Best Practices to Handle Laundry Safely In Healthcare Facilities
After the pandemic ensued, safety precautions have become of the utmost priority, especially within the healthcare industry. There are various measures and practices that need to be taken in order to avoid any form of spread of bacteria and viruses. Every facet of the healthcare sector has to deploy essential curative measures to keep their patients healthy and safe. This includes carefully managing the laundry and using appliances such as energy-efficient clothes dryers to ensure that the health of the patient is taken care of in the right way.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a variety of guidelines which includes running on-premise hospital laundry machines and energy-efficient clothes dryers. These guidelines assist you in maintaining the health of your patients in the most effective manner possible.
Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
When handling healthcare laundry, it’s vital for all employees to wear the appropriate PPE. Personal protective equipment will prevent the spread of germs to the employees and ensure that hygiene is maintained throughout the premises. Some essential PPE includes: healthcare laundry machines
- tear-resistant reusable rubber gloves
- gowns or aprons
- face shields
- goggles
- masks
It’s also important to provide a sanitized handwashing station and hand sanitizers so that employees can practice healthy habits regularly.
Provide Training on Proper Laundry Handling
Before handling hospital laundry machines, you should provide your employees with the training necessary to manage the laundry in order to prevent the spread of bacteria within the facility. Some necessary measures may include:
- Rolling up soiled linen to prevent contamination of air and surfaces
- Carrying soiled linen in leakproof bags
- Keeping soiled linen away from the body
- Not overfilling reusable linen bags
- Cleaning and disinfecting containers, bags, and surfaces regularly.
Dedicated Space for Laundering Soiled Linen
Another thing to keep in mind while taking care of healthcare laundry is to create a dedicated space for both clean and soiled laundry. Not every laundry item is bound to be contaminated with food, beverages, etc., which is why, in order to avoid cross-contamination, both kinds of laundry should be segregated effectively.
Use Hot Water and Dryers for Killing Germs
Washing clothes with hot water and then drying them with an energy-efficient clothes dryer is the best way to get rid of germs. Bacteria and viruses are not resistant to heat and often perish quickly when coming in contact with hot water and air.
Regularly Clean and Disinfect Machines and Materials
Lastly, it’s vital for you to not only clean surfaces and laundry meticulously but also take care of all the machines and equipment that are being used during the laundry process. You may even have to invest a little in buying products that will effectively disinfect machines without damaging them.
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