Failure to Use Proper Barriers During Soiled Laundry Sorting
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that appropriate barriers were used by laundry staff while sorting soiled laundry. During an observation in the laundry department, it was noted that staff sorted soiled laundry using only gloves, and only donned a gown if there was obvious visible soilage. A staff member acknowledged not considering the risk of transferring soiled or potentially infectious laundry to clean laundry. The facility's policy requires that all previously worn clothing and used linens be considered potentially contaminated and handled with standard precautions, including the use of clothing barriers and gloves. This deficiency was confirmed by an administrative nurse who verified that laundry staff should wear both a clothing barrier and gloves when sorting soiled laundry.