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773 Preventing MSDs in Healthcare
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Solutions for Other Activities

Loading or Unloading Laundry

Description: Front-loading washers and dryers.

Image of worker loading a washer.
Front-loading washers and dryers speed up the process for retrieving and placing items.

When to Use: When loading or unloading laundry from washers, dryers and other laundry equipment.

Points to Remember: Speeds process for retrieving and placing items, and minimizes wear-and-tear on linen. Washers with tumbling cycles separate clothes, making removal easier. For deep tubs, a rake with long or extendable handle can be used to pull linen closer to the door opening. Raise machines so opening is between hip and elbow height of the employees. If using top loading washers, use work practices that include handling small loads of laundry and bracing your body against the front of the machine while lifting.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

3-6. Raise laundry machines so opening is between _____ and _____ of the employees.