Using ozone for disinfection in laundry machines

What is the potential risk?

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Some commercial suppliers market systems for using ozone and/or hydroxyl radicals in commercial washing machines. These chemicals are introduced into the wash water to disinfect and kill bacteria.

Depending on the concentration of ozone, exposure can result in acute respiratory health problems or even death. Mild to moderate symptoms can include coughing, a sore or scratchy throat, damage to airways, and other related health issues. Exposure can vary based on duration and intensity of the work. A commercial laundry worker who is loading and unloading a washing machine may be exposed to high levels of ozone. Fatal injury can occur from only a brief exposure when concentration levels reach 5 ppm.

What is ozone?
Ozone is a highly reactive and unstable gas that can be formed by a reaction of ultraviolet light or electricity with oxygen. It is usually produced onsite for immediate use as a mixture with air or oxygen, in an ozone generator, as it is too reactive and unstable to store as the pure gas.

Ozone is heavier than air but it is usually diluted and will not necessarily settle to lower levels. Pure ozone has a slightly bluish color but a dilute solution in air will be colourless and may have a distinctive odour (like the smell in the air before a thunderstorm).

Ozone is only slightly soluble in water, so when a solution containing ozone is placed in a washing machine, some ozone gas will be present in the space above the wash water. Agitation or heating of the solution will result in even more ozone being released.

What are hydroxy/radicals?
When ozone is dissolved in water, a complex series of reactions takes place, producing short-lived chemicals. One of those chemicals produced is the hydroxyl radical. Some manufacturers emphasize hydroxyl radicals in their marketing materials, implying that ozone is not present. But there is a risk that hydroxyl radicals will react in a water-based solution and will re-form ozone.

Who is at risk?

Working around commercial laundry machines can put workers at risk of exposure to ozone at dangerous levels, especially when reaching into machines to remove laundry. Workers in the following industries may be at risk:

• Health care
• Hospitality
• Commercial laundry facilities

How can I reduce the risk in my workplace?

Under section 26(b) of the Workers Compensation Act, the supplier must provide enough information to ensure the customer is following health and safety requirements for operating this equipment. Before you consider purchasing and installing an ozone generator, you need to discuss these requirements with the supplier.

The following information highlights sections in the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation that are most relevant to this risk. The employer must do the following:

• Conduct a risk assessment for their workers using this equipment (s. 6.118).
• Develop written safe work procedures so that their workers understand how to safely use this equipment (s. 6.120).
• Train their workers to ensure they are capable of following these work procedures (s. 6.121).
• Ensure ozone equipment has a properly ventilated enclosure (s. 6.122) and that the ventilation system exhausts directly to the outside (s. 6.124(a)).
• Maintain a monitoring and alarm system to monitor the ozone levels (ss. 6.128(1) and (2)) and ensure the results from the monitoring system are visible from outside of the enclosure (s. 6.123).
• Use an emergency shutdown device for the ozone system that can be activated from outside the enclosure (s. 6.126).

Where can I find more resources?

You can access the following resources on worksafebc.com:

• Book: Ozone Safe Work Practices
• OHS Regulation: Part 5, Chemical Agents and Biological Agents, and Part 6, Substance Specific Requirements.

Ozone ' How Can It Benefit Your Laundry Operation?

There are numerous benefits to be gained from using ozone in laundry operations. With the proper wash programs, ozone can save substantial money on operating efficiencies. Total cycle time, hot water usage, and overall water usage can be reduced and still produce quality results.

Significant benefits of using ozone in your laundry operation:

1 - Reduced Energy Costs

Typically, sanitizing is achieved with hot water but cold water is best for ozone. This leads to reduced hot-water consumption and, to a lesser extent, reduced drying times resulting in considerable energy savings.

2 - Reduced Water / Sewer Costs

Ozone aids the effectiveness of traditional laundry chemicals, thus reducing the amounts required. Because of this reduction, fewer rinse cycles are needed in the wash. This leads to a reduction in water consumption and sewer discharge.

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3 - Reduced Drying Times

Ozone does not alter the pH level of water, unlike bleach and detergents, so less souring chemicals are needed. This decreases the need for softener - which coats the fibers and holds moisture in the fabric - thereby extending drying times.

4 - Reduced Chemical / Detergent Costs

Ozone is faster than chlorine bleach - at equal concentrations - when destroying bacteria and sterilizing linens. Because ozone reverts to pure oxygen after use, there are no chemical residues. As the wash cycle needs fewer chemicals, a high level of disinfection can be achieved with ozone.

5 - Increased Linen Life

When laundering with ozone, washing and drying-cycle times are shortened. Therefore exposure to chemicals and heat is reduced and fabric wear is decreased. The water-softening properties of ozone also improve fabric life.

6 - Increased Fabric Softness & Brightness

Ozone helps to prevent re-deposition of soil onto linens - one of the major causes of fabric graying. This eliminates further bleaching and chemical use. It also reduces chemical usage resulting in softer, fluffier linens.

7 - Improved White and Colored-Load Mixes

Ozone reduces the need for bleach in many applications allowing white and colored linens to be washed together, saving on labor costs incurred for load separation.

The EDRO Corporation manufactures the DynOzone Disinfecting & Sanitizing Laundry System. This is a revolutionary onboard system that is, perhaps, the most efficient method available for producing and delivering a consistent output of ozone gas to a washer-extractor.

Utilizing Power Cell technology, the system comprises a revolutionary built-in, onboard ozone generator, high-speed washer-extractor with single motor variable-speed drive and fully programmable HMi touch screen control. It is a complete system that is extremely simple but very effective.

The DynOzone Disinfecting & Sanitizing Laundry System is an air stream of charged gas molecules produced by the Power Cells and generated on site at the machine. All components are built into and fully integrated with the washer-extractor. No separate controls, wiring or connections are required and components are specifically sized for each machine. System maintenance is as simple as changing a light bulb.

The system can be programmed in any wash / rinse step. To activate, enter the DynaTrol HMi touch screen control programming mode. Selecting the "Ozone" button on the wash / rinse setup screen will activate the Power Cells and pump. They will run concurrently for the programmed time of the selected step.

The Power Cell exposes atmospheric air to special crystal lamps that emit both ultraviolet and infrared radiation. As air passes through the Power Cell, a safe, disinfected and sanitized air stream is created, which is then injected into the wash wheel.

Ozone deodorizes laundry by breaking the molecular bonds of most odor-causing organic and inorganic compounds. After using the DynOzone Disinfecting & Sanitizing Laundry System you will notice your laundry has a fresh clean scent, similar to the atmosphere directly after a lightning storm or clothes drying in sunshine on a clothesline.

On average, laundries who have installed DynOzone Disinfecting & Sanitizing Laundry System-equipped washers and replaced their industry standard wash programs have reported increased productivity from their washroom thanks to more loads per day due to the faster turns of the machines.

The DynOzone Disinfecting & Sanitizing Laundry System has successfully processed hypoallergenic odor-free laundry in hotels, shirt laundries, nursing homes, fire houses, prisons, commercial laundries and other on-premise laundries

The company is the world’s best professional ozone generator supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.