The Housekeeping Specialist plays a crucial role in maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and infection control throughout the hospital. This advanced position involves performing specialized cleaning tasks, ensuring compliance with hospital protocols, and providing leadership within the housekeeping team. The Housekeeping Specialist is responsible for overseeing complex cleaning assignments, training staff, and ensuring that all areas of the hospital meet or exceed cleanliness and safety standards.
Essential Duties
- Perform and oversee specialized cleaning tasks, including terminal cleaning of patient rooms, operating rooms, and other critical areas with stringent infection control requirements.
- Operate and maintain advanced cleaning equipment such as high-efficiency vacuum cleaners, floor scrubbers, and carpet extractors.
- Conduct routine and deep cleaning of high-touch surfaces, patient care areas, and isolation rooms according to hospital infection control policies.
- Develop and implement cleaning schedules and procedures for high-priority areas, ensuring that all tasks are completed efficiently and to the highest standards.
- Monitor and evaluate the performance of housekeeping staff, providing guidance, training, and support to ensure compliance with hospital cleaning protocols and safety procedures.
- Coordinate with other hospital departments to address specific cleaning needs and maintain a clean and safe environment throughout the facility.
- Conduct inspections of cleaned areas to verify adherence to cleanliness standards, and document findings and corrective actions as needed.
- Manage inventory of cleaning supplies and equipment, including ordering and restocking as required, and ensuring proper usage and maintenance.
- Assist in the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures, and stay current with best practices and industry standards.
- Handle and dispose of biohazardous waste, sharps, and other regulated materials in accordance with hospital regulations and safety protocols.
- Address and resolve any cleaning-related issues or complaints from staff, patients, or visitors in a professional and timely manner.
- Participate in ongoing training and professional development to enhance skills and knowledge related to advanced cleaning techniques and infection control.
- Demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.
Required Experience
- Physical ability to perform tasks that involve standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
- Flexibility to work varying shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
- Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain confidentiality.
Preferred Experience
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in housekeeping or environmental services, with a strong background in healthcare cleaning standards.
- In-depth knowledge of advanced cleaning techniques, infection control practices, and safe handling of cleaning chemicals.
- Proven leadership and team management skills, with the ability to train and motivate staff.
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities, with a keen attention to detail.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams and departments.
Preferred Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Additional education or certification in environmental services or a related field is preferred.
Employee Health Requirements
Exposure/Sensory Requirements:
Exposure to:
- Chemicals: Refer to MSDS Sheets
- Video Display Terminals: None
- Blood and Body Fluids: Daily exposure to blood and body fluids when collecting, transporting, treating and disposing of biohazard and regular trash.
- TB or Airborne Pathogens: Occasional exposure to TB or airborne pathogens during cleaning procedures.
Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):
- Speech: Required to communicate with supervisor and patients.
- Vision: Ability to see soiled carpet, digital pager messages, assignments, etc..
- Smell: Ability to detect foul odors, helpful to note presence of electrical/fire safety.
- Hearing: Ability to hear alarms, voice pager messages, horns.
- Touch: Ability to feel heat or cold with hands.
Activity/Lifting Requirements
Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:
- Sit: 0%
- Twist: 5%
- Stand: 14%
- Crawl: 2%
- Walk: 36%
- Kneel: 3%
- Lift: 12%
- Drive: 5%
- Squat: 7%
- Climb: 4%
- Bend: 9%
- Reach above shoulders: 5%
The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:
- Up to 10 lbs: Continuously
- Up to 20 lbs: Continuously
- Up to 35 lbs: Frequently
- Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally
- Up to 75 lbs: Occasionally
- Up to 100 lbs: Occasionally
- Over 100 lbs: Not Required
Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.):
Putting away supplies, sometimes overhead. Mops and brooms - carried 10', knee high; vacuums - carried 1', ankle high; chairs (35#) carried 10', waist high.
Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:
- Sit: 0
- Twist: 20
- Stand: 60
- Crawl: 0
- Walk: 150
- Kneel: 15
- Lift: 50
- Drive: 20
- Squat: 30
- Climb: 15
- Bend: 40
- Reach above shoulders: 20
Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):
- Simple grasp up to 15 lbs.
- Normal weight: 50-200#
- Pushing & pulling Normal weight:
- Fine Manipulation: Wringing out cloths.
Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: vacuums, floor scrubbers, bed locks None
Environmental Factors & Special Hazards
Environmental Factors (Time Spent):
- Inside hours: 8
- Outside hours : 0
- Temperature: Extreme cold to extreme hot
- Lighting: Average
- Noise levels: Average
- Humidity: Normal Range
- Atmosphere: Odors
- Special Hazards: Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical - Bed controls, vacuums, floor equipment, steam sterilizer, autoclave, compactor, cleaning supplies/other chemicals
- Protective Clothing Required: Goggles, apron and gloves
Salary :
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