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Tel: +44(0) 1943 816545, Fax: +44(0) 1943 609326, Email: [email protected]

©2008 LTC&DTC Limited

UNIT LDC 3

CLASSIFY ITEMS AND MAKE UP LOADS FOR CLEANING

LAUNDRY OPERATORWORK BOOK

ENTER THE LAUNDRY NAME HERE

ISSUED TO

ENTER EMPLOYEE NAME HERE

DATE: ENTER DATE ISSUED HERE

LAUNDRY OPERATOR WORKBOOKUNIT LDC 3 – Classify items and make up loads for cleaning

NVQ 2 - Laundry Operator © 2008LTC&DTC Limited of 51



INDEX

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNIT LDC 3 – CLASSIFY ITEMS AND MAKE UP LOADS FOR CLEANING

Section Contents/Subject Page

1 Article Identification 4

2 Workstation set-up and close down 4

3 Organise and control resources for operation 4

4Checking all equipment and electrical connections for

damage6

5 Identification of work sequence 6

6 Housekeeping 8

7 Closing down the workstation 10

8 Health & Safety 11

9 Fire 12

10 Hazards: Sorting Check list 15

11 Counting, sorting and marking fabric item 18

12 Care label for laundering 20

13 Foreign bodies and lost property 25

14 Foul and infected linen 25

15 Sorting Equipment 26

16 Weighing scales provide information 28

17 Classification 31

Self-check module questions 42

APPENDICES

1 Module knowledge base 45

2 Your contribution 47



UNIT LDC 3

CLASSIFY ITEMS & MAKE-UP LOADS FOR CLEANING

This module covers the counting, marking and sorting of domestic and personal hospital,nursing home and other soiled articles sent for laundering.

This task can be very dirty and potential dangers exist to laundry personnel responsible forsorting these items. The laundry will have carried out a risk assessment on all classificationsentering the laundry and established operating procedures to protect the Health and Safety ofthe staff involved in this task.

However, many larger Hospital, Contract and Linen Hire laundries will also receive personalitems as well as un-marked articles owned by a specific customer and will therefore suchlaundries will have the same or similar workstation as that used by ‘Domestic’ laundries. Forexample, large hotels may send individual bundles of Chef’s apparel or hospitals and nursinghomes may send personal items of clothing belonging to residents and patients.

It is essential that you understand not only the health and safety issues surrounding thehandling of soiled textiles but also the importance of correctly marking and classifying thework ready to be processed correctly – as failure to do this will result is a breakdown of thelaundry systems and patient/staff claims for lost and or damaged items.

1. Article identificationAll articles processed through the laundry need to be identified, or marked. The type ofmarking used will be primarily dictated by who owns the textiles and the systems usedin the laundry.For example, for ‘personal items’ a unique mark will be given to all the items submittedfor laundering. On the other hand, if the textiles are owned by the hospital they mayhave the hospital name or logo jacquard woven or printed into the material itself.Where the allocation of individual identification marks is required, this will normally becompleted by specially designed machinery from a ‘workstation’ but would notnormally be necessary at ward level in the hospital.

2. Workstation set-up and closedown.The workstation and sorting area is likely to be planned around a marking machine,which will provide individual laundry marks for each piece of personal work orunidentified article to be processed. If this machine was not functioning correctly andpatient, staff or hospital items were lost during processing, the system would collapse,extra work would be generated and time lost trying to match items with their owners. Itis therefore important that you carry out a planned set-up routine at the start of yourshift.

3. Organise and control resources for operationThink about the work that you are currently doing and the workstation area used forthe marking of personal items belonging to different individuals and complete thefollowing exercise:-



Exercise 1:You are expecting two consignments of laundry that will arrive in taped or tied knottedplastic bags or linen bags. The contents of each bag now need to be to be sorted intosix classifications in trolleys from your work station table.

What will you need to prepare for this?

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Exercise 2:Some of the textiles received from a local nursing home arrive in red plastic or linenbags. What do you do with articles in red bags?

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4. Checking all equipment and electrical connections for damage.If everything appears all right, setting up your workstation should begin by switching onthe marking machine and allowing it to warm up. While this is happening carry outchecks on the supplies of marking tape, ink, pens, documentation and any other itemsyou are likely to need during the time you are working at this workstation.

The warming up time and necessary equipment temperature (if these are visiblyrecorded) will be found in your in-house work instruction manual or in the markingmachine’s operator manual.

To ensure that the marking machine is working satisfactorily fix a number of test marksto a piece of fabric and check for clarity of mark, how well it is attached and that nomark-off or damage has been caused to the fabric from which the article has beenmade.

If you are working in a laundry where individual marking of items is not necessary, forexample, in a linen rental plant, it may only be necessary for you to ensure that theclassifying conveyor is operating at the correct speed and that all of the monorail bagsystems are turned on and the automatic scales are correctly functioning (if fitted).

In some systems as the monorail bag reaches capacity it will be automaticallydischarged onto a queuing system ready to be called off for processing. In othersystems the monorail bag needs to be manually pushed onto the queuing system andan empty bag manually placed onto the rail.In this situation the operator must also ensure the securing cord that closes the bottomof the bag is correctly secured so that the bag will not accidentally discharge its loadwhen travelling around the laundry to the washing machinery – but when it does arrivethere – the bag can be opened automatically as required.

Exercise 3:Detail below the marking machine you are likely to use. What is the approximate warmup time and the target operating temperature if visibly recorded?

Machine: ..................................................................................................................................

Warm up time:..........................................................................................................................

Target temperature: .................................................................................................................

Machine: ..................................................................................................................................

Warm up time:..........................................................................................................................

Target temperature: .................................................................................................................

5. Identification of work sequenceCheck the work you are expected to sort during your time at this workstation and planwhat order you will carry out the task to meet the production requirements so the workgets processed and returned to the owner as soon as practical.

It is a good policy to check with your supervisor, the previous sorter or on an agreedmemo board to determine if there are any special requirements, relating to your taskfor the day.



The workload sequence is frequently related to the time or day that the clean articlesare to be returned to the owner or user. If work in this sequence is not available at thetime indicated, ensure your supervisor is advised.

Your contribution to COSTCONTROL in the Sorting room isthrough:- Classifying items correctly, so items

are only washed once Making up loads to the correct weight,

reducing unit cost Removal of waste materials (plastic,

paper and so on), preventing damageto the an entire load

Correctly sequencing customer’swork, preventing packing/deliverycrises

Classifying heavily soiled workseparately so it’s only washed once.



6. Housekeeping

The sorting area will often generate large amounts of debris and litter that canbe seen and bacteria that is often unseen. The workstation should be as clearas possible of all this contamination prior to work starting each morning.

A cleaning programme should be in place that involves the clearing of all debris fromsorting areas, tables, bins etc and emptying of all waste bins at the end of each shift.The provision of dust bins, sweeping brushes, dustpans and bin bags, with ties, isessential in the sorting department. Once the dust has settled all work surfaces shouldbe wiped down with a damp cloth soaked in a detergent/disinfectant to provide adegree of bug-kill.

If workstations have been left in a tidy and clean state by the previous user(s), nohousekeeping jobs should be necessary. Preparation of receptacles for the sortedarticles should include a check on their suitability including cleanliness to preventsoiling mark-off and condition to prevent damaging sorted items.

The disposal of waste generated by the sorting department should be given specialconsideration as it is potentially infected. Preferably it should be incinerated and stepstaken to prevent it blowing around the site where it could infect clean linen or worksurfaces.

Exercise 4:Set-up procedures differ from laundry to laundry. If your laundry has any special set-up instructions not detailed above then add them to the box below..................................................................................................................................................

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Exercise 5:Why do you clean down sorting surfaces at the start and end of the day?.................................................................................................................................................

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Exercise 6:Tick the reasons in the following table why keeping debris to a minimum is importantin the sorting area:

Reduced fire risk ........................................................................................................... □

Stops bacteria multiplying ............................................................................................. □

Reduces cross-contamination of linen .......................................................................... □

Less risk of staff tripping up .......................................................................................... □

Keeps string and other items out of the washing machine............................................ □

Less attraction for rodents ............................................................................................ □

Reduces risk of linen getting stained ............................................................................ □

Improve the working environment ................................................................................. □

Good image for visitors ................................................................................................. □

Exercise 7:

Where do you dispose of:

Plastic waste

String and tape

Paper waste

Textile waste

Other waste

Exercise 8:Approximately how much of your waste is:-a) recycled %b) sent for landfill %c) incinerated %

Total 100 %



7. Closing down the workstation

Before closing down the workstation you should check that all the work required forthat day has been completed. If it has not, your supervisor should be informed as soonas possible so that arrangements can be made to complete the work or instructionsleft for whoever will follow you onto this workstation.

All paperwork generated by your sorting and marking activities should be completedand processed to the department required procedures.

Once you have confirmed that your equipment is no longer required it should beswitched off.

You are responsible for making your workstation safe, tidy and carrying out thenecessary preparations to allow the next shift to begin sorting without having tocomplete your unfinished tasks first.

All sorted items should be stored in a way that will not cause damage or allow any itemto become damp and increase the risk of mildew and odours developing.

If you use safety pins, elastic bands or any other stock items necessary for themarking and identifying of the articles, stocks of these items at the work station shouldbe checked and replenished as necessary.

Exercise 9:Produce a list of activities you would complete at the end of your shift to close downyour sorting workstation.

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8. Health and Safety

To protect yourself from the potential risks by the handling of soiled andcontaminated fabrics you should make full use of all the protective equipmentsupplied to you.

The health and safety risks associated with sorting the soiled articles that yourlaundry processes will have been assessed and procedures developed tominimize these risks. You will be advised by your supervisor or manager ifthere are any specific risks associated with the type of work your laundryprocesses and what special precautions are necessary.

By following basic hygiene and safety policies within your sorting department youshould be able to carry out all the required activities safely and efficiently

An overall and gloves should be seen as essential items. The level of body coveragerequired will depend on the contamination levels of the soiled linen or specialrequirements given to you by nursing staff.

Your work will involve checking pockets on all types of garments from unknownsources. The increasing use of drugs in today’s society and the risk of infection fromprick injuries (needle-stick) should provide the incentive for you to take every possibleprecaution when carrying out this task – especially in the hospital where needles areused many times each day.

Any cut, abrasion or prick injury (needle-stick) you receive while working with soiledtextiles should be reported to your supervisor or first-aider immediately so thatappropriate actions can be taken.

Handling foul and potentially infected items should be carried out with care to limit therisks. Do not handle these items unless you are wearing an overall and gloves.

We’ve been toldto report here for

our workwear!COMPANY DRESS

NO JewelleryNO WatchesNO Jeans

Work-wear issue



Ideally, when handling ‘foul’ items that may also be wet – an impervious plastic (orsimilar) apron should be worn and disposed of in a suitable container at the end ofeach shift or when leaving the work station for any reason, for example, meal breaks,natural breaks etc. On your return to the work station a new fresh apron should beused.

Barrier creams may be available for your use. They are not as effective againstbacteria as gloves and provide no protection against sharps. Barrier creams shouldonly be used as an additional protective layer when handling foul and infected items.

The following table gives you some indication of the level of protection you may need:

Personal Protective EquipmentType ofSoiling/

CustomerCoat/

Overall

BoilersuitJacket/

Trousers

FaceMask

RespiratorSpecial

FootwearHat

HoodGloves

Hospital linenYes Possible Poss Unlikely Possible No Yes

Some types of soiled linen are subject to special regulations from governmentdepartments to ensure that laundry staff are not put at risk.

Any laundry processing soiled linen or garments from hospitals has to follow therecommendations in a document called ‘Hospital Laundry Arrangements for Used andInfected Linen – HSG (95) 18.

This document states that due to the potential risk of infection of laundry sorting stafffrom blood, bacteria, viruses etc on soiled linen, workwear must be worn. All cuts andexposed lesions on the skin must be covered by a waterproof dressing and glovesmust be worn. Workwear should be changed at the end of every shift.

Taking workwear worn in the sorting department home for washing is to bediscouraged because of the risk of spreading bacteria, viruses and infections.

Heavy duty rubber gloves are a good barrier for protection against sharp objects oftenfound in soiled laundry. In the hospital these objects can range from syringes andscalpels to bed-pans and wide variety of medical items.Any sharp object found whilst sorting linen should be reported to your supervisor, whoshould assess the risk and if the source can be identified, inform them of the possibleconsequences of their carelessness. If an injury is caused by a ‘sharp’ in soiledarticles, it should be treated as a potential infection and medical advice should besought.

Personal hygiene is very important if you have been handling soiled items. Even ifyou have been wearing gloves you must ensure that you wash your hands beforecarrying out any other activities. Handling and eating food without washing your handscould lead to infection and serious illness.

Working in the sorting department often involves lifting and moving quite heavyobjects. You should be aware of the risks to your back and try to follow therecommendations given in safe lifting manuals.



9. Fire

In the sorting areas there is often high dust levels caused by the openingand ‘shaking out’ of the soiled textiles.There is also a significant amount of waste, often string, paper and plastic,produced from the bags and bundles of soiled articles. These can beabsorbent pads and plastic from hospitals, wrapping paper and polythene bags forbundles of work – all of which must be correctly disposed of and placed in appropriatewaste-bins and containers as they will provide a highly inflammable source of fuel forany possible fire.Also, depending upon the type of soiling on the textiles, spontaneous combustion canoccur – especially on oily soiled garments or items heavily soiled with food.It is essential that you are aware of your company policy with regard to fire drills, thelocation of the nearest fire escape and where fire extinguishers are and whatprocedures you should follow in the event of a fire.

Electrical faults:

Fires can also be caused by electrical short circuits.If you experience any mechanical or electrical problems withmachinery that you are working on you should report these to yoursupervisor, engineer or manager. You should not attempt to makeany repair to faulty equipment unless you have been specificallytrained to carry out this type of maintenance.

Exercise 10:You see smoke coming from a pile of dirty laundry. What should you do first?

□ Put it out with a hose. □ Put it out with an extinguisher

□ Tell the supervisor/manager □ Evacuate and sound the alarm

Exercise 11:Which is your escape route from sorting in the event of fire?...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Exercise 12:Where is the nearest fire alarm to your workstation in sorting?...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Exercise 13:Where is the nearest fire extinguisher for a linen fire?...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Exercise 14:How do you use this particular extinguisher correctly?...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Exercise 15:What do you do about open windows; should you close the door behind the last toevacuate and if so why?...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Exercise 16:How do you maintain the security of property from customers so that it does not getmixed up and lost?...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Exercise 17:Who is your nearest first aider and where is the nearest first aid box?...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Exercise 18:You cut your finger on a blade whilst checking pockets. What do you do?...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Exercise 19:What precautions do you take to avoid infection when sorting work?...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Your contribution to HEALTH &SAFETY in the Sorting room isthrough:- Pocket search, removing

matches/lighters to reduce fire risks Sharps awareness, reducing cuts

and needle-stick injuries Using correct manual handling

procedures to avoid back and kneeinjuries

Washing hands when leaving theworkplace area, reducingemployee infection risks

Wearing the correct PPE,preventing employee infection.



10. Hazard check list – SORTINGDue to the hazards in the sorting area, the following check-list should be routinelyused to ensure both your understanding of the procedures but also for your own – aswell as your colleagues – health and safety:

Hazard check Answer

Any red bags? Are they separate and securely fastened?

Any broken glass?

Any sharp edges on trolleys etc.

Do trolleys wheel easily?

Any floor slippage or trip hazards?

Any bare wires or sparks or ‘tingles’

Any steam or water leaks?

10.1. How to cope with the hazards in actual sorting of incoming work.

The following is a list of suggestions and guidelines on how you should manage thepotential hazards whilst working in the sorting room.

As all laundry sorting areas are different – look around your area and add any otherpossible hazards you can see and what you think you should do to reduce the risk ofinjury.

1. Sharps:Be aware.Pat rather than poke

2. Manualhandlinginjury:

Correct stature.Correct height.Do not bend and twist.Do not overload.Do not lift more than you comfortably can.Get help if needed.

3. Infection risk:

Wear gloves.Cover and tape-up cuts and sores.Do not open red bags. Leave any foul itemsin a polythene bag.Wear smock.Wear facemask if work is foul or dusty.



10.2. Manual Handling – difficult loads

Difficult loads – Teaching pointsLINEN HANDLING

Possible problems:- Storage level difficulties- Carrying excessive loads- Bulk of material may

obscure vision- Awkward/heavy laundry

bags

Possible solutions:- Re-assess storage provisions- Advise staff on breaking load down into

lighter components and use of wheeledtransport

- Review safe lifting levels for heavy laundrybags and advise staff when two staff arerequired to lift. Set guidelines on the load inthe bag.

- See Figs. 8.1 – 8.9 for examples of stressfuland stress-free handling situations.

Fig 10.2 Fig 10.3 Fig 10.1

Correct lifting of laundry bag by one personIncorrect lifting of laundry

bag

Fig 10.4 Fig 10.5 Fig 10.6

Correct lifting of laundry bag by two personsIncorrect lifting of laundrybag by two persons



Fig 10.7 Fig 10.8

Correct lifting of linen basket from table

Fig 10.9

Incorrect way to store items on shelves

Exercise 20:Many advisory leaflets are available with good manual handling advice. Obtain someof these leaflets or refer to text books to add a number of pages of useful referenceinformation to this manual.List the brochures/leaflets you are able to find:

1. .............................................................................................................................................

2. .............................................................................................................................................

3. .............................................................................................................................................

4. .............................................................................................................................................

5. .............................................................................................................................................

6. .............................................................................................................................................

7. .............................................................................................................................................



11. Counting, sorting and marking fabric items

The counting, sorting and marking of soiled textiles for washing should be carried outin priority order. If you are not sure about the order of the work you have been askedto do then ask your supervisor. Sorting work in the wrong order can result in workschedules being upset and your classifying bins overflowing with unwashed work.

The sorting and classification procedure for domestic, personal and other specialistwork is made more difficult by the additional attention that has to be given to eachitem.

The sorter is responsible for counting and checking-in any pre-marked items, checkingthem for general soiling level, damage, staining and for extraneous objects in pocketsbefore classifying the item for the correct washing process. This count is normallycarried out manually and recorded with pen and paper orentered into a computer terminal. Some hospitals may operate abarcode system where every item has to be individuallyscanned or merely passed through a hoop which records the number of garmentselectronically. Whichever method is used the sorter is ultimately responsible forproviding important management control statistics on which garment monitoring will bebased.

Identifying a particular item in a laundry processing hundreds of pieces per day andbeing able to allocate that item to a particular user is all down to a good markingsystem.

There are many systems in use within the laundry industry but they can be simplydivided into:-

Marking System Application areaTemporary marking Domestic/personal itemsPermanent transfers hospital linenPrinted heat seal labels workwearBar code labels variety of itemsTransponders workwear

11.1. Temporary marking in the laundry industry usually means a Polymark label. Thissystem is not used in the hospital laundry.

11.2. Permanent transfers are usually used on fabric items that will be assigned to thesame user area for their serviceable life and where a prominent mark is a deterrent totheft. This type of transfer is usually applied with a heat seal machine and is mostcommonly found on health care linen.

11.3. Printed heat seal labels are usually used to permanently mark personal garments.Readable information such as the owner’s name, date issued, etc is printed onto alabel and then the label is heat sealed onto the garment or article. This systemenables identification of the garment in the laundry and at on the ward.

11.4. Bar code labels like those seen on food packaging, these are sewn or heat sealed tofabric items and can be used to keep an accurate account of how many times an itemis processed. This system is rarely used in the hospital laundry.

11.5. Transponders are small microchips sewn into the fabric, usually on high value items,which enable garments to be accurately logged in the laundry when they pass anelectronic receiver. Again, due to the cost involved, these are unlikely to be used in the



hospital laundry – but are gathering increased use as they progressively becomeeasier, smaller and cheaper to use.

Exercise 21:Obtain a piece of A4 card and fix to it samples of the types of laundrymark used in your plant. This presentation card should be inserted inthis file as the next page.

Your contribution to QUALITY inthe Sorting room is through:- Not mixing items using different

finishing methods to prevent lintingand re-processing

Removing coloured items and wastethat could discolour a load

Separating heavily stained work forspecial treatment

Identifying mildew & rust for specialprocessing.

Never making up loads that areover-weight to ensure everythinggets washed correctly



12. Care label for laundering

There are British standard wash process symbols that are found on the care labelsattached to most modern fabric items. These recommendations are given by themanufacturer of the garment or article to assist the purchaser in cleaning it withoutcausing any unwanted change to its appearance, shape, colour or fabric

You should use these labels to assist you to decide the most suitable classification,but if you are unsure about your selection always confirm your choice by discussing itwith your supervisor or manager.

A fabric item that is permanently damaged by washing with the wrong classification willresult in a customer complaint and a possible compensation claim. The laundry willhave to wash a lot of items to make up the cost that has gone to pay out compensationfor one damaged fancy blouse or jersey regarded as a family heirloom.

You should be able to understand and read the washing process symbols. Thefollowing pages detail these symbols and their meanings.

The recommendation on the care label for processing fabrics that need to be classifiedas delicate will usually include a bar beneath the wash tub containing a recommendedtemperature.

This bar is very important because it means reduced mechanical action, graduallyreduced temperature (cool down) and reduced spin.

The only chemical indication given on the care labels is for chlorine bleach or drycleaning chemicals. You should consider the effects of industrial alkali detergents onsome fabrics. Wool and animal hair fibres are extremely sensitive to alkali which is themain ingredient of most industrial washing products.

Some items may be washable but if you have a drycleaning plant this may offer abetter option of cleaning a garment or article successfully without causing damage.Always consult your supervisor before redirecting an item to the dry cleaningdepartment as the owner may need to be consulted. Also remember that drycleaningis not very good at removing water soluble soiling and most of the articles received inyour laundry will be stained or soiled with food, drink, blood and other bodily fluidswhich are primarily water soluble.

Some stains or heavily soiled areas on garments or articles that will not be given aheavy wash process may benefit from spotting or special treatment before they arewashed. These treatments should be followed immediately by a normal wash toprevent possible chemical damage from the treatment chemicals. Badly soiled collars,rust and ink stains are typical problems that benefit from pre-treatment.



CARE LABELS FOR LAUNDERING

The following basic guidelines symbols apply

Wash Bleach Ironing Drying Drycleaning

A cross through the any symbol means‘DO NOT’

A bar (single) under any symbol means‘REDUCED’ action.

A double bar under any symbol means ‘MuchREDUCED’ action

Wash Tub symbol- The maximum wash temperature, in degrees centigrade, will be indicated

by a number inside of the wash tub symbol.- Hand-washing only will be shown with the outline of a hand immersed into

the wash-tub.- A single or double or broken bar under the wash tub indicates reduced

mechanical action, gradually reduced temperature (cool down) andreduced spin.

Bleach (triangle) symbol- A plain triangle indicates any type of bleach may be used – but follow the

suppliers temperature guidelines.- The letter ‘Cl’ indicate chlorine bleach may be used.- A cross through the triangle and the triangle is filled-in – DO NOT bleach

using any chlorine bleach

Hand Iron symbol- The heat setting (temperature) that the textile can be finished at is indicated

by a dot on the iron and refers to the sole plate temperature – in degreescentigrade.

- A single dot (●) means maximum sole plate temperature of 110ºC.- Two dots (● ●) means a maximum sole plate temperature of 150ºC; and- Three dots (● ● ●) means a maximum sole plate temperature of 200ºC.



Drying (rectangular box) symbol- The rectangular box with a circle inside represents a tumble drier.- A single dot (●) means drying at lower temperature.- Two dots (● ●) means normal temperature- A single straight horizontal line –dry flat- Vertical lines in the rectangle indicate ‘drip dry’- Any diagonal lines means drying in the shade

Drycleaning symbol- The drycleaning symbol will have a single letter inside of the circle and

either a single under-score or double under-score line.- The letter ‘P’ means dryclean on a normal cycle using perchloroethylene of

any hydrocarbon solvent.- The letter ‘F’ means use only hydrocarbon solvent – do not dryclean using

perchloroethylene.- The letter ‘W’ means the article may be ‘wet-cleaned’.- The single and double under-score lines mean reduced moisture, reduced

mechanical action and reduced drying temperature.

IRONING DRYINGSymbol Brief meaning Symbol Brief meaning

Iron at maximum sole platetemperature of 110ºC

Tumble dry on ‘Lower’setting


Tumble dry on ‘Normal’setting


Do not tumble dry

Do not iron. Line dry

Flat dry

Drip dry



Washing symbolsThe wash tub symbolizes the domestic washing treatment (by hand or machine) (See Figure1). It is used to convey information regarding the maximum washing temperature and themaximum washing process severity, as shown in table 1.

Figure 1:

Symbol Washing process Symbol Washing process- maximum temperature 95ºC- mechanical action reduced- rinsing at gradually decreasing

temperature (cool-down)- spinning reduced

- maximum temperature 40ºC- mechanical action normal- rinsing normal- spinning normal


- maximum temperature 40ºC- mechanical action reduced- rinsing at gradually decreasing



- maximum temperature 40ºC- mechanical action much reduced- rinsing normal- spinning normal- do not wring by hand


- maximum temperature 30ºC- mechanical action much reduced- rinsing normal- spinning reduced



- Hand-wash only- Do not machine wash- Maximum temperature 40ºC- Handle with care



- Do not wash- Be cautious when treating in wet

stages

Chlorine-based bleachingSymbol Process Symbol Process

- Chlorine based bleachingallowed

- Only cold and dilute solution

- do not use chlorine based bleach

95

60

60

70 40

30

50

40

4095

Cl



Drycleaning symbolsAlthough, whilst working in the laundry, the washing symbols are the most relevant – it is alsoimportant for you to know and understand the meaning and interpretation of the drycleaningsymbols as you may receive items with these and you must know how they are to be handledand what can be done with them.

Figure 2:

Symbol Cleaning process Symbol Cleaning process

- professional drycleaning intetrachloroethene and allsolvents listed for the symbolF

- normal process

- professional drycleaning intetrachloroethene and all solventslisted for the symbol F

- mild process

- professional drycleaning inhydrocarbons (distillationtemperature between 150ºCand 210ºC flash pointbetween 38ºC and 70ºC)

- normal process

- professional drycleaning inhydrocarbons (distillationtemperature between 150ºC and210ºC flash point between 38ºCand 70ºC)

- mild process

- do not dryclean- professional wet cleaning

- normal process

- professional wet cleaning

- mild process

- professional wet cleaning

- very mild processW

W

F

W

PP

F



13. Foreign bodies and lost property

Part of your sorting responsibilities will involve individually checking each garment orarticle for extraneous objects that may cause damage to the laundry machinery or bedamaged during the wash process.

You may find personal belongings in the pockets of garments, badges on lapels, fancybuttons or buckles which will need to be removed before the item is washed. Theseitems should be labelled and stored safely for return to the customer.

Some items will arrive at the sorting workstation with no indication of ownership. Youshould make some attempt to find out where they came from by asking colleagues,nursing staff and your supervisor. If you cannot establish ownership of an item orbundle it should be marked and processed as normal with a no-name ticket made outdetailing the items involved and any information that might help match it with anenquiry later on.

14. Foul and infected linen

If items arrive at your sorting workstation labelled as foul or infected they should bewashed as quickly as possible. If the items have no identification marks they should bewashed on their own (ensuring that they are disinfected) dried and then marked asnormal or processed as an individually labelled load through to dispatch.

Infected linen should be delivered to you sealed in a red water soluble bag or in a bagwith water soluble stitching that can be placed straight into a washing machine thusavoiding any direct contact with laundry staff.

Disinfection of infected linen in the wash process should follow the NHS Executiverecommendations of either thermal disinfection or chemical disinfection.

Thermal disinfection is achieved by washing at a set temperature for a given period oftime. The recommendations are:-

FABRIC TEMP TIMEPolyester cotton 65°C 10 mins

Cotton 71°C 3 mins

Chemical disinfection can be used on fabrics that will be damaged by washing at65°C. To achieve chemical disinfection, sodium hypochlorite should be added to thefirst rinse of the wash process. This rinse should have a medium dip, be of at leastfive minutes duration and the sodium hypochlorite addition should be enough to give120 – 150 parts per million in the rinse liquor.

This process or alternatives using accredited detergent/disinfectant should be set upby a chemical technician from your detergent supplier to ensure that they achieve allthe correct parameters for chemical disinfection.



Exercise 22:Your choice of disinfection process should be influenced by fabric type, colour, finishand company policy. Tick the processes you would recommend to disinfect thefollowing items.

ITEM65°C

10 MINS71°C

3 MINS

40°CCHLORINEBLEACH

40°CDETERGENT

DISINFECTANT

Wool Jumper

White cotton sheet

Cotton flame Retardant curtains

Exercise 23:If a pastel shade blue and white stripe polycotton overall had a care label with thefollowing symbols,

What would this tell you about the recommended wash process?

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15. Sorting EquipmentSoiled laundry is often sent for washing packaged in a variety of ways. To remove oropen this packaging the sorters may well use knives or scissors. Care should betaken when using these sharp instruments that they do not damage any of the linen orgarments inside the packaging or find their way into washing machines where they cancause irreparable damage to the items being washed and to the washing machineitself.

Soiled linen is transported in trolleys, cages and bags and these should be in goodcondition to prevent damage to the soiled linen or garments and to help the sorterscarry out their duties safely.

These trolleys should never be stored outside of the laundry and exposed to theweather.There are two main reasons for this:-

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(a) Safety and SecurityLaundries will often have visitors walking around or even members of the publicwho are looking for the main entrance and have got themselves ‘lost’. Frequentlychildren ‘after-hours’ who are curious will climb walls and enter the area aroundthe laundry. This means that there is a risk of theft as well as someone injuringthemselves whilst on the property or – even worse – can pick up an infection ifthey open a bag of foul or infected textiles left outside.

(b) Work can get wet in the rain.Leaving soiled textiles outside in the rain will mean that the textiles will get wetwhich means that there is a risk that coloured items will bleed and transfer colourto other items in the load.Also when the trolley needs to be unloaded, the bags of work will be considerablyheavier and more difficult to handle; andWhen the wet work is classified it will become almost impossible to accuratelyweigh each load of work to be washed - which means that machine loads will beunder-loaded (Remember: The weight of work for each washing machine load isbased on the DRY weight of textiles!) Towels are especially affected by this andmany laundries already cater for the ‘damp’ towels received from the customer –as towels hold considerably more water than, say, sheets or pillow slips.

Cages and barrows should be checked daily for sharp edges and cleaned anddisinfected to prevent cross contamination and soiling mark off between differentclassifications. Wheels should be clear of string and other debris.

If fabric bags are used for transportation of soiled linen they should be free of holesand have all fixings and handles in place. Overfilled bags may well exceed a safelifting weight for one person so help should be sought when necessary and customersinformed of the problem.

Another problem with soiled linen bags with holes in is that these bags are oftendragged across the floor either during transportation when collected from the customeror in the laundry. This means that the textiles that often stick out from these holes willbe in direct contact with the floor and will become damaged and torn as well as pickingup drag dirt off the floor – which can be very difficult – if not impossible – to remove.The problem is made even worse if the bag is dragged across a wet floor and then, iflet to dry, the resultant drag mark will never be removed – which means that theseitems will have to be condemned and replaced – therefore increasing textilereplacement costs or claims from the customer for damaged items significantly.

Sorting tables should be used when available. They enable sorting to take place at asafe height and keep soiled linen off the floor.



Exercise 25:Which of the following statements might be a consequence of sorting work on thefloor?

It might pick up additional soiling ...........................................................................................□

It might get contaminated by a chemical spillage...................................................................□

The factory cat might sleep on the pile ..................................................................................□

People may trip over the pile .................................................................................................□

It might get stood on or run over by a trolley..........................................................................□

Work can get damaged..........................................................................................................□

Picking work up off the floor may injure the sorter .................................................................□

16. Weighing scales provide informationWeighing scales are an important piece of equipment that enables the sorter toaccurately measure the weight of each load.

Depending upon the system used in your laundry you may load all work into individualtrolleys which then have to be weighed on a set of floor mounted scales or, especiallyif you are using Continuous Batch Washers, you may have either an overheadmonorail bag system with automatic scales built into the monorail system or you mayhave a ‘step-conveyor’ that has weighing scales built into the conveyor.

Whatever the system used, accuracy is important if optimum production is to bemaintained through the washing machines. An unbalanced load will probably notextract properly and over and under loading of the washing machine reduces the washquality. Production control figures for the wash room are usually based on the weightof work processed.

Recording production throughput accurately provides management with statisticalinformation on which they can base their service plans and development programmesas well as working out just how much it is costing to process the work through thewashroom.

The sorter is a key figure in providing information on the classifications available forwashing and thus what the laundry throughput is likely to be over a set period.

It is therefore absolutely essential that ALL LOADS of work are accurately weighedand these weights recorded – as a minimum by classification, but also by customer.

The sorting room must also know the machine capacity weight for each machine inorder to ensure machines are not ‘over’ or ‘under-loaded’.

If washing machines are ‘Under-loaded’ this will result in:-(a) Lost production: If, for example, a washing machine has a rated capacity of 100kg

– but it is loaded with 90kgs, after an 8hr shift, if the machine takes a load every45minutes, more than 100kgs of lost production from that machine will occur –equivalent to more than one full machine load.



(b) Increased costs: Most modern washing machines use an automatically controlledwash process. All of the wash parameters like water additions, wash stagetemperatures and detergent additions will be programmed into the washingmachine and will be based on a full load of work. The virtually same amount ofwater and steam will be used almost irrespective of the weight of work loaded intothe washing machine – and the chemicals additions made will be exactly the sameon each occasion. This means that if the machine is under loaded, it will costvirtually the same to wash a 90kg load as it will for a full 100kg load – which willincrease costs by 10% or more depending upon just how much the machine isunder-loaded by.

(c) Increased fabric damage: The greater majority of the fabric damage that occurs totextiles in the laundry is during the wash process. The fabric damage is caused bya combination of the mechanical action (rubbing) of the textiles when inside thewashing machine as well as the effect of the chemicals used to remove the soilingand stains. Therefore, the less work put into the washing machine the greater thephysical and chemical damage that will occur – which means that the items will notlast as long as they should and will need to be replaced prematurely – leading toincreased costs.

(d) Increased finishing costs: Many loads of work, especially from CTWs, will passthrough the tumblers to either be fully dried or partially dried ready for ironing orpressing. Tumble drying is already the most expensive way of drying textiles as itconsumes a lot of energy (steam or gas). Therefore if the loads of work comingfrom the sorting room are ‘under-loads’, then items will be over-dried unless thetumblers are fitted with humidity or temperature sensors. This means that fortowels, these will be over-dried and become very hot – significantly increasing therisk of fire. When towels are over-dried the cotton fibres also become very brittleand will break easily – so the towels will be severely damaged. Other items likesheets or pillow slips – may be over-dried so that they are too dry when fed throughthe calenders which will make them look ‘rough dried’ – so they will often have tobe returned to the washroom to be re-processed – again, significantly increasingthe costs and causing lost production.

If the washing machines are Over-loaded this will result in:-(a) Poor wash quality: There will be insufficient room inside of the washing machine for

the textiles to move and so mechanical action will be reduced and the textiles willnot come clean correctly.

(b) Increased –rewash: With the poor washing quality higher levels of re-wash willoccur but there is also a risk that the detergent used will not be rinsed properly outof the textiles which can lead to yellowing (galling) of the textiles – so they have togo back for re-wash or, for users with sensitive skins, these residual chemicals cancause skins rashes and irritations.

(c) Unloading of washing machines: If the washing machine is severely over-loadedthe items in the load can often rope together and get knotted so it becomes onelarge lump which will be very difficult to unload and can, in extreme situations,mean that the items have to be cut-out from the washing machine – so instead of ittaking only a few minutes to unload the washing machine it can take hours!

(d) Blockages in CTWs: Over-loading of a CTW can often result in loads of work nottransferring correctly between each compartment. A load of work can get jammed



in one compartment whilst all of the loads behind it still continue to transfer forward.This can cause a major blockage involving manual entry inside the CTW to cut theblockage out so the whole machine can be out of action for several days!

(e) Extended finishing times: Over-loading will often mean that the moisture extractioneither in the washer-extractors or on the CTW membrane press will not be aseffective so damper and larger loads will enter the tumble driers. This again meansthat items like towels will take significantly longer to dry – so slowing downproduction and items like sheets and pillow slips will take longer to dry on theironers – and again, dramatically slow production.

(f) Machine damage: All washing machines are designed to accept a certain weight ofwet work to process. If the load is now greater than the machine design weightcapability, this means that bearings and drive shaft, drive belts may be damagedso the machine will need to be taken out of service until the engineeringdepartment can replace the damaged or broken parts.

(g) Excessive creasing of polyester cotton blended materials: (see next section Fibresand Fabrics). As polyester is thermoplastic it will be readily creased and becomepermanently damaged if squeezed into a washing machine. There are 3 types ofcreasing which commonly occur to polyester blended materials which are:-Roping creasesPressure creases; andThermal shock creases.Roping creases are caused by the individual items becoming entangled during thewash process and is often caused by poor process controls and machine over-loading.Pressure creases can occur during the wash process due to over-loading as wellas if the items are piled high in a trolley and left for several hours before beingfinished. The items at the bottom of the trolley become more and more creased thelonger they are left there or the more work is piled on top of them.Thermal shock creasing is caused by adding cold water directly onto the hotpolyester mixed fabric which rapidly cools the material and ‘freezes’ the polyesterinto creases. This is due to poor wash process control but can be affected by over-loading the machine as the centre of the load will often still be hot even if correctcool-down procedures have been followed because it takes longer for the water topenetrate into the centre of the load.

As a general rule – all polyester blended fabrics should be loaded at 80%-85% ofthe machine rated capacity if one is to avoid and minimise the risk of excessivecreasing.

It is therefore essential for production, quality and costs control that all loads ofwork are accurately weighed and ONLY the rated load for each machine is used.

Information will come to the sorter from other departments about which classificationor customers` work is required and they must respond positively as a member of theproduction team.

With the time delay between sorting and packing, requests between departments oftenoverlap shift patterns. It is therefore important that messages are left if personnel



carrying out the work are about to change and equally important that the new shiftsorter looks for and reacts to any information or message left.

Exercise 26:Carry out a risk assessment in your sorting department. Highlight four activities orsubstances that may be potentially hazardous and detail what procedures orprecautions are in place to reduce the risk.

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17. ClassificationLife would be so easy if the only classification that needed washing was soiledfabric and it could be all washed together in a washing machine, with the samechemicals, temperature, mechanical action, process time, process formulation,extraction, drying time and finishing process.

Unfortunately there are quite a few reasons why soiled fabric sent for washing has tobe classified, and then each classification washed, dried and finished differently.

Some laundries try and keep their classifications to a minimum. A hospital often has awhite cotton only policy for their bed linen and towelling - but classification is stillnecessary.

There are a number of reasons why the laundry should classify items – and thefollowing is a brief list (with explanation) of some of the more common types ofclassification used. The number of classifications will vary somewhat according to therange of articles received in your laundry.

(a) Type of fibre used to make the item:



There are 4 basic fibre groups and each of them has different properties andbehaviour during the washing and finishing processes.The basic groups are:-Animal: Wool, silk, AngoraVegetable: Cotton, Linen, Ramie, HempMan-Made/Synthetic: Nylon and polyesterRegenerated: Acrilan, Rayon, Acetate (Tricel and Dicel)

Animal fibres behave like your own hair. They are readily damaged by strongalkalis and too much friction – and many, like wool, swell by more than 30% whenwet.Vegetable fibres are strong and unaffected by alkali but damaged by acids as wellas being resistant to high temperatures.Man-Made fibres are ‘thermoplastic’ which means they readily soften at moderatelylow temperatures and melt. If they are suddenly cooled, say, when changing fromthe hot wash to the cold rinse stages of the wash process, they will ‘freeze’ in theshape they were in when hit with the cold water (called ‘Thermal shock) causingpermanent creasing. These fibres also love oil (oleophillic) and need special typesof chemicals to help remove it from these fibres and they also generate staticelectricity and will attract lint and fluff from other items in the load, e.g. washingfluffy towels with a polyester sheet will cause linting over the whole sheet.Regenerated fibres: are made from many waste materials like paper, wood pulpand discarded cotton and woollen items – so these types of materials are readilyaffected by both temperature during the wash process and the strong chemicalsnormally used to process cotton items in the laundry.

This means we must carefully separate out items made from the differenttypes of fibres if we are to prevent any damage to them.

(b) The colour of the item:Not all dyes used on textiles are ‘colour-safe’ – meaning that the dye will run orbleed when immersed in water – and the higher the wash temperature and thestronger the chemicals used the greater the risk is loosening the dye so that theitem looses colour and will sometimes transfer that colour onto other items in theload.There are some types of dye that are permanent and will not be affected by heat orthe detergent alkalis used and can be quite safely washed with other coloureditems – but without many years of experience it is not always possible to tell whichthese are and it is therefore always best to be ‘safe rather than sorry’ and classifythese items separately. Even so, with many of these ‘safe’ colours, pastel shadescan be seriously affected by the effect of optical brightening agents (OBAs)contained in many detergent formulations. These OBAs add white light (a bit likethe ‘blue whitener’ use din many television advertisements) to the fabric and makepastel shades lighter giving the appearance of colour loss or fading – but in realitythis is due to the added OBA.



(c) The type and extent of soiling on the fabric.There are 4 basic groups, or types, of soiling:-Water soluble like sugar and saltProtein like blood, albumenOily soiling like car grease, many types skin preparations, cooking oils and fats.Insoluble soiling like sand, carbon and graphite.

Each of these types of soiling react or behave differently during the wash process,for example, sugar and salt will immediately dissolve in the water and so presentno real problem. However, protein soiling will set at temperatures above 39ºC – thistype of soiling is effectively ‘cooked’ onto the fabric if washed too hot.On the other hand oily and greasy soiling needs high temperature and alkalinity todissolve and remove them whereas insoluble soiling (sometimes called ‘particulate’soiling) can often be removed by brushing or shaking – unless it is covered ingreasy or oily soiling which makes it stick to the surface of the material.

It is very seldom that these types of soiling will be found alone – they are moreoften than not mixed together.For example, a cup of tea contains sugar (water soluble) and Tannin (Protein) andMilk (which is a mixture of protein and fats).

So it is essential that the different types of soiling should be separated out asdifferent types of wash process will be required.

But the amount of soiling present will also play an important role. For example, atheatre drape that is dripping with blood would be considered heavily soiledwhereas a blood spot on a towel after somebody has nicked themselves whilstshaving would be considered lightly soiled and would not need the same type ofwash process as the theatre drape.

So very heavily soiled items should be separated out for ‘special’ processing.

(d) The type of finishing process used in the laundrySome if the items processed in the laundry are flat and so can be readily finishedthrough the calenders whereas other items, like towels and blankets are fully driedbefore being folded without the need for any further finishing process. However,items like boiler-suits and other apparel (items worn on the body) will be directed toeither the presses or a steam/air tunnel finisher.Whilst you are sorting and checking each of these items it is easier to classify allsimilar items together than it is to then re-sort everything else before it is distributedto the appropriate finishing area.Also, if loads of work have to be re-sorted after washing there is a greater risk ofnow clean items dropping on the floor and becoming dirty again and have to go offto be washed again.

(e) Items with ‘special fabric finishes’ or special fabric typesIncreasingly there are more items that have ‘special’ finishes applied to them, forexample, flame retardency, anti-static, soil-release and so on, many of which canbe severely damaged if incorrectly laundered.



You may also receive special types of fabric that have been designed for differentspecial applications, for example, sun-screen curtains, water-proof mattressprotectors, water repellent operating theatre gowns.Again, if these items are not classified separately and given special processingthese special properties can be irretrievably lost causing permanent damage tothem.

These types of item must be processed separately in special washprocesses.

(f) StainingThere are some types of staining frequently seen in the laundry that will simply notwash out during a wash process and need special treatment. Stains like Rustmarks and Mildew are two common examples of this.Rust marks can be easily removed by treatment with chemicals like hydrofluoricand oxalic acid – but after treatment the item needs to be re-washed. So if you areable to identify this stain BEFORE washing, it can be treated and then only needsto be washed just the once.Similarly with mildew staining – this should ideally be treated before washing. Thistype of stain is caused leaving the soiled item in a warm wet environment and thebacteria start to grow on the fibre. This is normally more noticeable on cotton items.Items stained with mildew should be soaked in a mild solution of sodiumhypochlorite for several hours before then being washed.

(g) The construction of itemsEspecially with garments, there can be a variety of accessories attached to them,for example, badges and logos (both adhesive and embroidered); plastic poppersor press studs instead of buttons; Velcro adjusting tabs on ankles and cuffs or toclose pockets; decorative trims like epaulettes or coloured flaps on pockets.These accessories may be affected by the wash process, e.g. Velcro will oftenattract lint and fibre from the load and become ineffective after only one or twowash processes; embroidery and badges that are highly coloured can bleed andtransfer dye onto other garments.On the other hand they could be affected by the finishing process, e.g. press-studswill often be damaged on hot-head presses; plastic poppers and curtain hooks canbe melted.It is therefore essential that you look out for these accessories to ensure that anyitems with these are separated out and classified for ‘special’ processing to avoiddamage to them.

These are just a few of the main reasons for classifying items – but each laundry will havetheir own systems and ranges of classifying and it is essential that you understand whatthese are and follow them carefully.



Exercise 27:Complete the following table to see how many different classifications the linen hireplant would need:

Laundry Service Washing Classifications

Bed linen Sheets

Towelling Bath Towels Hand Towels Bath Mats Dressing Gowns Face Cloths

Patient Clothing Underwear

Despite having only one fabric type in one colour this laundry could need thesoiled fabric sorting into more than 15 different classifications. Or even more!!

The number of classifications and programme numbers start to increase when youconsider all the possible influences on process selection.

Influence Reason1. Fibre type

2. Item type

3. Colour

4. Soiling type

5. Soiling level

6. Production requirements

7. Disinfection

8. Special fabric finishes

9. Rewash

Animal (wool), vegetable (cotton) or man-made (polyester)

Finishing requirements (calender, press, tumble dry)

Loose dyes (dye transfer or bleeding)

Oily (high alkalinity & temperature) or protein (lowtemperature & bleach)

Heavy, medium or light

Priority and sequencing

Thermal or chemical

fire retardant, water proof or resistant

What reason? (rust, galling, mildew)

17.1. Fibre TypeThere are hundreds of different fibre types available to textile manufacturers. Althoughonly a few of these are usually found in commercial laundries - but when processingpatient personal clothing many more types of fibre can be found.

Fibres can be divided into two main groups, Natural and Man-made.

Each of these two groups are then further divided in two:-

On the Natural side are the Animal and Vegetable fibres.The most common fabrics are made from vegetable matter (e.g. cotton) and fromanimal by-products (e.g. wool).



On the Man-Made side are the totally synthetic which are petro-chemical derivativeand the Regenerated fibres which are made from various waste materials like paperand wood pulp.

The most common man-made fibre is polyester. This fibre is ‘thermo-plastic’ whichmeans that it softens when it is warmed – and if cooled rapidly will become ‘heat-set’and retain the shape it was in when cooled. This makes polyester very good atretaining creases, e.g. in trousers – but once a crease is in this fibre it is very difficult(if not impossible) to remove.

Regenerated fibres are seldom seen in the laundry. These are fibres like Rayon,Tricel, Dicel and so on. These fibres are very cheap but are easily distorted anddamaged in commercial laundering.

Cotton is a very popular fabric with hospitals because it can be finished to a highstandard and will withstand a well balanced industrial wash process well. It is veryresistant to alkalis and the way the cotton fibres swell in an alkali wash solution helpsto loosen dirt and make it easier to remove.

Also because its high water absorption capacity, cotton is a very ‘comfortable’ fabricnext to the skin and thus is used extensively for hospital bed linen and towelling.

Cotton is susceptible to chemical attack from acids and from sodium hypochlorite(bleach). Great care should be taken when bleaching cotton with sodium hypochlorite,as low concentrations cause some damage and high concentrations make the cottonfibres extremely weak. Even low dosage will cause accelerated rotting in the hot wash.

Cotton can also be damaged by micro-organisms that find their way into the hollowfibres and multiply in damp and warm conditions to form mildew.

Wool and other fabrics made from animal derivatives are rarely seen in commerciallaundries these days – they are still very popular for warmer clothing. Despite havingmany qualities they do not respond well to alkali, wash temperature or mechanicalaction in the washing machine.

Exercise 28:List the natural fibres used to make up fabrics washed in your laundry.

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Polyester has taken over from natural fibres as the most common fibre in use today.

Polyester was first patented in 1941 and since then there have been many typesdeveloped from different base chemicals.

Polyesters are very hard wearing and can withstand misuse. But they can be coldnext to the skin and are not suitable for all applications, for example, sparks makepolyester melt and 100% polyester sheets are uncomfortable to lie on for long periods.



They are resistant to acids and all types of bleaches but can be damaged by verystrong alkalis.

The major drawbacks to polyester in the laundry industry is that it:-- attracts oily and fatty soiling,- tends to generate static electricity when agitated; and- tends to form creases detracting from the laundered finish.

A polyester fibre is a type of plastic and when it is heated in the laundry process it canbe bent which causes a crease in the fabric. There are two main reasons for thesecreases.

Thermal ‘shock’ creasing is caused when the hot pliable polyester fibres are cooleddown quickly setting the fibres in a bent and twisted state. To overcome this problemthe wash and drying process has to include a cool-down period where the temperatureis slowly reduced to about 52°C slowly (at approx 4°C per minute).

Pressure creasing can be caused in the washing machine by the weight of the workduring the hot wash in a large capacity machine and by over-extraction or extractionwhen items are still hot. Any polyester items left in barrows or cages after washing willdevelop creasing.

Exercise 29:How would you prevent polyester garments from creasing during processing in thelaundry?.................................................................................................................................................

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To try to gain the benefits of both types of fibres many items are manufactured from amixture of cotton and polyester. It should be noted that the cotton in these polycottonitems will be damaged if hypochlorite bleach is used.



Exercise 30:Imagine that you are holding a soiled doctor’s coat with blue trimming. What wouldyou have to consider before classification?

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The classification of domestic and personal soiled fabric items involves a greaterawareness of fabric types. You must be aware of what each item is made of and howthis fabric will respond to the wash process your classification will give it.

The added difficulty with domestic and personal items is that they are often made up ofmixed fibres and are not of a standard quality.

You will be expected to use your skill gained from training and experience to assessitems for their washability as you count and mark them.

17.4. Soiling typeThe influence of soiling on the sorting operation will depend on the type of soiling onthe articles and how long it has been left on the article.

Hospital soiled/stained garments are primarily protein stained articles and will be givena process that may use a biological enzyme detergent and low temperatures pre-washto help release all the protein soiling from the fabric before the high temperature wash.Any protein soiling left in the fabric at the high temperature stage of the wash will beset in and be very difficult to remove.

The removal of mineral oil soiling is achieved by taking the first wash straight up tohigh temperature where the alkali detergent and possibly a special emulsifying



detergent will breakdown the oily soiling and remove it from the fabric. This type ofprocess also allows the wash process to start at high temperature and to reduce instages through washes and rinses to prevent thermal shock creasing an polycottonworkwear.

17.5. Soiling levelsWith classifications that vary a lot in soiling level it is quite common for the sorter tosub-classify work into light, medium, and heavy soiling, all with a different process. Itis quite normal for hospital laundries to classify in this way.

The sorter must be aware of soiling levels on all classifications because just onegrossly soiled item washed with a load of lightly soiled items can result in cross-contamination and increased staining and rewash. Very heavily soiled items shouldbe classified separately and given a special wash process.

Exercise 31:Give two reasons why white and blue overalls should not be washed together.

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17.6. Production requirementsThe sorter must process the soiled work in priority order, being led by therequirements of the wash area and customer requirements.

17.7. Disinfection

Decisions on classification by a sorter will not usually include reference to disinfectionof fabric items. The one time this may be necessary is if an item is labelled as infectedand the normal wash process for that classification must be replaced by a thermal orchemical disinfection process.

17.8. Special fabric finishes

Most fabric finishes on commercially washed items will be washed off during the firstfew washes. This includes the special stiffness manufacturers put on new fabric tomake them feel crisp and new. The sorter may be asked to give new items a heavierwash classification to speed up this process.

One finish that does not want to be removed and therefore should be given a specialclassification by the sorter is fire retardant finish on fabrics. You may hear thesefabrics referred to as FR curtains, FR blankets or by a treatment trade name e.g.Proban or Pyrovatex.

There are two main processing risks to this treatment. One is that the treatment isdestroyed by contact with sodium hypochlorite bleach, although not by perborate orpercarbonate bleaches.

The other is the accidental coating of the treatment as a result of the wash process.This can occur if you are washing in hard water and alkali/detergent residue are left on



the fabric by poor rinsing. Good oily soil removal is also required or the soiling mightmask the fire retardant properties of the fabric finish.

Fabric finishing agents such as fabric conditioners and starch should not be used onFR fabrics.

A mistake in classification with FR fabrics could result in the injury or death ofsomeone caught in a fire.

17.9. Rewash

Classifying work for rewash is often done in the finishing and packing departments. Inmost laundries this work is reprocessed without being resorted to determine thereason for its rewash status.

To prevent work going round in circles from rewash to finishing to rewash and frombeing given the wrong process and wasting resources the sorter should use their skillto sub-classify the rewash.

A large proportion may well just need the standard process, but some will need specialtreatment and some condemning.

Your contribution to IMPROVEDPRODUCTIVITY in the Sortingroom is through:- Maximising machine output by full

loads Classifying correctly to reduce re-

working Correctly marking customers’ own

items so is nothing lost. Removing damaged articles so no

equipment jams Reducing re-wash by sending

heavily soiled/stained work fortreatment



Exercise 32:Some flame retardant curtains were sent to the laundry heavily contaminated withatmospheric soiling and after a good wash with lots of mechanical and detergentaction they still had stains on. Which bleaching agents could you use on a rewashprocess and why?1...............................................................................................................................................

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Exercise 33:Complete the following table to show which fabric resists damage from Alkali, Acidand Hypochlorite Bleach.

Fibre Strong Alkali Strong Acid Hypochlorite BleachWool & Hair Fibres Weakened Weakened, but

slowlyResists attack

CottonPolyester

Exercise 34:Which of the following process classifications would you use for a heavily bloodstained white boilersuit and what temperature would the first wash be?

Process Selection or 1st wash tempWhite oily soilWhite protein soilWhite protein soil with enzyme detergentWhite mineral oil with peroxide bleachWhite protein with hypochlorite bleach rinse



Questions on Module 2Classify items and make up loads for cleaning

Use this self check questionnaire to make sure you now know all that you need toknow about preceding section. When you have finished discuss your answers withyour trainer.

1. What type of clothing should be worn in the sorting area?

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2. Document HSG (95) 18 describes what action should be taken with healthcare linen.Can you explain what these are?

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3. Give three examples of why soiling is hazardous to health?

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4. Describe how you would lift difficult loads in linen handling?

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5. What checks should be made to the cages/barrows and bags used in the laundry?

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6. What are the advantages of using weighing scales?

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7. What are the nine factors which good sorting takes into account when assemblingwash loads?

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8. Give 3 examples of types of stains that will not wash out in the wash process?

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9. How would you document any damaged item at classification?

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10.What could happen if you fail to remove extraneous objects?

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11.Why is it important to identify existing damage to garments in sorting?

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A new employee has just started in your department and you have been assigned totrain them on how to operate the machinery in your department.Choose one item of equipment in you department and list the 3 most important thingsyou would tell them to ensure they understood the correct use or operation of it.

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For the piece of equipment selected in question 14 above – How much work is itcapable of handling and where is the manufacturers’ safety manual for this equipmentkept?

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Appendix 1LDC3Classify items and make up loads for cleaning

At level 2, this unit is for those who prepare items and make up loads for cleaning.

The job role will involve1. Handling items with care and removing those which are unsuitable for the cleaning process;2. Checking for foreign objects and dealing with them according to correct procedures;3. Sorting items according to the appropriate classifications;4. Making up loads of the correct weight;5. Labeling them clearly;6. Prioritizing loads and storing them carefully.

The competent person must: The key areas of knowledge and understanding1. Prepare items for classification2. Prioritise work3. Classify items and make up loads

1. How to identify and handle items2. The importance of removing items unsuitable for cleaning3. Classification of loads4. Weight capacity of machines5. Why different types of items need different weight loads6. Care labels7. Understanding fibres and fabrics8. Constructions of items9. Importance of identifying delicate/sensitive items

The skills and techniques1. Handling items carefully2. Redirecting items unsuitable for the cleaning process3. Deal with foreign object4. Make up, label and store loads5. Deal with foul and infected items6. Identify items requiring stain removalRegulations, rules and guidelines1. The organisation’s rules, codes, guidelines and standards2. Equipment operating procedures3. Relevant responsibilities under the Health & Safety at Work Act and COSSH (Control of Substances

Hazardous to Health)4. Manufacturers instructionsWorkplace skills1. Communicate effectively with colleagues and customers2. Comply with written instructions3. Complete forms, reports and other documentation4. Keep accurate records



Appendix 2

BY FOLLOWING THE NVQ 2 CLASSIFY & MAKE UP LOADS……

Your contribution to COSTCONTROL in the Sorting room isthrough:- Classifying items correctly, so items

are only washed once Making up loads to the correct weight,

reducing unit cost Removal of waste materials (plastic,

paper and so on), preventing damageto the an entire load

Correctly sequencing customer’swork, preventing packing/deliverycrises

Classifying heavily soiled workseparately so it’s only washed once.

Your contribution to HEALTH &SAFETY in the Sorting room isthrough:- Pocket search, removing

matches/lighters to reduce fire risks Sharps awareness, reducing cuts

and needle-stick injuries Using correct manual handling

procedures to avoid back and kneeinjuries

Washing hands when leaving theworkplace area, reducingemployee infection risks

Wearing the correct PPE,preventing employee infection.

Your contribution to QUALITY inthe Sorting room is through:- Not mixing items using different

finishing methods to prevent lintingand re-processing

Removing coloured items and wastethat could discolour a load

Separating heavily stained work forspecial treatment

Identifying mildew & rust for specialprocessing.

Never making up loads that areover-weight to ensure everythinggets washed correctly

Your contribution to IMPROVEDPRODUCTIVITY in the Sortingroom is through:- Maximising machine output by full

loads Classifying correctly to reduce re-

working Correctly marking customers’ own

items so is nothing lost. Removing damaged articles so no

equipment jams Reducing re-wash by sending

heavily soiled/stained work fortreatment



The following is a list of the key words and phrases used in this module

A

Acetate------------------------------------------------------ 32acid ---------------------------------------------------------- 34acids----------------------------------------------- 32, 36, 37Acrilan------------------------------------------------------- 32adhesive---------------------------------------------------- 34alkali ------------------------------------- 20, 32, 36, 38, 39alkalis --------------------------------------------- 32, 36, 37Angora ------------------------------------------------------ 32Animal-------------------------------------------------- 32, 35apron -------------------------------------------------------- 12article ------------------------------4, 6, 18, 20, 22, 25, 38ash ----------------------------------------------------------- 20

B

bacteria ------------------------------------------8, 9, 12, 34badges ------------------------------------------------- 25, 34bar ------------------------------------------------------ 20, 21bare wires -------------------------------------------------- 15Barrier creams -------------------------------------------- 12bed------------------------------------------------- 12, 31, 36benefits ----------------------------------------------------- 37blankets------------------------------------------------ 33, 39bleach ------------------------------ 20, 21, 23, 35, 36, 41Bleach (triangle) symbol -------------------------------- 21blood ----------------------------------------- 12, 20, 33, 41blood stained ---------------------------------------------- 41blouse ------------------------------------------------------- 20boiler -------------------------------------------------------- 33British standard ------------------------------------------- 20brochures--------------------------------------------------- 17buckles------------------------------------------------------ 25buttons ------------------------------------------------- 25, 34

C

car grease-------------------------------------------------- 33carbon------------------------------------------------------- 33care label ---------------------------------------------- 20, 26care labels ------------------------------------------------- 20CARE LABELS ------------------------------------------- 21chemical damage ----------------------------------- 20, 29chemical disinfection ------------------------------- 25, 39chemicals-------------------------- 20, 29, 31, 32, 34, 36Chlorine----------------------------------------------------- 23Chlorine-based bleaching ------------------------------ 23claim--------------------------------------------------------- 20classification ---18, 20, 28, 30, 31, 38, 39, 40, 44, 46classified-------------------------------- 20, 27, 31, 34, 39classify ---------------------------------- 31, 32, 33, 39, 40CLASSIFY ITEMS ---------------------------------- 1, 3, 4clean----------------------------------------------7, 8, 29, 33cleaning process ----------------------------------------- 46cleanliness --------------------------------------------------- 8

collars ------------------------------------------------------- 20colleagues ----------------------------------------15, 25, 46colour ------------------------------------20, 26, 27, 32, 35colour loss ------------------------------------------------- 32compensation --------------------------------------------- 20contaminated-------------------------------------11, 28, 41Control of Substances Hazardous to Health ------ 46conveyor------------------------------------------------- 6, 28cool-down -----------------------------------------23, 30, 37Correct lifting ------------------------------------------16, 17cotton -----------25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37Cotton------------------------------------25, 26, 32, 36, 41covers--------------------------------------------------------- 4creased ----------------------------------------------------- 30creases --------------------------------------------30, 36, 37creasing --------------------------------------30, 32, 37, 39cross contamination ------------------------------------- 27cuffs --------------------------------------------------------- 34curtain------------------------------------------------------- 34customer ---------------------------- 4, 20, 25, 27, 28, 39customers------------------------------------14, 27, 30, 46

D

damage- 3, 6, 10, 18, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 36,41, 44

damaged ---4, 20, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 36,37, 44

damp ------------------------------------------- 8, 10, 27, 36debris -------------------------------------------------8, 9, 27delicate -------------------------------------------------20, 46detergent ----------------------- 8, 25, 29, 32, 38, 39, 41detergents-------------------------------------------------- 20Dicel -----------------------------------------------------32, 36disinfectant---------------------------------------------- 8, 25disinfected ---------------------------------------------25, 27disposed------------------------------------------------12, 13distillation--------------------------------------------------- 24distillation temperature---------------------------------- 24documentation ----------------------------------------- 6, 46drycleaning ---------------------------------------20, 22, 24Drycleaning ---------------------------------------21, 22, 24Drycleaning symbol----------------------------------22, 24Drying ---------------------------------------------------21, 22DRYING ---------------------------------------------------- 22drying temperature--------------------------------------- 22drying time ------------------------------------------------- 31dust ------------------------------------------------------- 8, 13dyes -----------------------------------------------------32, 35

E

efficiently --------------------------------------------------- 11Electrical faults-------------------------------------------- 13electrical problems--------------------------------------- 13embroidery------------------------------------------------- 34environment -------------------------------------------- 9, 34Extended finishing times ------------------------------- 30



extraction ---------------------------------------------- 31, 37

F

fabric 3, 6, 18, 20, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41

fabric conditioner ----------------------------------------- 40fading-------------------------------------------------------- 32feel ----------------------------------------------------------- 39fibre type---------------------------------------------------- 35fibres ----------------------20, 29, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 46finish------------------------------------------ 26, 37, 39, 40finishing process--------------------------- 31, 32, 33, 34Fire-------------------------------------------------------- 3, 13fire drill ------------------------------------------------------ 13fire extinguisher------------------------------------------- 13fluff ----------------------------------------------------------- 32fluffy --------------------------------------------------------- 32foul ---------------------------------- 11, 12, 15, 25, 27, 46Foul and infected -------------------------------------- 3, 25fresh --------------------------------------------------------- 12friction ------------------------------------------------------- 32fuel ----------------------------------------------------------- 13

G

galling -------------------------------------------------- 29, 35garment------------------------------------------- 18, 20, 25gas ----------------------------------------------------------- 29glass--------------------------------------------------------- 15gloves --------------------------------------------- 11, 12, 15Gloves------------------------------------------------------- 12greasy------------------------------------------------------- 33

H

hair ------------------------------------------------------ 20, 32Hand Iron symbol ---------------------------------------- 21Hand-wash only ------------------------------------------ 23hazards ----------------------------------------------------- 15Hazards------------------------------------------------------- 3head --------------------------------------------------------- 34health and safety --------------------------------- 4, 11, 15Health and Safety ------------------------------------- 4, 11heavy soiling----------------------------------------------- 39Hemp-------------------------------------------------------- 32hospitals ---------------------------------- 4, 12, 13, 18, 36hydrocarbon ----------------------------------------------- 22hypochlorite bleach ---------------------------- 37, 39, 41

I

identification --------------------------------------- 4, 18, 25identification marks ----------------------------------- 4, 25image---------------------------------------------------------- 9Increased costs ------------------------------------------- 29Increased fabric damage ------------------------------- 29infected ------------------------- 8, 11, 12, 25, 27, 39, 46

infection---------------------------------------11, 12, 14, 27infections --------------------------------------------------- 12injure -------------------------------------------------------- 28injury -----------------------------------------------12, 15, 40ink--------------------------------------------------------- 6, 20ink stain----------------------------------------------------- 20Insoluble---------------------------------------------------- 33iron-------------------------------------------------------21, 22ironers ------------------------------------------------------ 30ironing------------------------------------------------------- 29Ironing ------------------------------------------------------ 21IRONING--------------------------------------------------- 22

J

jammed ----------------------------------------------------- 29

L

label -------------------------------------------- 3, 18, 20, 46laundering--------------------------------------- 3, 4, 20, 36laundries------------------------ 4, 27, 31, 35, 36, 39, 40laundry-4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 24,

25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41,43

Laundry-------------------------------------------------12, 35leaks--------------------------------------------------------- 15linen 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27, 31,

35, 36, 42Linen ------------------------------------------------ 4, 12, 32linen bags ----------------------------------------------- 5, 27LINEN HANDLING--------------------------------------- 16lint--------------------------------------------------------32, 34litter ------------------------------------------------------------ 8Lost production ------------------------------------------- 28lost property -------------------------------------------- 3, 25

M

machine -- 4, 6, 9, 18, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31,36, 37

machinery---------------------------------- 4, 6, 13, 25, 44machines -----------------------------------------------28, 46maintenance----------------------------------------------- 13Man-Made ---------------------------------------------32, 36Manual handling------------------------------------------ 15mechanical action-----------20, 21, 22, 23, 29, 31, 36melt ------------------------------------------------------32, 36messages -------------------------------------------------- 30micro-organisms------------------------------------------ 36mildew ----------------------------------------10, 34, 35, 36moisture ------------------------------------------------22, 30moisture extraction -------------------------------------- 30

N

needles ----------------------------------------------------- 11needle-stick------------------------------------------------ 11



Nylon -------------------------------------------------------- 32

O

OBA --------------------------------------------------------- 32odours------------------------------------------------------- 10oily ---------------------------------- 13, 33, 37, 39, 40, 41overall -------------------------------------------------- 11, 26over-load ---------------------------------------------- 29, 30over-loaded ------------------------------------------------ 29

P

packaging --------------------------------------------- 18, 26paperwork -------------------------------------------------- 10particulate -------------------------------------------------- 33parts per million------------------------------------------- 25pens ----------------------------------------------------------- 6perchloroethylene ---------------------------------------- 22personal belongings ------------------------------------- 25Personal hygiene----------------------------------------- 12personal items ------------------------------------ 4, 18, 38Personal Protective Equipment ----------------------- 12pillow slips---------------------------------------- 27, 29, 30plastic -------------------------------- 5, 12, 13, 34, 36, 37plastic bags -------------------------------------------------- 5pockets---------------------------------- 11, 14, 18, 25, 34polycotton workwear------------------------------------- 39polyester-------------------------------- 30, 32, 35, 36, 37Polyester ----------------------------------------- 25, 36, 41Polymark --------------------------------------------------- 18polythene---------------------------------------------- 13, 15precautions -------------------------------------- 11, 14, 31Prepare ----------------------------------------------------- 46press studs------------------------------------------------- 34pressing----------------------------------------------------- 29prick injury-------------------------------------------------- 11procedures ------------- 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 30, 31, 46process formulation-------------------------------------- 31process time----------------------------------------------- 31processes ---------------------------------------- 11, 26, 34production ------------------------------------- 6, 28, 29, 30programme---------------------------------------------- 8, 35programmes ----------------------------------------------- 28protect---------------------------------------------------- 4, 11Protein ------------------------------------------------------ 33protein soil --------------------------------------- 33, 38, 41protein soiling ---------------------------------------- 33, 38

R

Ramie ------------------------------------------------------- 32Rayon -------------------------------------------------- 32, 36Recording production ----------------------------------- 28recycled------------------------------------------------------- 9red bags ------------------------------------------------- 5, 15reduced spin------------------------------------------ 20, 21Regenerated------------------------------------------ 32, 36replacement ----------------------------------------------- 27

rinse stages------------------------------------------------ 32rubber ------------------------------------------------------- 12rubber gloves---------------------------------------------- 12rust-------------------------------------------------------20, 35

S

safe ---------------------------------------10, 12, 16, 27, 32safety pins ------------------------------------------------- 10salt ----------------------------------------------------------- 33sand --------------------------------------------------------- 33scales ----------------------------------------------- 6, 28, 43scalpels ----------------------------------------------------- 12scanned ---------------------------------------------------- 18security ----------------------------------------------------- 14sensitive -------------------------------------------20, 29, 46service --------------------------------------------------28, 30sharp object ----------------------------------------------- 12sharp objects ---------------------------------------------- 12Sheets ------------------------------------------------------ 35silk ----------------------------------------------------------- 32single dot -----------------------------------------------21, 22skin -------------------------------------------------12, 33, 36skin preparations ----------------------------------------- 33smoke------------------------------------------------------- 13soiled---4, 11, 12, 13, 18, 20, 26, 27, 31, 33, 34, 35,

38, 39soiling --8, 13, 18, 20, 27, 28, 29, 33, 37, 38, 39, 40,

41, 42solvent ------------------------------------------------------ 22solvents----------------------------------------------------- 24special regulations --------------------------------------- 12special treatment --------------------------------20, 34, 40spillage ----------------------------------------------------- 28spontaneous combustion ------------------------------ 13spotting ----------------------------------------------------- 20stained ----------------------------------------- 9, 20, 34, 38staining --------------------------------------------18, 34, 39stains------------------------------------------20, 29, 41, 44standards--------------------------------------------------- 46starch ------------------------------------------------------- 40static------------------------------------------------32, 33, 37static electricity ---------------------------------------32, 37statistical information------------------------------------ 28steam ----------------------------------------------15, 29, 33still ----------------------------------------30, 31, 36, 37, 41stitching----------------------------------------------------- 25stock--------------------------------------------------------- 10storage------------------------------------------------------ 16sugar -------------------------------------------------------- 33supplies------------------------------------------------------- 6symbol ---------------------------------------------21, 22, 24Synthetic --------------------------------------------------- 32syringes----------------------------------------------------- 12

T

tea ----------------------------------------------------------- 33temperatures --------------------------------29, 32, 33, 38textile-----------------------------------------------21, 27, 35



textiles------------------------4, 5, 11, 13, 18, 27, 29, 32thermal disinfection -------------------------------------- 25thermal shock --------------------------------------------- 39Thermal shock --------------------------------------- 30, 32thermoplastic ----------------------------------------- 30, 32Three dots-------------------------------------------------- 21time -------------------------------------- 4, 6, 7, 25, 30, 39tingles ------------------------------------------------------- 15trained------------------------------------------------------- 13transportation---------------------------------------------- 27Tricel --------------------------------------------------- 32, 36trims --------------------------------------------------------- 34trolleys ----------------------------------------- 5, 15, 26, 28trousers ----------------------------------------------------- 36Trousers ---------------------------------------------------- 12tumble drier ------------------------------------------- 22, 30tumble dry--------------------------------------------- 22, 35Tumble dry-------------------------------------------- 22, 29Two dots----------------------------------------------- 21, 22

U

under-loaded ------------------------------------ 27, 28, 29

V

Vegetable --------------------------------------------- 32, 35

W

Wash Tub symbol---------------------------------------- 21washing- 6, 9, 12, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28,

29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 39Washing ------------------------------------------------23, 35washing machines -------------------------26, 28, 29, 30Washing process----------------------------------------- 23washing symbols ----------------------------------------- 24Washing symbols ---------------------------------------- 23waste bin ----------------------------------------------------- 8water -- 15, 20, 25, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39Water-------------------------------------------------------- 33water soluble -------------------------------------20, 25, 33waterproof-------------------------------------------------- 12weighed-------------------------------------------------28, 30Weighing scales --------------------------------------- 3, 28wool -----------------------------------------------------32, 35Wool--------------------------------------20, 26, 32, 36, 41woollen ----------------------------------------------------- 32workstation-------------------------- 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 25workwear -----------------------------------------------12, 18

Y

yellowing --------------------------------------------------- 29

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