South Dakota Administrative Rules › Title 44 - Department of Health › Article 44:73 - Nursing facilities › Chapter 44:73:02 - Physical environment › Section 44:73:02:09 - Linen

Current through Register Vol. 51, page 10, July 15, 2024
The supply of bed linen and towels shall equal three times
				  the licensed capacity. The facility shall have written procedures for the
				  storage and handling of soiled and clean linens. The facility shall contract
				  with a commercial laundry service or the laundry service of another licensed
				  health care facility for all common use linens if laundry services are not
				  provided on the premises. A facility providing laundry services shall have
				  adequate space and equipment for the safe and effective operation of the
				  laundry service. Commingled residents' personal clothing, common-use linen, any
				  isolation clothing, and housekeeping items shall be processed by methods that
				  assure disinfection. The facility shall process laundry following the laundry
				  equipment and cleaning agent recommendations. If hot water is used for
				  disinfection, minimum water temperatures supplied for laundry purposes shall be
				  160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees centigrade). If chlorine bleach is added to
				  the laundry process to provide 100 parts per million or more of free chlorine,
				  the minimum hot water temperatures supplied for laundry purposes may be reduced
				  to 120 degrees Fahrenheit ( 48.8 degrees centigrade). The facility may choose
				  to wash commingled residents' personal clothing, common-use linen, and any
				  isolation clothing in water temperatures less than 120 ° F. if the
				  following conditions are met:
(1) The
				supplier of the chemical specifies low-temperature wash formulas in writing for
				the machines used in the facility;
(2) Charts providing specific information
				concerning the formulas to be used for each machine are posted in an area
				accessible to staff;
(3) The
				facility ensures that laundry staff receives in-service training by the
				chemical supplier on a routine basis, regarding chemical usage and monitoring
				of wash operations; and
(4) The
				facility ensures that staff monitors chemical usage and wash water temperatures
				at least monthly to ensure conformance with the chemical supplier's
				instructions.
Any resident's personal clothing that is not commingled may
				  be processed according to manufacturer's recommendations using water
				  temperatures and detergent in quantity as recommended by the garment or
				  detergent manufacturer. The facility shall have distinct areas for the storage
				  and handling of clean and soiled linens. Those areas used for the storage and
				  handling of soiled linens shall be negatively pressurized. The facility shall
				  establish special procedures for the handling and processing of contaminated
				  linens. Soiled linen shall be placed in closed containers prior to
				  transportation. To safeguard clean linens from cross contamination, the linens
				  shall be transported in containers used exclusively for clean linens, shall be
				  kept covered with dust covers at all times while in transit or in hallways, and
				  shall be stored in areas designated exclusively for this purpose. A written
				  request for any modification of the requirements of this section shall be
				  reviewed and approved by the department before any changes are
				  made.
General Authority:
SDCL
					 34-12-13(1) and
					 (4).
Law Implemented:
SDCL
					 34-12-13(1) and
					 (4).