ALEXANDRIA, Va. — May 25, 2018 — HandCraft Linen Services’ Richmond, Virginia laundry has had their certification renewed for Hygienically Clean Healthcare, reflecting their commitment to best management practices (BMPs) in laundering as verified by on-site inspection and their capability to produce hygienically clean textiles as quantified by ongoing microbial testing.

The laundry was first certified in 2014. Recertification confirms the organization’s continuing dedication to infection prevention, compliance with recognized industry standards and processing healthcare textiles using BMPs as described in its quality assurance documentation, a focal point for Hygienically Clean inspectors’ evaluation. The independent, third-party inspection must also confirm essential evidence that:

• Employees are properly trained and protected;
• Managers understand regulatory requirements;
• OSHA-compliant; and
• Physical plant operates effectively.

To achieve certification initially, laundries pass three rounds of outcome-based microbial testing, indicating that their processes are producing Hygienically Clean Healthcare textiles and diminished presence of yeast, mold and harmful bacteria. They also must pass a facility inspection. To maintain their certification, they must pass quarterly testing to ensure that as laundry conditions change, such as water quality, textile fabric composition and wash chemistry, laundered product quality is consistently maintained. Re-inspection occurs every two to three years.

This process eliminates subjectivity by focusing on outcomes and results that verify textiles cleaned in these facilities meet appropriate hygienically clean standards and BMPs for hospitals, surgery centers, medical offices, nursing homes and other medical facilities.

Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification acknowledges laundries’ effectiveness in protecting healthcare operations by verifying quality control procedures in linen, uniform and facility services operations related to the handling of textiles containing blood and other potentially infectious materials.

Certified laundries use processes, chemicals and BMPs acknowledged by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, American National Standards Institute and others. Introduced in 2012, Hygienically Clean Healthcare brought to North America the international cleanliness standards for healthcare linens and garments used worldwide by the Certification Association for Professional Textile Services and the European Committee for Standardization.

Objective experts in epidemiology, infection control, nursing and other healthcare professions work with Hygienically Clean launderers to ensure the certification continues to enforce the highest standards for producing clean healthcare textiles.

“Congratulations to HandCraft Linen Services on their recertification,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “This achievement proves their ongoing commitment to infection prevention and that their laundry takes every step possible to prevent human illness.”

Posted May 25, 2018

Source: TRSA

ST. LOUIS — May 21, 2018 — TRSA — the global association for the linen, uniform and facility services industry — today hosts the seventh annual Safety Summit, with more than 70 participants sharing best practices and receiving advice from safety professionals in other industries to further decrease workplace risks in large-scale laundries.

Members continue to progress toward reaching their zero-incident goal. Yearly TRSA research shows incidences declining at a faster rate than those of all U.S. businesses. From 2012 to 2016, members’ total recordable injuries and illnesses (TRIR rate) fell nearly 18 percent, compared with 15 percent for all private industry. Days away from work, job restrictions or job transfers (DART rate) were down nearly 16 percent, compared with 11 percent.

In addition to the Summit, TRSA supports members’ gains with employee training videos, including English and Spanish versions of instruction on lockout/tagout and soiled linen handling. More than 20 webinars produced since 2011, webcast live and now available on-demand, guide management in injury prevention, hazard analysis and communication, behavior-based safety and more. Supporting documents and references available through www.TRSA.org reinforce members’ proficiency in these disciplines and others, such as working safely in confined spaces.

“Even with lower and declining incident rates, safety in the workplace is an ongoing emphasis for our industry and for TRSA,” said TRSA president and CEO Joseph Ricci. “At the Safety Summit and our other professional development events, member collaboration to protect employees is at an all-time high. We continue to add to information-sharing resources through our website and other communications. These efforts have paid off in empowering employees to help reduce and prevent injuries.”

Posted May 21, 2018

Source TRSA

CINCINNATI — May 21, 2018 — Standard Textile Co. Inc. today announced the launch of its Made in USA collection of terry and sheeting products engineered for hotels and hospitality properties. As a pioneer of the American textile industry, Standard Textile’s new collection supports American innovation, domestic growth and smaller carbon footprints.

In 2014, Standard Textile had a vision to create a model for textile manufacturing in the United States. The company launched its Manufacturing 4.0 initiative in 2015 and invested more than $65 million dollars in its facilities in Thomaston, Ga., and Union, S.C., to bring new life — through advanced manufacturing — to American textile production. Smart technologies, including state-of-the-art machinery, automation, robotics, vision control systems, advanced analytics and the Internet of Things have been implemented to readily control every level of the company’s supply chain.

“Our goal has always been to push the boundaries of what textile manufacturing in the United States can achieve, combining real-time data exchange with advanced automation, robotics and vision controls,” said Gary Heiman, president and CEO of Standard Textile. Today, the company is realizing results beyond initial expectations and vision. “Our smart manufacturing investments have allowed us to optimize every level of our manufacturing and logistics process, and to keep production closely connected to our research and development.”

As a company with deep roots in this country, Standard Textile is now offering hoteliers a new American-made terry and sheeting collection that enhances the guest experience while lowering operational costs, and stimulating domestic job and economic growth.

With the new Made in USA products, hoteliers receive unsurpassed durability, superior cost management and a luxuriously soft hand that guests will appreciate — all backed by patented technologies. These products also help move hoteliers forward on the path to sustainable solutions through Real Green™, an innovative processing, production and performance system developed by Standard Textile.

ForeverSoft™ towels feature an ultra-soft pile yarn specifically engineered to be softer than traditional 100-percent cotton towels, 100 percent of the time. Not only are the towels softer, but they also dry faster, allowing for energy and cost savings during the laundering process.

An advanced weaving technology also helps reduce laundering costs for the new Transitions™ terry by imperceptibly controlling the distribution of pile height. The result? A high-quality towel with the highest pile in the centermost parts of the towel to provide an exceptional guest experience at a lower overall product weight.

After a long day of travel, business meetings or exploring the sights, hotel guests want a good night’s sleep on a great set of sheets. Standard Textile’s new, uncommonly smooth UltraTwill™ sheets and pillowcases make this product line an ideal bedding solution for hotel guests and hoteliers alike.

“Since 1940, Standard Textile has been developing innovations to help our customers succeed,” said Richard Stewart, corporate vice president/product development & Sustainability at Standard Textile. “Hotel linens elevate the guest experience and with the launch of these three new products, our customers receive linens that not only make their guests happy, but also make sense operationally and from a sustainability standpoint.”

All three products feature a number of patented technologies developed by Standard Textile, including its signature Centium Core Technology®, a unique weaving process that dramatically improves tensile strength, extends service life and enhances performance. With Standard Textile’s Room Ready for You® laundered with Tide® program, hoteliers receive the sheets and towels clean, fresh and ready to use out of the box, saving time, labor and up-front processing costs. The OneSTEP® program and patented EZ ID® color-coding system provides easy size identification for housekeeping staff.

Posted May 21, 2018

Source: Standard Textile