Washer and Extractor Operator

WellSpan Health; Chambersburg (Franklin County); On-site; USD 17,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

WellSpan Health in Chambersburg seeks a part-time Environmental Services/Linen Attendant to sort, load, and unload hospital laundry, maintain production records, and follow infection control practices. This role reports to Environmental Services and supports patient care by ensuring clean linens are available daily.

Ideal candidates will have high school education, strong communication, and safety awareness; prior laundry or hospital experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Graduate or GED preferred.
• Experience: customer service and communication skills required; industrial laundry preferred.
• Certifications/licensure: none required.

Responsibilities

• Sorts soiled linen and loads/unloads washers.
• Maintains accurate records of total weight and production time.
• Follows infection control guidelines and keeps area clean.
• Attends in-services to develop communication skills and procedures.
• Responds to linen requests and coordinates pickups as needed.

Skills

Critical thinking

Computer literacy

Safety compliance

HIPAA knowledge

Communication skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Description

Schedule

• Chambersburg Hospital
• Part Time: 64 Hours/Biweekly
• Hours: 6:00am - 2:30pm
• Every Other Weekend And Holiday, Required

Position Function

Sorts soiled linen and loads and un-loads washers.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Technical Excellence

• Thinks critically; utilizes sound judgment; promptly reports potential risks.
• Maintains state of art knowledge of area of specialty, healthcare trends and practice, and populations served.
• Maintains a level of computer literacy appropriate to their role.
• Meets and maintains current all unit specific and organizational skills/competencies, certifications/licensures, as required.
• Completes hospital-required reviews, e.g. HIPAA, safety, health screening, care concerns, and others as assigned.

• Adheres to National Patient Safety Goals.

Job Class Specifics

• Maintains accurate records of total weight and production time of laundry processed; submits to Secretary.
• Applies personal protective practices and Infection Control techniques; keeps work area and equipment clean.
• Wears protective clothing (i.e., gown, cap, gloves, goggles, as indicated); washes hands before and after handling soiled linen; follows established Infection Control Guidelines.
• Sorts soiled linen between washer loads and maintains checks on continuing washer operation.
• Answers phone; receives requests for linen and pick-up of soiled linen; relays information as appropriate.
• Organizes and processes soiled linen maintaining the production schedule generated from the linen room.
• Keeps work area clean; cleans overhead areas weekly.
• Prioritizes workload at beginning of shift so that important deadlines can be met. Able to process 5,000 to 7,000 pounds of laundry daily.
• Gathers soiled linen from laundry chutes, according to established schedules.
• Weighs linen for washer-extractor following guidelines established for washer loads.
• Loads soiled linen into washers, insuring loads are balanced according to weight and fabric type, within 10 minutes.
• Unloads washers; prepares for finishing operations.
• Cleans and disinfects soiled linen carts daily per procedure; cleans and disinfects soiled linen room daily.
• Cleans laundry machinery weekly as per procedure; reports malfunctioning equipment and unsafe acts/conditions to Manager immediately.
• Monitors supplies for washer-extractor; notifies charge person of low supply levels. Folds rough dry when sorting and washing is caught up.
• Demonstrates knowledge of various departmental jobs; maintains ability to assist in other positions.
• Attends departmental in-services and educational programs to develop communication skills, learn new forms/procedures, etc.
• Sorts linen from various areas, following established guidelines. Able to sort basket in 7 to 10 minutes.

Physical and Mental Requirements

Classified as very heavy work by the Dictionary of Occupational Titles: May exert in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

• Constant bending, twisting and reaching.
• Occasionally squats and kneels.
• Ability to maneuver/control heavy laundry carts on a frequent basis.
• Ability to frequently operate hand controls on various laundry equipment.
• Near-visual acuity for detecting soiled or torn linen; color perception required.
• Auditory acuity adequate for hearing normal voice tones when not facing an individual and to detect noises in malfunctioning equipment.
• Manual dexterity, digital sensitivity, and flexibility in order to operate equipment and manipulate laundry.
• Ability to remain on ones feet for long periods of time.
• Stands and walks on carpet, tile, or linoleum surfaces on a constant basis.
• Lifts up to 70 pounds from floor to waist and/or shoulder level constantly.
• Carries up to 20 pounds for distances of up to 300 feet frequently.
• Constantly pushes/pulls up to 300 pounds throughout the hospital.
• Reaches up to two feet overhead on a constant basis.

Mental Demands

Possesses good general mental health; verbal and written communication skills; ability to speak, read, and write the English language.

Working Environment

Conditions that a person in this position is subject to during a normal workday. Work is performed in an indoor environment. Frequent exposure to heat, hot pipes, linen, high noise level, heights, slippery and wet floors, and possible exposure to infectious bodily fluids and to caustic chemicals, which is mitigated by the use of gowns, gloves, etc. to reduce the risk of exposure. Works near moving machinery parts.

Reporting Structure

Reports to the Environmental Services Manager. In his/her absence, reports to the Director of Environmental Services.

Disclaimer

These essential job functions are requirements of the position which must be performed either with or without reasonable accommodation. The essential job function list is intended to be a guide rather than a limitation. The Chambersburg Hospital possesses the right to add new responsibilities to the list as business demands dictate. Some of the essential job functions may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat/significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or others.

By identifying essential job functions, we are in no way stating or implying that these required tasks are the only activities that are to be performed by the employee occupying this position. In addition, employees will also be expected to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties that are included in the job description. The preceding requirements represent only the minimum acceptable levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities that a job incumbent must possess; in order to perform the job successfully, the incumbent will possess additional aptitudes so as to perform the other duties that the job description entails.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Standards

Education: High School Graduate or G.E.D. preferred.

Experience: Experience applying customer service behaviors and communication skills required. Previous experience in industrial laundry preferred.

Certifications/Licensure: None Required.