Commercial laundry operative

The commercial laundry sector: background, services provided, and future trends. Customer service expectations in different sectors.

The commercial laundry operative role and responsibilities. Limits of autonomy.

Awareness of health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role. Confined spaces. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Fire safety (dust and lint control). Health and Safety at Work Act. Slips, trips, and falls. Working in confined spaces. Working at height

Safe systems of work. Risk assessment and hazard identification in the work area. Isolation and emergency stop procedures. Manual handling. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Situational awareness.

Impact of the sector processes on the environment. Efficient use of resources. Recycling, re-use and the safe disposal of waste.

Awareness of quality standards and impact on role: ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management, and ISO 18001 Health and Safety.

Work procedures. What they are and why they are important.

Machinery and equipment used in commercial laundries: batch washing machines, wash extractors, dryers, towel folders, ironers, and calenders. Purpose and operation.

The chemistry and mechanical function behind the cleaning process to produce a quality product: stain removal, creasing, colour loss, greying and yellowing; impact on different fabric types.

Finishing processes and how they impact on finished product quality and on different fabric types.

Healthcare sector. Decontamination in laundering quality standards: Risk and Bio-Contamination in the Laundry Environment (British Standard European Norm BS EN 14065), Decontamination of Linen in health and social care (Health Technical Memorandum HTM 01-04), and BS EN 13795. Surgical drapes, gowns and clean air suits used as medical devices for patients, clinical staff, and equipment.

Food sector. Risk and Bio-Contamination Control (RABC). Processes required to remove foreign bodies and risk of biological cross-contamination.

Workwear performance standards of garments: ISO 20471 High Visibility, ISO 11612 Protection against Heat and Flame, ISO 11611 Protection against welding and allied processes, and BS EN 13034 Protective clothing against liquid chemicals.

Clean room: control measures for product and people exposure and BS EN 13795.

Continuous Batch Washer (CBW) and Continuous Tunnel Washer (CTW) health and safety. The Textile Services Association (TSA) code of practice on the safe access and entry to a CBW and CTW.

International care label symbols, garment labelling, and different types of fibres and fabrics for professional industrial cleaning.

Types of dry-cleaning solvents and their safe handling, standards for use, storage, and disposal.

Stain classification. Removal techniques for different stains.

Escalation procedures for breakdowns, maintenance, stoppages, and failure. The impact of issues on production.

Basic continuous improvement processes.

Digital technology in the industry: stock management information systems, and equipment digital interfaces.

Information technology: virtual learning platforms, email. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.

Performance targets. Work organisation and time management techniques.

Communication techniques: verbal and written.

Principles of good team working.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Documentation requirements for the role.

Follow work instructions - verbal or written.

Organise and prioritise work.

Follow health and safety procedures in line with regulations, standards, and guidance.

Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.

Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.

Comply with laundry industry regulations, standards, and guidance.

Follow work procedures.

Sort, classify and identify products for processing either manually or via operating equipment. Identify any special cleaning processes for example, stain removal.

Check equipment and machinery.

Operate equipment and machinery to process textile products for example, batch washing machines, wash extractors, dryers, towel folders, ironers, and calenders.

Conduct quality checks for example, identify any rejects or rewash, inspect items for damage.

Sort and pack items.

Identify production issues for example, product mis-feed, machinery issues, or product flow issues. Resolve or escalate issues in line with procedures. Escalate maintenance requirements.

Use information technology.

Communicate with others for example, internal and external customers, colleagues, and managers.

Apply team working principles.

Record task information (text or data) - paper based or electronic.

Carry out and record learning and development activities.

Put health and safety first.

Consider the environment when using resources and carrying out processes.

Take ownership of given work.

Team-focus to meet work goals.

Support an inclusive workplace for example, respectful of different views.

Adapt to changing work requests.

Seek learning and development opportunities.