Lab Services
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Equipment Calibration and Cleaning
Through our calibration services program, we regularly calibrate and clean laboratory equipment on a bi-monthly basis.
Laundry Services
1/4/12: HLS (Healthcare Laundry Systems) has officially changed its name to Crothall Laundry Services, Chicago.
Crothall Laundry Services (formerly named HLS) provides laundry services for the labs and research community in Evanston and Chicago. Once enrolled in the program, you can charge the service to your NU chartstring.
Crothall will pick up and deliver customer-owned garments to each user group. Lab coats will be cleaned, pressed, and hung. Rental garments including scrubs, towels, bedsheets and rental lab coats will be cleaned, folded, and bagged. A delivery ticket will be placed on all delivered garments.
Enrollment:
Complete the Laundry Services Enrollment Form (pdf) to enroll in the program. Print a copy of the form, and then submit the form to Crothall via email.
- The FIRST time that you send a soiled garment for processing, place the printed copy of the enrollment form in the pocket of the coat. If you have multiple garments from the same owner, place them all in one bag with the printed copy of the enrollment form.
- Place your soiled garments at one of the drop points in your area or in the VWR stockroom on your campus.
Crothall will process the form and send a confirmation email. Crothall will attach a unique bar code to the inside collar of customer-owned lab coats.
Rental Linens: To enroll in the rented linens and laundry program, complete the Laundry Services Enrollment - Rental Form (pdf).
Procedures:
- Each customer-owned item will be assigned a barcode that has your name and department associated with it.
- Place your soiled garments at one of the drop points in your area or in the VWR stockroom on your campus. Pick-ups occur on a weekly basis. Cleaned garments will be placed at the drop point in your area the following week.
Bio-Hazard Procedures:
- All linens and lab coats are process in compliance with bloodborne pathogens using universal precautions. Items do not need to be segregated and can be placed in the standard yellow laundry bags in the drop points in your area. Be sure to remove any items in the coats before placing in the bag.
Pricing (per item):
Download a price list for laundry services (pdf).
Other Services:
- Embroidery: To order embroidery services, send an email to Steve Bodziak, Crothall Laundry Services Business Unit Manager, with the wording to be embroidered and your contact information and bar code number.
- Button Replacement: Attach a note to the individual garment indicating the need for button replacement.
- Repairs: Attach a note to the individual garment indicating the need for repair.
Download the laundry services price list (pdf) to see additional service costs.
Delivery Times:
Pick-up of dirty linens and drop-off of clean linens will be on a weekly schedule:
- Chicago campus: Wednesdays between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm
- Evanston campus: Mondays between 9:00-10:00 am.
In the event of a Monday holiday, service will occur on Tuesday.
Drop-off and Delivery locations:
- Chicago campus: VWR stockroom (Searle/Morton B-652), Multiple drop-off/delivery locations near labs and departments
- Evanston campus: VWR stockroom (Tech KG-48), Center for Comparative Medicine
Billing
Once enrolled in the program, you can charge the service to your NU chart string. Each department will be billed internally by University Services at the end of each month.
- Note: In most cases, laundry service is not allowed as a direct charge to a grant. Please provide a non-sponsored chart string for billing. Contact your grant administrator for assistance. A list of grant administrators is available on the ASRSP website.
Questions?
Service/Procedure Questions: Contact Steve Bodziak, Crothall Laundry Services Business Unit Manager, at 847-941-7027
Billing Questions: Contact Theresa McClain, University Services, at 3-0510 or Matt Marzillo, Purchasing Resource Services, at 7-0837
Safety Training
Our safety information can help augment Northwestern's safety training. These topics are updated and expanded on a regular basis.
Personal Protection Equipment
OSHA regulations mandate that employers must assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present or likely. This regulation also requires use of proper personal protective equipment to protect employees from the identified hazards. A hazard assessment should evaluate each work task or process and consider the hazard type, source and part of body affected by it.
Identify potential hazards and see VWR products available to address your lab safety needs (pdf).
Eye and Face Protection
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) recently updated its standards for protective eyewear and face protection. Impact resistance is now defined as "basic" or "high." The frame, temple and lenses of all spectacles, goggles and face shields must be marked with "Z87," which indicates basic impact protection; "Z87-2" indicates prescription lenses and "Z87+" indicates high impact protection.
Our suppliers have evaluated their products against the new standard and have begun marking their products accordingly. Any glasses that are not in compliance with the new criteria will be redesigned or discontinued. See VWR products for eye and face protection (pdf).
Glove Selection
Hand protection is one of the most effective methods of reducing chemical exposure. Workers should inspect their gloves before handling hazardous materials and replace them at the first sign of wear. Maximize glove life by removing the chemical from the surface of the glove after each use and storing them away from the contaminating atmosphere.
Choosing the right glove for your application is critical. The chemical breakthrough time and degradation rating, process, and temperature are among criteria used to determine the best type of glove to use. See VWR gloves that have been evaluated and recommended for use with different chemicals (pdf).
Emergency Eyewash & Showers
Availability and operability of emergency eyewash and showers are critical for a safe work environment. In addition to instructing employees about their location and use, OSHA has the following standards for these devices:
- Be located within 10 seconds travel time of the hazard, on the same level as the hazard, and the path shall be free of obstructions.
- Be in good working order (tested weekly and inspected annually)
- Be protected from freezing and contaminant settling (in eyewash heads)
- Be identified with highly visible signs in a well-lit area.
- Deliver tepid water or flushing fluid.
See VWR's emergency eyewash and showers (pdf).
Any questions about technical safety support? Contact 866-VWR-Safe (897-7233) or e-mail safety@vwr.com.
