Washing and Drying Laundry

1 Select items required for washing processes

• Work area: cleanliness, supplies, check and turn on machinery
• Classification:
• ~fibre type e.g., animal, vegetable, synthetic, regenerated,
• ~item type e.g., bed linen, towelling, garments, colour of item,
• ~type of soiling e.g., water, protein, oil,
• ~soiling levels e.g., heavy, medium, light, finishing process, construction of items,
• ~production requirements e.g., priority and sequencing
• Unsuitable items: fibre type, care labels, colour, finishing process, construction of items

2 Load machines and wash items

• Instructions: Manufacturer’s instructions, schedule of work
• Detergents: pre-wash, main wash, fabric softener, water softener, liquid starch, bleach
• Programmes: wash programme, wash temperatures, programme times, spin speed, extra options e.g., rinse hold, intensive, delay start
• Instructions: Manufacturer’s instructions, schedule of work

3 Unload machines and check quality of items

• Unloading: operating procedures, manufacturer’s instructions
• Reporting: supervisor, line manager, problems, issues, queries
• Records: work schedules, cleaning schedules, audit or check sheet, supply or resource requests, damage reports, time sheets

4 Tumble dry items

• Work area: cleanliness, supplies, check and turn on machinery
• Items: fibre type, care labels, construction of items
• Instructions: Manufacturer’s instructions, schedule of work
• Programmes: temperature, duration
• Reporting: supervisor, line manager, problems, issues, queries
• Records: work schedules, cleaning schedules, audit or check sheet, supply or resource requests, damage reports, time sheets

5 Work as an effective member of the team

• Communication:
• ~spoken e.g., tone of voice, terminology
• ~written e.g., documents, forms, reports, presentations
• ~body language e.g., posture
• ~Situations: formal, informal, queries or requests, complaints
• Codes of conduct: workplace policies, rules and procedures
• Reporting: supervisor, line manager, challenges, issues, queries

6 Follow health, safety and hygiene procedures

• Personal hygiene:
• ~clean clothing, footwear and headgear
• ~hair neat and tidy
• ~wear a head covering e.g., hairnet, hat
• ~washing hands
• ~no jewellery
• ~cover cuts and grazes
• ~report illness and infections to the proper person
• Common workplace hazards: slips, trips, falls, breakages, hot surfaces, chemicals
• Health and safety procedures: following fire regulations, fire drills, evacuation, manual handling, safe use of chemicals, report accidents, first aid
• Workplace emergencies: accidents, fire, breaches of security, illness
• Emergency procedures: raising alarm, calling emergency services, firefighting equipment, evacuation procedures
• Security procedures: control of keys, electronic systems, surveillance, control of entrances and exits, staff and visitor identity badge, reporting of suspicious persons and packages to line manager