Candidate Support Pack - Scottish Qualifications Authority

Interruptions to water supply are usually due to pump failure or empty storage tanks and
are quickly rectified.
You should check for any signs of water leaks such as puddles, drips or the sound of
running water before you start up any machines. A leaking water inlet valve on a washing
machine can result in many litres of water draining away during shutdown periods. It can
also have a detrimental effect on wash quality by increasing wash dips when production
has started.
Routine checks
Carry out the following routine checks before the start of every shift. Ensure that any fault
you identify is reported following your organisation's set procedures.
Your responsibility for identifying machine faults and health and safety risks continues
after you have started the washing machines.
Most washing machines will have pre-set control parameters with the dip levels, process
time and temperature being controlled by a process card or computer program. Other
influences on wash quality such as detergent, bleach, fabric conditioner or starch
additions will have been set by agreement with your chemical supplier.
As the operator of a washing machine you should not assume that all these
settings are going to be correct all the time. You should check them regularly.
Chemical supplies
Chemical supplies to the washing machines should be checked before production starts,
so that any low supplies can be replenished without you having to leave washing
machines unattended later in your shift.
You should carry out these routine checks before the start of every shift and ensure that
any fault you identify is reported, following your organisation’s set procedures.
Many laundries now operate with liquid detergent systems that automatically dose the
correct chemicals into the washing machines. Checking that dosing pumps actually run
and that there is a layer of detergent bubbles during a wash should help to identify
breakdowns before poor quality washing is removed from the washing machine.
The use of automatically dosed chemicals has reduced the risks from having to handle
chemicals for many laundry washroom staff, but for varied reasons some chemicals are
still dosed manually by jug.
Whether your contact with chemicals involves only changing product barrels, dosing
products by jug directly into the washing machine or making up stock tanks, you should
follow the safety advice on the product labels.
GC8N 22 — Laundry Operations Level 2 5.11