivity; Poor results and reduced linen service life; Inefficient use of water, energy and chemicals; Potential damage to the machine (spin cycle imbalance); Increased operating costs. Improper mechanical action affects results and linen service life; Compromised disinfection; Difficulty emptying the machine; Increased re-wash and operating costs. Potential damage to the machine Slide 13 of 23
Washing Soiled Linen Tip When washing soiled linen the first step is to select the correct wash formula by matching your linen classification with the corresponding Ecolab program. Selecting the correct wash formula is important in order to achieve the best possible results at the lowest possible costs, saving considerable time, effort and money and also to ensure compliance of standards. Wash formulas are designed for the linen type and soil level. It is critical to use the proper wash formula to ensure the most efficient wash result. Slide 14 of 23
Disinfection A key requirement of the laundry standard is to achieve disinfection. All linen must be disinfected during the wash cycle. The standard allows 2 methods to achieve disinfection: Thermal Disinfection: This is achieved by maintaining 65 C for 10 minutes or 71 C for 3 minutes in the wash wheel. Chemical Disinfection: Where thermal disinfection is not applicable, specific Ecolab laundry chemicals and wash formulas will achieve disinfection to the standard. Slide 15 of 23
Drying Linen Clean washed linen now needs to be dried. For proper operation there are three main areas of importance: Note Tip To maintain optimum performance it is important to: Regularly check and clean lint filters every 2 to 3 loads (see Note); Monitor gas burners for correct flame as poor quality will lead to soot on linen causing greying; Ensure burner and surrounding areas inside the dryer are kept free from all lint to minimise fire hazard. Slide 16 of 23
Folding Clean Linen Once linen is dry it is to be folded. There are 2 elements that need to be considered when folding clean linen: 1. Avoid Cross Contamination / re-soiling: This is achieved by maintaining clean folding and storage areas, handling as little as possible and using clean only bins / carts. Dropped or dragged linen should be sent back for rewash! 2. Quality: This can be achieved by not leaving the linen unfolded for too long as it will cause wrinkling and identifying stained and damaged linen to rewash, repair or discard it following your manager s advice. Slide 17 of 23
Rewash is Normal Rewash is normal in laundering linen. The Industry rewash benchmark is 3% - 5% depending on the condition and category. If you have very little or no rewash at all this could indicate: 1. Excessive wash formulas are being run. 2. Poor efficiency. 3. Higher running cost. 4. Higher environmental impact. 5. Potential linen damage and reduced linen life. Slide 18 of 23
Transfer Clean Linen Clean linen needs to be transported to the storage room for its use. Key elements to keep in mind here are: Hygiene first - cleaned and disinfected linen must not be contaminated. Minimise movement of clean linen. Use different cart / bin / bags for clean linen. Cover clean linen when transporting. For extended storage times wrap or cover linen. Slide 19 of 23
Storing Clean Linen Note Hygiene comes first! Linen being stored must not be contaminated. Storing clean linen must be carried out in the following way: 1. Separate clean linen from soiled linen. 2. Rotate stock ensure adequate inventory (par level). 3. Promote suitable stock rotation. 4. Leave bed linen 24 hours before use (to allow the fibre to relax). 5. Ensure all linen stored is clean and dry to prevent cross contamination. 6. Ensure storage area is free of dust, moisture and vermin. Slide 20 of 23
Using Clean Linen Using clean linen is the last step of the flow cycle. At this point there is a second quality check point. Once checked all stained linen should go back to the laundry for rewash. It is important that you use linen appropriately and remember: Towels are for drying people, not cleaning bathrooms; Use cleaning cloths not linen for cleaning. Slide 21 of 23
Summary Our program has covered many aspects of an On Premise Laundry (OPL) operation, the AS/NZS 4146 laundry standard. We have also highlighted the importance of good practice and the linen flow cycle. An important part of your job is to enhance safety and deliver clean sanitary linen from your laundry. Complying with safe and efficient workplace practices and relevant standards will make your job easier and more effective. And at all times have a Safety First attitude. If you have any further questions please consult your supervisor or your Ecolab representative. Slide 22 of 23
Assessment You have now completed this training session. You will be asked 20 randomly selected multiple choice questions. The pass mark is 90%. Your training supervisor will now provide you with a set of questions. Good Luck! Slide 23 of 23