Laundry Worker

Summary The Laundry Worker works in the Laundry and Dry Cleaning Section of the Environmental Management Service at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. The employee receives intensive on-the-job training for a variety of tasks and may work any of the approved shifts and/or work areas. Duties may include working on both the soiled linen side as well as the clean or finish side of the laundry area. Qualifications To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. The job does not require a specific length of training or experience, but applicants must show evidence of training or experience sufficient to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of the position. Such evidence must be supported by detailed descriptions on the resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. The potential eligibles are evaluated against the prescribed screen‑out element (typically question 1 in the online questionnaire); those who meet the minimum acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and eliminated. Remaining candidates are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Dexterity and Safety, Interpret Instructions – Specifications, Materials Operation of Equipment/Machinery, Reliability and Dependability, Technical Practices, and Work Practices. Preferred experience is none – no previous industrial laundry work experience is necessary. Applicants must possess the ability to read directions and signs visually, communicate effectively with hospital staff, patients, and visitors, interpret and follow written and oral instructions, work with limited supervision following all safety precautions, and be tolerant of the temperament of patients, visitors, and employees. Experience includes paid, unpaid, and volunteer work (e.g., National Service programs, professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training that converts directly to paid employment. Credit will be given for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants requesting credit for such experience must indicate the nature of their duties, responsibilities, and number of hours per week in each position. A full year of work is considered to be 35–40 hours per week; part‑time experience will be credited based on actual time spent in appropriate activities. Physical Requirements Participants will be asked to participate in a pre‑employment examination or evaluation as part of the process. The job requires continuous body and arm movement—walking, standing, twisting, bending, and pushing. Incumbents must be able to lift up to 50 pounds, work from a ladder, and push loaded carts through hallways and on/off elevators. Visual inspection of linens and hearing bells and alarms on equipment are required. Environmental factors may include noise, heat, humidity, drafts, and potential exposure to bruises from carts or machinery. Workers may be required to wear protective masks, gloves, and gowns when sorting laundry from patients with contagious diseases. Working Conditions Laundries are extremely noisy and usually hot and humid. Workers may be exposed to bruises from carts or machinery. When required to sort laundry from patients with contagious diseases, workers wear protective masks, gloves, and gowns. In the receiving area, the employee may be exposed to drafts from open doors. Duties Operates hydraulic cart dump machine, digital scale, conveyor, and pneumatic rail system Removes and transports soiled linen throughout the hospital and designated laundry chute rooms Empties linen bags and sorts linen into the proper bins while wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) Folds rough dry linens Manages items such as pajamas, gowns, bathrobes, blankets, washcloths, mattress pads, etc. Vigilantly inspects surgical linens for stains and imperfections and removes all lint Operates equipment such as ironer, blanket folder, small piece folder, and TS delivery system Shakes out, straightens, and feeds linen into the spreader and flatwork ironer, blanket machine, and small piece folder Stacks in prescribed numbers and proper areas Prepares linen packs for autoclave in the Sterile Processing Section (SPS) Assembles and wraps Operating Room (OR) linens according to specifications Delivers and restocks clean linen throughout the hospital Cleans and inks marking machine as required Performs other related duties as assigned Work schedule: Monday – Friday, 4:45 am – 1:15 pm Position Description Title/PD#: Laundry Worker/PD60266A and PD60267A Promotion potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level – WG‑2 – without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. #J-18808-Ljbffr