Contaminated laundry that was improperly labeled or handled can lead to exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.
OSHA offers the following nine best practices and guidelines for handling contaminated laundry.
1. Handle contaminated laundry as little as possible with minimal agitation.
2. Bag contaminated laundry at the location of use. Do not sort or rinse laundry at the location where it was used.
3. Place wet contaminated laundry in leak-proof, and color-coded or labeled containers, at the location where it was used.
4. Whenever contaminated laundry is wet and presents a reasonable likelihood of soak-through of or leakage from the bag or container, place and transport the laundry in bags or containers which prevent soak-through and/or leakage of fluids to the exterior.
5. Contaminated laundry must be placed and transported in bags or containers labeled with the biohazard symbol or put in red bags. Note: For more information on labeling requirements, click here.
6. In a facility that utilizes universal precautions in the handling of all soiled laundry, alternative labeling or color-coding is sufficient if it permits all employees to recognize the containers as requiring compliance with universal precautions.
7. Use red bags or bags marked with the biohazard symbol, if the facility where items are laundered does not use universal precautions for all laundry.
8. Contaminated laundry bags should not be held close to the body or squeezed when transporting to avoid punctures from improperly discarded syringes.
9. Normal laundry cycles should be used according to the washer and detergent manufacturer's recommendations.
Source: OSHA
Read more about OSHA:
- OSHA Guidance: 6 Practices for an Equipment Hazards Prevention Program
- OSHA FAQ: Liability for Transferring/Maintaining Medical Records When No Successor Employer
- 7 Steps to Maintaining OSHA Compliance