Orange County NC Website
DocuSign Envelope ID:79C5D167-B6CA-4E59-B4AC-AA38CC1 B20BD <br /> Orange County Emergency Services K.. ' <br /> Exposure Control Policy <br /> Laundry Procedure <br /> Department Policy: <br /> • Laundry contaminated with blood or OPIM shall be handled as little as possible. <br /> • Personnel should remove clothing as soon as possible after contamination <br /> occurs. For this reason, all personnel are required to bring a second uniform to <br /> work. <br /> • Contaminated clothing should be placed into a labeled, leak-proof container for <br /> transport to the unit's primary station. A biohazard bag is preferred for this <br /> activity. <br /> • All contaminated laundry can be washed at either EMS station 1 or 2. Under no <br /> circumstance should contaminated clothing be taken to a private residence and <br /> washed. <br /> • Contaminated clothing and bunker gear may be washed at the individual fire <br /> departments, per individual protocol. Care should be taken to follow all <br /> manufacturers recommendations regarding decontaminating bunker gear. <br /> Certain common cleaning chemicals may degrade bunker gear and not damage <br /> other clothing. <br /> • Personnel shall utilize appropriate PPE and remove the contaminated clothing <br /> from the container. Gross contaminates shall be removed and placed in a <br /> biohazard container along with the transport container used. <br /> • Care shall be given in assessing the type of clothing fabric and recommended <br /> washing procedures. Do Not wash any type of fabric against the manufacturers' <br /> recommendation / cleaning guidelines. <br /> • The contaminated clothing shall be placed in the washing machine with care <br /> given so as not to contaminate the outside of the washing machine. <br /> • Personnel should remove any contaminated PPE and dispose of in a biohazard <br /> container. <br /> • Personnel should add the appropriate type and amount of laundry detergent to <br /> the wash based on the manufacturer's directions. Care shall be taken to avoid <br /> contact with the contaminated clothing at this time. Non-chlorine bleach may <br /> also be added if desired. <br /> • Personnel should close and start the washing machine as per manufacturer's <br /> instructions for the load size and amount of clothing. The heavy soil setting is <br /> preferred with a warm water wash and cold rinse. <br /> • Once the wash cycle is complete, the clothing can be removed and placed in a <br /> dryer and dried according to the type of fabric and size of load. <br /> • If the exterior of the washing machine was contaminated, it should be <br /> decontaminated using standard decontamination procedures during the wash <br /> cycle so as not to re-contaminate the clothing on removal. <br /> Revised July,2018 <br />