Housekeeper

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Ensure that work/cleaning schedules are followed as closely as practical.

• Report all accidents/incidents to your supervisor no matter how minor they may be. (NOTE: Such occurrences must be reported on the shift in which they occur.)

• Coordinate daily housekeeping services with nursing services when performing routine cleaning assignments in resident living and/or recreational areas.

Personnel Functions

• Attend departmental and staff meetings as directed or called.

• Perform specific tasks in accordance with daily work assignments.

• File complaints/grievances with your supervisor.

Staff Development

• Participate and assist in department studies and projects as directed.

• Attend and participate in in-service educational classes, on-the-job training programs, etc., as scheduled or as directed.

• Attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and blood borne pathogens standard.

Safety and Sanitation

• Follow established fire safety policies and procedures.

• Follow established safety precautions when performing tasks and when using equipment and supplies.

• Wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g., back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting or moving heavy objects.

• Ensure that assigned work areas are maintained in a clean, safe, comfortable, and attractive manner.

• Keep work/assignment areas free of hazardous objects such as protruding mop/broom handles, unnecessary equipment, supplies, etc.

• Follow proper techniques when mixing chemicals, disinfectants, and solutions used for cleaning. Refer to manufacturer's instructions when necessary.

• Follow established policies governing the use of labels and MSDSs.

• Report all hazardous conditions or equipment to your supervisor.

• Ensure that established infection control and universal precautions practices are maintained when performing housekeeping procedures.

• Participate in appropriate in-service training program prior to performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids, or hazardous chemicals.

• Report missing or improperly labeled containers of hazardous chemicals to your supervision.

• Use appropriate personal protective equipment and supplies when handling infectious materials and/or hazardous wastes or chemicals.

• Follow established hand washing procedures.

• Dispose of refuse daily in accordance with our established sanitation procedures.

• Follow established policies governing the use/disposal of personal protective equipment and disposal of infectious wastes.

• Coordinate routine/terminal isolation procedures with nursing service.

• Other(s) that may become necessary/appropriate to assure that our facility is maintained in a clean, safe, and comfortable manner.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Ensure that an adequate supply of housekeeping supplies to perform daily tasks is maintained in utility/janitorial closets.

• Keep supervisor informed of supply needs.

• Report burned out light bulbs, exit lights, overhead lights, fluorescent lights, room call lights, etc., to your supervisor as soon as practical.

• Assist others in lifting heavy equipment, supplies, etc., as directed or requested.

• Clean work/supply carts, equipment, etc., as necessary or directed.

• Ensure that equipment is cleaned and properly stored at the end of the shift.

Housekeeping Services

• Perform day-to-day housekeeping functions as assigned.

• Perform specific tasks in accordance with daily work assignments.

• Clean/polish furnishings, fixtures, ledges, room heating/cooling units, etc., in resident rooms, recreational areas, etc., daily as instructed.

• Clean, wash, sanitize, and/or polish bathroom fixtures. Ensure that water marks are removed from fixtures.

• Clean windows/mirrors in resident rooms, recreational areas, bathrooms, and entrance/exit ways.

• Clean floors, to include sweeping, dusting, damp/wet mopping, stripping, waxing, buffing, disinfecting, etc. (NOTE: Ensure that appropriate caution/safety signs are properly set up prior to performing such duties.)

• Clean carpets, to include vacuuming, shampooing, deodorizing, and disinfecting.

• Clean walls and ceilings by washing, wiping, dusting, spot cleaning, disinfecting, deodorizing, etc.

• Remove dirt, dust, grease, film, etc., from corners/edges, baseboards and surfaces using proper cleaning/disinfecting solutions and scraper.

• Clean hallways, stairways, and elevators; behind fire doors.

• Discard waste/trash into proper containers and reline trash receptacle with plastic liner.

• Clean vacant rooms as assigned.

• Ensure that work/assignment areas are clean and that equipment, tools, supplies, etc., are properly stored at all times, as well as before leaving such areas for breaks, meal times, and end of the work day.

• Perform isolation cleaning procedures in accordance with established infection control procedures.

• Discard infectious wastes into appropriate containers.