Stop The Spread – Clean and Contain

Nursing Homes: Failure to sterilize linens can become an incubator for the spread of Bacteria and may cause infections in residents, personnel who work at the facility and family and friends who come to visit.

Nursing homes, other health care and extended living operations can produce 2,500 lbs. of dirty laundry a day.  Sheets with blood, urine, feces and other bodily fluids are routinely washed with other, less contaminated items.

To ensure laundry is clean and sanitized key steps are necessary in the processing of Linens.  Housekeeping and laundry personnel need to wear gloves, goggles and any other types of protective equipment and clothing.  Coveralls made of TYVEK will give you the flexibility and durability you require to perform all your functions while being protected.  This step is vital when handling, transporting, sorting and washing soiled linens.  When collecting and transporting soiled linen, handle it as little as possible and with minimum contact to avoid accidental injury and the spread of microorganisms.  Carry linens in covered containers or plastic bags to prevent spills and splashes and confine the soiled linen to a designated area.

Do not do any sorting or washing of soiled linens in areas where patients live or come in contact with.  Establish an area that has adequate ventilation and physical barriers (walls) between the clean and soiled linen areas.  Safe sorting is extremely important.  Bedding from patient’s rooms may contain blood –stained or wet with other body fluids.  Washing and drying all linen items used in the direct care of a resident must be thoroughly washed before reuse.  Decontamination prior to washing is not necessary, unless linen is heavily soiled.  Using Amerisource ONYX, our break detergent will help you handle the most difficult soiled linens.  You can also add bleach about 2 to 3 table spoons will do it, using our OPAL De-Strainer and Sanitizer.

Remember throughout this process make sure if at any time you take your gloves off make sure you wash your hands.

When the linens are clean they are ready to be stored in a clean storage area, keep shelves clean and handle the stored linen as little as possible.  During transportation back to the resident the linens should be wrapped or covered to avoid any contamination.  Do not leave extra linen in a room, avoid shaking linen as it may release dust and lint into the room also clean soiled mattresses before putting linen on them.

It is important that care be taken when you are handling the needs and heath of the elderly.  All of us some day will depend on someone else to maintain a clean environment for us.

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Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Protective Apparel

There are a number of types of outer clothing including non-hazardous apparel (for use in oil, dirt and grime where the wearer does not want to get clothes soiled), and hazardous apparel, including toxic waste, fire retardant and chemical apparel.

The non-hazardous apparel is usually called “Limited Use and/or Disposable.” This type of clothing comes in a variety of styles. The wearer can have items by the piece; pants, jacket, sleeves, boots, apron, hood and full face hood and shield or he can wear One-Piece Coveralls that can come with elastic wrist/ankle bands for a tighter fit. The coveralls can come with boots, hoods and complete hood w/face shield.

Lakeland makes their disposable garments from two types of material, MicroMAX, which is general purpose protective material that can be used in any non-hazardous environment. MicroMAX is comprised of a microporous film with a nylon scrim between the film and the sub-strate, this gives the material added strength. The other material is “Tyvek”.

There are different types of MicroMAX clothing signified by the type of use, seam joints and composition. They are HBF, NS and NS Cool Suit.

HBF utilizes the fabric structure to limit challenge material penetration through the fabric. The same fabric structure, when combined with the physical properties of the melt-blown layer, promotes the exchange of air and moisture between the inside of the fabric and the exterior. The result is outstanding barrier and comfort. NS features high MVTR’s and is breathable for worker comfort. MicroMAX® NS is strong, wet or dry. NS Cool Suit is made with the same material with an added spunbond polypropylene back panel. This give the suit added breathability.

The different types of stitching used in the clothing are Serged Seams, Sewn and Bound Seams and Heat Sealed Seams. A serged seam joins two pieces of material with a thread that interlocks. This is an economical stitching method for general applications. It is more commonly found on limited use clothing where dry particles are of a concern. 

A sewn and bound seam joins two pieces of material with an overlay of similar material and is chain stitched through all of the layers for a clean finished edge. This provides increased holdout of liquids and dry particulates.

 A heat sealed seam is sewn and then sealed with a heat activated tape. This method provides liquid proof seams, and is especially useful for Level A and B chemical protective clothing.

The basic OSHA Standard calls for 4 levels of protection, A – D and it also specifies in detail the equipment and clothing required to protect the wearer. Lakeland makes Level A and Level B apparel.

 Level A represents the greatest danger to respiratory, eye and/or skin damage from hazardous vapors, gases, particulates, sudden splash, immersion or contact with haz-mat. It calls for total Encapsulation in a vapor tight chemical suit with self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or supplied air.

 Level B situations calls for the highest degree of respiratory protection but a lesser degree of skin protection. It calls for SCBA or positive pressure supplied air with escape SCBA. Level B suits can be fully encapsulated or pieced together in various garments.

Lakeland Industries is a licensed manufacturer of quality Tyvek® Protective Wear™ products. Lakeland is a registered company manufacturing to ISO 9001 specifications. Additionally, our Tyvek® Protective Wear™ meets or exceeds ANSI 101-1996 sizing requirements, and are required to pass dynamic fit tests to minimize rips and tears. All Tyvek® Protective Wear™ garments are clearly marked with a blue label to distinguish them from others which may have not been manufactured from Tyvek® or under the entire quality system. It’s your assurance of quality manufacturing that strengthens your safety combination.

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There are 4 main types material of poly protective apparel

SBP Fabric

• Spunbond Polypropylene
• Most Comfortable
• Least Protection
• Keeps large particulates out

SMMMS Fabric

• Spunbond, Meltblown, Spunbond
• Increased barrier protection vs. SMS.  Dry particulate holdout. .25 micrometers
• Durable and abrasion resistant
• Breathable and comfortable for all day wear
• Antistatic NFPA 99

Microporous Fabric

• Spunbond with film laminate
• Splash Resistant.
• Durable and abrasion resistant
• Lightweight, breathable and comfortable Antistatic NFPA 99
• Low Lint
• Blood Barrier (ASTM F1670)

Barrier Fabric

• 2 layer construction using Spunbond and laminates
• High barrier protection.  Spray, Splash and Chemical Resistant.
• Durable and abrasion resistant
• Antistatic NFPA 99
• Low Lint
• Blood Barrier (ASTM F1670 and 1671)

BASIC SEAMS CONSTRUCTION

1. SERGED:  A Serged seam is generally used in light protection disposable garments and consist of using an interlock stitch where the two ends of the fabric meet producing a hardy and durable garment. POSIWEAR, Tyvek®, Kleenguard® A20,30,40, all SMS, SPS
2. BOUND:   A bound seam builds upon the construction of the Serged seam then reinforces the surged seam with an additional piece of like material sewn on top, resulting in increase particulate holdout and increased strength. TyChem® QC, KGA70, A80
3. TAPED:  Used in chemical barrier application, the taped seam is sewn then taped melted together by heat sealing. TyChem® SL, TyChem BR, LV, CPF 4, TK, KGA80
4. ULTRASONIC:   Thermally welded seams

STYLES

• Coveralls
• Lab coats & Shirts
• Bouffants
• Hoods
• Shoe & Boot Covers
• Pants
• Sleeves
• Aprons

Questions to get to the right product for the job!

• What are you trying to keep off ?
  • Dry particulates, light spray, liquid splash, chemicals, hazardous chemical
• What is the concentration level?
• Describe the size of the particulate/liquid.
  • Bigger or smaller than a grain of sand
• If chemical, what chemical?
• Environmental conditions
• What size do you need?
  • Select one size larger than actual size

Once you have identified the use, potential hazards and the consequences of exposure, select a fabric based on the innate characteristics of the fabric

Dry Particulate/Liquid Spray

• Use SBPP, SMS, SMMS,SMMMS, Coated SB Laminates
• Applications/Industries
  • Asbestos removal
  • Dry/Hazardous Chemicals
  • Cleanroom
  • General clean up
  • Food industry
  • Maintenance
  • Laboratories
  • Nuclear/Radioactive Equipment
  • Paint and Paint Spray
  • Waste Recycling/Collection
  • Hazardous material remediation
  • Foundries Metalworking
  • Construction/Building
  • Utilities
  • Mining

Liquid Splash

• Use Coated, SB Laminates
• Applications/Industries

• Acid Handling
• Bio-Hazard Exposure
• Chemical Mid Range Light Splash
• Chemical Increased Hazard/splash
• Construction/Building
• Flammable Materials
• Foundries/Metalworking/Mining
• Hazmat Response
• Hazardous Material Remediation
• Laboratories
• Maintenance
• PCB Remediation
• Refineries – Petro Chemical
• Warfare Agents/Chemical Materials
• Tank Cleaning/Maintenance

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