Purpose of Your Job Position
The primary purpose of your job position is to perform the day-to-day activities of the Laundry Department in accordance with current federal, state and local standards, guidelines, and regulations governing our facility, and as may be directed by the Administrator and/or the Director of Laundry Services, to assure that our facility is maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner, and that an adequate supply of linen is on hand at all times to meet the needs of the residents.
Delegation of Authority
As a Laundry Worker, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.
Job Functions
Every effort has been made to keep your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Administrative Functions
- Assure that work/cleaning schedules are followed as closely as practical.
- Report all accidents/incidents to your supervisor no matter how minor they may be. (NOTE: Such occurrences must be reported on the shift in which they occur.)
- Coordinate daily laundry services with nursing services when performing routine assignments in resident living areas.
Committee Functions
- Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility as required, and as appointed by the Administrator.
Personnel
- Attend departmental and staff meetings as directed or called.
- Perform specific tasks in accordance with daily work assignments.
- File complaints/grievances with your supervisor.
Staff Development
- Participate and assist in department studies and projects as directed.
- Attend and participate in inservice educational classes, on-the-job training programs, etc., as scheduled or as directed.
Safety and Sanitation
- Assure that assigned work areas are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.
- Assure that established infection control and universal precautions practices are maintained when performing laundry procedures.
- Coordinate isolation procedures with nursing service.
- Report all hazardous conditions or equipment to your supervisor.
- Follow established fire safety policies and procedures.
- Dispose of refuse daily in accordance with our established sanitation procedures.
- Keep work/assignment areas free of hazardous objects, unnecessary equipment, supplies, etc.
- Other(s) that may become necessary/appropriate to assure that our laundry department is maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.
Equipment and Supply
- Follow established safety precautions when performing tasks and when using equipment and supplies.
- Report all hazardous conditions or equipment to the Director of Laundry Services.
- Assure that equipment is cleaned and properly stored at the end of the shift.
- Keep supervisor informed of supply needs.
- Report all equipment malfunctions or breakdowns to your supervisor as soon as practical.
- Assure that an adequate supply of laundry/linen supplies are maintained in laundry/linen closets to meet the daily needs of the residents.
- Clean work/supply carts, equipment, etc., as necessary/directed.
- Keep work area(s) free of hazardous conditions, i.e., spills, excess laundry carts, baskets, supplies, equipment, etc.
Laundry Services
- Perform day-to-day laundry functions as assigned.
- Perform specific tasks in accordance with daily work assignments.
- Perform assigned tasks in accordance with established laundry procedures.
- Collect, sort, and weigh soiled laundry, linen, garments, etc., and place in appropriate containers or assigned areas.
- Sort soiled laundry, linen, garments, etc., and separate those items that require special stain removal/treatment.
- Sort, count, and wash soiled laundry, linen, garments, etc., in accordance with established procedures.
- Press/iron garments as instructed.
- Clean floors, including sweeping, dusting, and damp/wet mopping. (NOTE: Assure that appropriate caution/safety signs are properly set up prior to performing such duties.)
- Fold, count, stack, hang, and distribute clean laundry, linen, garments, etc., to residents daily and/or as instructed.
- Keep walls and ceilings clean by washing, wiping, dusting, spot cleaning, disinfecting, deodorizing, etc.
- Remove dirt dust, grease, film, etc., from equipment or floor surfaces, using proper cleaning/disinfecting solutions.
- During emergency conditions, assure that clean laundry, linen, garments, etc., are distributed to designated areas as instructed.
- Discard waste/trash into proper containers and reline trash receptacle with plastic liner.
Resident Rights
- Maintain the confidentiality of resident information. Honor the residents' personal and property rights.
- Knock before entering the residents’ room.
Miscellaneous
- Turn in all found articles to your supervisor. Follow established policies governing the use and disposal of personal protective equipment.
Working Conditions
- Works in all areas of the facility.
- Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours.
- Is subject to frequent interruptions and may need to reschedule laundry activities.
- Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
- Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
- Communicates with laundry personnel and other department personnel.
- Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
- Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
- Is subject to falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, etc.
- May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
- May be required to work on weekends and holidays.
- May be required to work on shifts other than the one for which hired.
Education
Must possess, as a minimum, a 6th grade education.
Experience
None required. On-the-job training provided.
Specific Requirements
- Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
- Must possess the ability to make independent decisions, to follow instructions, and to accept constructive criticism.
- Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
- Must be a minimum of sixteen (16) years of age.
- Must maintain the care and use of supplies, equipment, etc., and maintain the appearance of laundry areas, for sanitation, order, and safety.
- Must be willing to work harmoniously with other personnel as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning.
- Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing laundry practices.
- Must be able to follow written and oral instructions concerning the mixture of cleaning compounds, liquids, cleaning instructions, etc.
Physical and Sensory Requirements
(With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)
- Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
- Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
- Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
- Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
- Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with the residents, personnel.
- Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
- Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility.
- Must be able to lift, push, pull, and move equipment, supplies, etc., in excess of fifty (50) pounds.
- Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents.
