healthcare textiles & laundry
healthcare textiles & laundry
By Gregory Gicewicz
Tunnel Washers in Healthcare : Balancing Savings , Sustainability and Safety
A continuous batch washer , commonly known as a tunnel washer , is a type of industrial washer that offers enormous advantages to healthcare in sustainability , economy , and productivity . But these advantages come with profound safety risks , if not managed properly . Tunnel washers are designed to handle large volumes of laundry continuously . Unlike traditional batch washers where a set amount of laundry is loaded , washed , and then unloaded before the next batch , a tunnel washer allows for a continuous flow of laundry through the machine . These washers are commonly used in healthcare laundries , where a high volume of laundry needs to be processed efficiently . Tunnel washers typically consist of a series of compartments or modules through which the laundry progresses . Each compartment serves a specific purpose in the washing process , such as washing , rinsing , and extracting water .
The tunnel washer design offers enormous economic advantages such as increased productivity , reduced labor requirements , optimized water , chemical , and heat usage , and consistent wash results . While a conventional washer may use more than three gallons of water per pound of linen processed , a state-of-theart tunnel washer can use less than half a gallon of water per pound of linen processed . Because tunnel washers efficiently reuse heat and chemistry , massive savings in natural gas and chemicals are another advantage . Tunnel washers are particularly useful for handling large quantities of linens , uniforms , and other textiles in a streamlined and efficient manner . In our current era , it is critical for hospitals to take measures to reduce their environmental footprint and promote sustainability . Given their revolutionary efficient use of water , heat , electricity , and chemistry , a tunnel washer , for healthcare textiles , can be a critical part of a healthcare facility ’ s sustainability strategy .
While the benefits for the laundry , of a well-designed and a well-run tunnel washer are immense , the risks and
drawbacks of a poorly designed / run tunnel washer are just as vast .
Tunnel washers are capable of processing huge quantities of linen per hour and a laundry plant may depend on this throughput to complete their wash day . Therefore , extended tunnel washer downtime due to outages can be catastrophic , causing hospitals to not get all their linen processed .
Achieving the right balance of detergents , bleach , and other chemicals is crucial for effective cleaning . Inconsistent chemical dosing or improper pH levels can result in poor cleaning performance , damage to fabrics , or excessive wear on the machine .
For a chemical formula to work as designed , water levels in compartments must be precisely managed . Too much water means suboptimal chemical concentrations and inadequate mechanical action . Too little water means too high of chemical concentrations , inadequate dilution , and improper mechanical action .
Chemical formulas require precise temperatures to clean as designed . For example , most bleaches require a certain temperature threshold to activate and disinfect . Likewise , wash steps require a high enough temperature to optimally remove soil . Conversely , too extreme of temperature drops in the rinse zone may cause thermal shock and damage textiles .
Most tunnel washers are equipped with systems for recycling water and chemicals . While these systems offer economic and environmental benefits , managing these recycling systems and ensuring they operate effectively adds another layer of complexity . Malfunctions in these systems can impact both the environment and the cleaning performance .
Tunnel washers are constantly exposed to a perfect cocktail of heat , steam , water , and contaminated linen . Therefore , their parts , including surfaces , discharge areas , and tanks are perfect breeding grounds for pathogens that can contaminate clean linens .
Tunnel washers are complex machines with many critical components such as water pumps , chemical pumps , drain valves , temperature probes , water level probes , and more . Regular maintenance is essential to prevent breakdowns and ensure optimal performance . Failure to perform routine maintenance can lead to unexpected downtime and increased repair costs .
To mitigate these complexities and risks , it ’ s important for healthcare laundries to invest in proper training for staff , adhere to recommended maintenance schedules , and stay informed about advancements in laundry technology to optimize performance and resource usage . Regular monitoring and quality control measures can also help identify and address issues promptly . Below are some specifics :
Establish a regular tunnel washer
1 process monitoring program . This should include chemical titrations , water testing , temperature probe calibration , water level probe calibration , chemical pump calibration , surface testing , and most of all final linen testing .
Build a robust training program for
2 tunnel washer operators and maintenance technicians . Operators should be taught to pay special attention to load sizes and end-product quality .
Ensure tunnel washer critical parts are
3 in stock in the plant . These include belts , valves , probes , wheels , press membranes , pumps , critical motors , and critical electrical parts . While it is expensive to keep spare parts onsite , the cost more than pays for itself when the parts are needed .
4Create a rigorous tunnel washer maintenance schedule that includes critical part health checks and proper cleaning .
5Build a strong relationship with your tunnel washer vendor as well as your chemical vendor . These vendors can provide additional levels of technical and operational expertise .
6Have a disaster plan ready in case your tunnel washer goes down . This can include an additional tunnel washer ( very expensive ), several larger conventional washers ( slower and more expensive ), or even a backup laundry facility .
Gregory Gicewicz is the president and CEO of Compliance Shark , a business compliance platform , as well as past-president of the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council ( HLAC ).
january 2024 • www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com •
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