§ 70825. Laundry Service.

(a) Laundry and linen.

(1) An adequate supply of clean linen shall be provided for at least three complete bed changes for the hospital's licensed bed capacity.

(2) There shall be written policies and procedures developed and implemented pertaining to the handling, storage, transportation and processing of linens.

(3) If the hospital operates its own laundry, such laundry shall be:

(A) Located in such relationship to other areas that steam, odors, lint and objectionable noises do not reach patient or personnel areas.

(B) Well-lighted and ventilated and adequate in size for the needs of the hospital and for the protection of employees.

(C) Maintained in a sanitary manner and kept in good repair.

(D) Not part of a storage area.

(4) Hospital linens shall be washed according to the following method:

All linens shall be washed using an effective soap or detergent and thoroughly rinsed to remove soap or detergent and soil. Linens shall be exposed to water at a minimum temperature of 71 degrees C (160 degrees F) for at least 24 minutes during the washing process.

(5) Separate rooms shall be maintained in the hospital for storage of clean linen and for storage of soiled linen. Linen storage rooms shall not be used for any other purpose. Storage shall not be permitted in attic spaces, corridors or plenums (air distribution chambers) of air conditioning or ventilating systems.

(6) Handwashing and toilet facilities for laundry personnel shall be provided at locations convenient to the laundry.

(7) Soiled and clean linen carts shall be so labeled and provided with covers made of washable materials which shall be laundered or suitably cleaned daily. Linen carts used for the storage or transportation of dirty linen shall be washed before being used for the storage and transportation of clean linen.

(8) If the hospital does not maintain a laundry service, the commercial laundry utilized shall meet the standards of this section.

(b) Soiled linen.

(1) Soiled linen shall be handled, stored and processed in a safe manner that will prevent the spread of infection and will assure the maintenance of clean linen.

(2) Policies and procedures shall be developed and implemented pertaining to linen soiled with chemotherapeutic agents or radioactive substances.

(3) Soiled linen shall be sorted in a separate enclosed room by a person instructed in methods of protection from contamination. This person shall not have responsibility for immediately handling clean linen until protective attire worn in the soiled linen area is removed and hands are washed.

(4) Soiled linen shall be bagged or covered for transport.

(5) If chutes are used for transporting soiled linen, the chutes shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary state.

(c) Clean linen.

(1) Persons processing clean linen shall be dressed in clean garments at all times while on duty shall not handle soiled linen.

(2) Clean linen from a commercial laundry shall be delivered to the hospital completely wrapped and delivered to a designated clean area.

HISTORY

1. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 10-15-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 42).

2. Amendment filed 6-15-89 as an emergency; operative 6-15-89 (Register 89, No. 25). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL within 120 days or emergency language will be repealed on 10-13-89.

3. Certificate of Compliance as to 6-15-89 order transmitted to OAL on 10-13-89 and disapproved by OAL on 11-13-89 (Register 89, No. 46).

4. Amendment refiled 11-16-89 as an emergency; operative 11-16-89 (Register 89, No. 46). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL within 120 days or the section will be reinstated as it existed prior to the emergency on 3-16-90.

5. Certificate of Compliance as to 11-16-89 order transmitted to OAL 3-15-90 and filed 4-16-90 (Register 90, No. 17).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 208(a) and 1275, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Section 1276, Health and Safety Code.