Laundry Worker

Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of each other, teamwork, and inclusivity? HSCS is dedicated to building a diverse community atmosphere where employees feel valued, supported, and accepted while providing specialized care for Texans in need. If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interest you, we welcome your application for the position below.

The Laundry/Sewing Room Worker III (Laundry Worker III) performs complex (senior-level) work and is responsible for overseeing the safe and efficient operations of commercial laundry equipment in a commercial laundry. The Laundry Worker III assists the Laundry Manager with overseeing and cross training other Laundry Workers, ensuring other Laundry Workers follow all laundry equipment procedures that are in place for safe laundry equipment operation. The Laundry Worker III reports all employee and equipment issues or problems to the Laundry Manager and Regional Laundry Director. The Laundry Worker III assists the Laundry Manager with planning, scheduling, facilitating, and recording the efficient and safe processing of linens. Work involves both light and heavy physical labor. Activities include sorting, classifying, weighing, and recording of weights, loading/unloading of Continuous Batch Washer (CBW), press, shuttle, and large 300# dryers, 300# lint collector, small commercial washer/extractors and dryers, flatwork ironing, unloading conveyor, folding, preparing clothes and linens for delivery, delivery, and routine cleaning of work area/areas. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for use of initiative and independent judgment.

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

Assists the Laundry Manager in overseeing the laundry process in the soil sort and clean processing areas. Assists the Laundry Manager with leading, guiding, and directing other Laundry Worker to work as a team to meet the established time frames, following all procedures for the Laundry Department. Maintains open and continuous communication, reporting all problems and recommendations without delay. Maintains an open and continuous communication with the Laundry Manager, Laundry Maintenance, and Laundry Director to ensure that everything is handled in a timely manner. Reports, oversees, and ensures proper startup of CBW, press, shuttle, four (4) 300# dryers, un-loader belt, and 300# lint collector at the beginning of the workday. Oversees and ensures proper shut down at end of workday. Ensures Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety equipment is used, available, and adequate supplies are maintained. Ensures work areas and floors are cleaned daily at the end of shift. Cleans equipment per preventative maintenance work orders. Ensures trash is collected and properly discarded. Ensures hazards are reported and appropriate actions taken to prevent an unsafe environment. Participates in laundry enhancement discussions and training sessions. Ensures all docks and lifts are secured at the end of the shift. Ensures all daily documentation has been completed and turned in to the office at the end of each day (e.g. work orders, machine logs, dirty/clean shipping forms).

Assists the Laundry Manager with training, cross training, and assigning the work of other Laundry Workers. Informs and updates the Laundry Manager on training deficiencies. Ensures rotation of trainees so proficiency is maintained. Informs and updates Laundry Manager of other Laundry Worker personnel issues and achievements that need to be acknowledged. Informs and updates the Laundry Manager of scheduling problems and achievements. Ensures open communication with the Laundry Director, Laundry Manager, Laundry Maintenance, and other Laundry Workers.

Sorts, classifies, weighs, and records all soiled laundry in order to determine what laundry formula will be used. Ensures all carts are labeled with a tag for the Facility/Unit that is being sorted. Ensures sorting and loading are done one facility at a time. Ensures sorting conveyor stays full, changes out full sorting carts so sorting can continue without interruption, and helps stage the loads for the CBW, while keeping the sort area organized. Ensures dirty carts are taken to the cart washer after they have been emptied. Sorts all soiled laundry by Facility/Unit, type of material, texture, and item’s soil content. Records all weights accurately by Facility/Unit on the Dirty Shipping Info form. Turns in completed papers to office daily. Removes any article soiled with feces, food, vomit or medicine, and places articles in the heavy soiled bin.

Operation of the Continuous Batch Washer (CBW) system. Ensures the proper weights are loaded into the CBW to ensure the safe and efficient processing of linens. Ensures linens are properly sorted prior to loading, selects the proper wash formula and Facility/Unit code according to the degree of soil and articles being washed, and that linens are cleaned to required specifications. Ensures proper weights, Facilities/Units and formulas are programmed for efficient laundry processing. Follows all operating procedures for CBW, press, shuttle, dryers, un-loader belt, and lint collector. Ensures proper chemicals are maintained and connected for efficient cleaning not letting any chemical barrel run empty. Checks the chemicals before running and during processing if needed for changing out of barrels. Troubleshoots and corrects faults at the CBW, press, shuttle, dryers, un-loader belt, and lint collector for maximum productivity and maintains an efficiency of the CBW at 84% or higher. Keeps Laundry Manager, Laundry Director, and Laundry Maintenance advised and up to date on all productivity problems and efficiency situations immediately.

Operation of the large dryer unload conveyor. Ensures a cart is ready at the unload conveyor before the light comes on signaling it is time to unload. Unloads the conveyor as soon as the light comes on signaling it is time to unload and dryer door closes. Checks the Multitrac System to see what facility is being processed and if there is a question, checks with the CBW operator. Makes labels with Facility/Unit name, item description, and tapes to all carts as they come off the unload conveyor. Regularly checks processed laundry for dryness, stains, smells, re-washing stained, and bad odor linens. Brings any questionable linen item to the attention of the Laundry Manager, Laundry Maintenance, and Laundry Director for direction. Sorts out items per dryer area procedures. Covers all carts. Assists with the cart washer, guiding the cart out, wiping out the bottom of all carts, and placing a discard towel in the bottom for pooling. Removes discard towel before putting any linens/clothing into the cart, and keeps all carts organized on the clean side. Monitors the Multitrac System in the dryer area to ensure proper drying and location of goods during processing.

Operation of commercial washer/extractors and dryers. Loads washer/extractors within the range of 90% to 100% of maximum capacity. Records all loads loaded/unloaded from the washers on the required paperwork. Unloads washer/extractors, separating material by drying requirements. Selects the proper wash formula according to the degree of soil and type of articles being washed. Loads dryer and sets the drying and cooling times and temperature for each load according to the type and texture of material. Unloads the dryer only when the load is cooled to below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Dries re-dry items from the CBW and folding/worker program as needed.

Operation of the Feeder, Ironer, Folder, and Stacker. Ensures all procedures and daily preventive maintenance is completed before running machines. Observes all safety rules, standards, and warnings posted on the machines and covered during in-service training. Ensures the waxing temperature is met before waxing the Ironer. Makes labels with Facility/Unit name, item description, and tapes the label to all carts as they come off the unload conveyor. Neatly stacks all folded sheets in the cart. Ensures sheets with knots are not run through the ironer. Inspects each item being processed for damage, excessive wear or stains, removing items and placing them in the appropriate area. Brings any questionable linen item to the attention of the Laundry Manager, Laundry Maintenance, and Laundry Director for direction. Addresses all errors immediately when the alarm goes off, before running any more linens. Follows the shutdown procedures after running the sheets or before the end of the day. Records all discards on the required form.

Operation of small piece folders. Ensures all procedures and daily preventive maintenance is completed before running the machine. Observes all safety rules, standards, and warnings posted on the machines and covered during in-service training. Makes labels with Facility/Unit name, item description, and tapes the label to all carts as they come off the unload conveyor. Neatly stacks and organizes clean linen items in the designated labeled cart. Address all errors immediately before running any more linens when the alarm goes off. Inspects each item being processed for damage and excessive wear or stains, removing items and placing them in the appropriate area. Brings any questionable linen item to the attention of the Laundry Manager, Laundry Maintenance, and Laundry Director for direction. Records all discards on the required form.

Folding linens by hand. Folds all clean linen so as to present a neat and professional appearance by neatly stacking and organizing clean linen items in the designated cart labeled with the Facility/Unit name and item. Inspects each item being processed for damage, excessive wear, or stains removing items and placing them in the appropriate area. Brings any questionable linen items to the attention of the Laundry Manager, Laundry Maintenance, and Laundry Director for direction. Places miscellaneous finished items in the proper outgoing cart or storage area. Records all discards on the required form.

Maintains a clean and safe environment to meet infection control and safety standards. Washes all soiled carts through the cart washer before using the cart on the clean side, following all cart washer procedures. Ensures all laundry soiled side bins are disinfected and/or washed daily or as needed. Secures all vehicles, closing all passenger doors, cargo doors, windows and engaging all locks upon exiting. Secures all linen/clothing rooms upon exiting and secures the laundry building when unoccupied. Ensures keys are not left unattended. Reports any problems found while performing any job task. Reports any problems with equipment (not operating properly, broken, pieces missing, sounds different/unusual) or safety hazards immediately to the Laundry Manager, Laundry Director, or Laundry Maintenance. Reports all equipment failures and uses lock out/tag out procedures. Observes all PPE, safety and traffic laws, rules and regulations of the State of Texas, HHSC, and facility safety and security standards. Ensures work areas and floors are organized and cleaned as needed throughout the day.