Recommended Practices
There are several recommended safe work practice controls your employer can implement. Here are a few ideas:
- Laundering agents (e.g., 10% bleach) should be effective in inactivating bloodborne pathogens.
- Contaminated textiles and fabrics in bags can be transported by cart or chute. Laundry chutes should be maintained under negative air pressure to prevent the spread of microorganisms from floor to floor.
- Handle contaminated laundry with a minimum of agitation to help prevent the generation of potentially contaminated lint aerosols
- Sorting laundry before washing protects both the machinery and fabrics from hard objects and reduces the potential for recontamination of clean textiles.
- Use leak-resistant containment if the laundry is wet and capable of soaking through a cloth bag.
- Use melt away bags (dissolvable) for the bagging process. Melt away bags can be thrown directly into washers without having to unload or remove contaminated laundry from bags.
- Rinsing soiled laundry in utility rooms is acceptable, if it is not contaminated with blood, OPIM, or does not contain sharps.
- The ergonomic injuries that can occur while lifting, lowering, reaching, rinsing, and transporting wet heavy laundry must also be addressed. A lift or transfer device for the lifting of these materials is recommended.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-5. Which of the following is a safe work practice when handling contaminated laundry?
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