The HA processes an average of about 150,000 kilograms of linen per day, a weight equivalent to 10 double-decker buses, making its laundry operation one of the largest in Hong Kong. The HA's laundry services are currently provided by its eight in-house laundries – including the Chai Wan Laundry, which will cease operation at the end of September – two laundry workshops managed by the Correctional Services Department (CSD), and outsourced laundry companies. The HA's laundry service has undergone numerous reforms over the years, and there is a wealth of little-known knowledge and wisdom behind.
High standards with perfect precision
The linen handling process is divided into five main steps: sorting, washing, drying, finishing, and dispatching. Every step is handled with a rigorous standard. The laundry is divided into two main zones: dirty zone and clean zone. Airflow between the two zones is separated and a one-way workflow is strictly maintained to prevent contamination of clean linen. The washing process uses a high-temperature disinfection formula – washing at 75°C for at least five minutes, or washing at 65°C for at least 10 minutes with chemical disinfection. The moisture level of clean linen must not exceed 6% (see photo above). The pH value must be maintained within the range of 5.5 to 7.0 in final rinse stage, to ensure compatibility with human skin. Additionally, strict monthly inspections are conducted in the laundries to ensure the high quality of the linen and washing performance.
A European study tour for continuous improvement
With technological advancements, the HA sent colleagues in 2019 to Europe to learn about the latest automated laundry systems and robotics. Today, some HA in-house laundries have adopted new technologies, including the introduction of the RFID technology. The system automatically sorts and counts the quantity of each type of linen, significantly reducing the workload of staff.
Through laundry work, persons in custody equip themselves
The CSD has been providing laundry services to the HA for many years. Currently, the laundry workshops of Pik Uk Prison and Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution of CSD handle about 10% of the HA’s total laundry volume. Both workshops have received the internationally-recognised ISO 9001 quality management system certification, ensuring reliable service. Since 2009, the CSD has been offering Certificate in Laundry Assistant Training to adult persons in custody. After completing the 60-hour training and passing the examination, trainees are awarded a certificate, which helps them equip themselves for reintegration into society.
Thoughtful improvements in linen design
In the early years, hospital uniforms were made of 100% pure cotton. They had to be manually ironed piece by piece, which was both time-consuming and labour-intensive. With the introduction of the tunnel finishing system at the Chai Wan Laundry, the team collaborated with the Hong Kong East Cluster to design new working clothes that could accommodate the rapid drying and finishing process. The new working clothes used a blended fabric for better durability and drying efficiency. They also adopted colored collars for easy and direct identification of clothing size. This design later became the blueprint for today’s staff working clothes.