HACCP in Laundry Operations – Why it’s Important to Choose the Right Commercial Washing Machine

HACCP?is a safety management system created for the food industry, but it is?also relevant in laundry operations?because contaminated linen or garments can have a negative impact on people in numerous situations, food-related or not. Implementing HACCP procedures in laundry is important as much as in the food industry:?clean work wear and uniforms?are key to keeping a number of critical points under control, and if laundry operations cannot assure clean, uncontaminated garments and linen, these could, instead, be a hazard. Laundry operations play an even more important role in the?hospitality industry?and?medical field,?since personal gear and work wear are themselves critical control points.

HACCP?implementation in laundry is a matter of processes, because the control of critical hazard points encompasses all activities, how they are conducted, and the appliances used. The choice of the proper washing machine is just as important, because management procedures can be amended, but if an appliance doesn’t meet the proper standards it has to be replaced. Therefore, knowing how to choose the right one is extremely important.

Commercial washing machines in HACCP laundry operations

?The most critical control points related to a commercial washing machine are:

• Wash cycles: how are they designed, can they reach high enough temperatures to kill pathogens?
• Use of chemicals: are the chemicals used in the wash cycle capable of killing pathogens?
• Water extraction: at the end of the wash cycle, the load sits in warm water. Damp heat favors the proliferation of bacteria and pathogens, so it is important to minimize exposure time to these conditions.
• Drying temperature: high temperatures can assure control over the proliferation of bacteria by using heat to destroy pathogens; however, high temperatures can also ruin garments and linen, so a commercial dryer that can quickly reach high temperatures and not keep them for long is the best option to efficiently dry the load and neutralize pathogens.
• Fast and safe handling of linen?prevents possible contamination hazards; ergonomic design can facilitate these operations.
• Maintenance: there are two sides to this issue:

1. If appliances can?self-monitor and report malfunctions,?then it is possible to avoid running cleaning cycles on a machine that is not operating properly and that could create conditions for contamination (e.g. by mixing clean and dirty water in the tumbler).
2. Rapid, appropriate servicing and maintenance, often performed by the appliance supplier can offset malfunctions and the related risks.

In addition, a good manufacturer uses only?quality materials, so that linen and clothes do not come into contact with deteriorated parts or with the surrounding environment.

HACCP certified laundry solutions

Like the Line 5000 laundry solution, the?Line 6000 appliances?by Electrolux Professional comply with the strictest HACCP procedures:?commercial washers and dryers?in the line (as well as barrier washers, ironers and fitting solutions) are the first laundry solutions certified by HACCP International.