This position is located in the Environmental Management Service at VA Western New York Healthcare System - Buffalo VA Medical Center in Buffalo, NY. The Laundry Machine Operator is responsible for performing tasks involved in the washing and drying process of laundering of linen and personal clothing.
PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Incumbent must be able to lift and carry fifty (50) pounds and move carts up to 750 pounds. Must be able to stand and walk consistently, perform light to moderate bending and stooping, and be able to wear the required PPE for extended periods of time as dictated by the work setting. During normal day to day operations, individual will be required to perform simple grasping and fine hand manipulation, reaching above shoulder height and ability to pull wet laundry from washers. Position routinely requires operating of pallet jacks, electrical equipment, push or pull soiled and clean laundry carts in and out of laundry truck, to and from loading docks to various locations within the TCPF and medical center. Work is normally performed inside where there is ample light, heat and/or ventilation. Temperatures vary from hot in the summer to cold in the winter when moving carts into the TCPF. Incumbent is exposed to operational noises associated with an industrial laundry and may be required to use hearing protection if occupational exposure exceeds acceptable occupational exposure thresholds. Incumbent is intermittently exposed to excess humidity, chemicals and solvents, fumes, dust and noise. Individual is exposed to possible contagions from the handling of contaminated linens in performance of emptying laundry bags and sorting soiled linen. Potential exists for sharps exposure in soiled linen. Incumbent is subject to cuts, scrapes, bumps, bruises, slips, falls and other injuries, and to disagreeable odors in the performance of required duties. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Operation of Equipment/Machinery Without more than normal supervision Work Practices IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Laundry Machine Operators performs varied combinations of tasks in one or more functional areas of the laundry process such as receiving, (unloading soiled linen from trucks), soiled sorting, weighing linen, loading, and unloading washers, and dryers and moving linen to various areas of the Laundry for finishing. Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Responsible for overall operation and daily start up activities of the Textile Care Processing Facility (TCPF) Applying in depth knowledge and care of all laundry washroom equipment, chemicals, and procedures Adjusting wash flow as needed to maximize efficiency and meet production standards, as well as patient needs Responsible for the total operation of automated linen transfer system, three pocket pass-through 600lb Side Loader Washers, two pocket pass-through 200lb Side Loader Washer, 300 lb. integrated gas fire dryers, 600 lb. integrated gas fire dryer, and 50 lb. gas fire free standing dryers Completing all preventive maintenance Performing a daily startup inspection of production equipment including flatwork processing systems, small and large piece folding/stacking systems, and various high production processing equipment used throughout the TCPF Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 06:00 a.m. to 02:30 p.m. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved