Environmental Services Aide I

About the Role

Tufts Medicine - Lowell General Hospital is seeking an Environmental Services Aide I to maintain a clean, orderly, and attractive environment. This is an entry-level role focusing on housekeeping tasks in patient areas, offices, and clinics, ensuring adherence to established cleaning and sanitation standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain a cleaning cart, ensuring it is fully stocked with required cleaning supplies.
• Remove all waste, including regular rubbish, cardboard, recyclable paper, and hazardous material.
• Use appropriate chemicals and tools to dust and disinfect floors, including corners and baseboards.
• Post "Wet Floor" signs when mopping.
• Empty ashtrays, wastebaskets, and other waste receptacles, wiping them clean with appropriate chemicals.
• Replace plastic liners and transport trash to the designated compactor.
• Clean and disinfect public, private, and patient room bathrooms, including sinks, bathtubs, showers, commodes, mirrors, and stainless steel.
• Replenish bathroom supplies such as toilet paper, paper towels, and soap.
• Disinfect patient rooms and clean/make beds in vacant rooms due to patient discharge, transfer, or expiration.
• Thoroughly clean beds with disinfectant solution and make beds with fresh linen upon patient discharge.
• Transport linen hampers to designated pick-up areas and replace full linen bags.
• Perform project work such as wall washing, cubicle changing, cleaning of waste containers, and window washing.
• Damp dust, polish, and disinfect furniture, telephones, and horizontal surfaces.
• Vacuum carpets and upholstery.
• Assist with functions by setting up furniture, distributing and setting up audio-visual equipment, and performing general cleaning before or after events.
• Operate heavy-duty/electrical cleaning equipment, including wet vacuums, extractors, floor machines, buffers, upholstery shampooers, dry vacuums, and auto scrubbers.
• Collect needle boxes and dispose of them according to departmental procedures.
• Report any equipment problems to the supervisor.
• Complete daily inspections of assigned areas as directed by the supervisor.
• Follow proper procedures concerning Infection Control Practices.
• Oversee all work assigned to the crew for a particular shift.
• May perform cleaning and sanitization of Operating Rooms, including collecting and disposing of hazardous biological waste.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Environmental Services duties
• Housekeeping tasks
• Use of cleaning chemicals and tools
• Operation of heavy-duty/electrical cleaning equipment (e.g., wet vacuum, extractors, floor machines, buffers, upholstery shampooer, dry vacuum, auto scrubbers)
• Infection Control Practices
• Ability to read simple instructions, write, and speak basic English.
• Ability to operate simple mechanical devices (e.g., floor rotos, vacuums, compactors).
• Familiarity with operation of heavy duty, electrical cleaning equipment.
• Ability to interact with other hospital staff members, visitors, and patients in a friendly, cooperative manner.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• One (1) year of related experience (preferred)

Physical Requirements

• Standing, walking, bending, and stretching majority of shift.
• Ability to push heavy loaded carts.
• Ability to lift between 30-60 lbs.
• Occasional climbing of ladders.
• Frequent exposure to dirt, dust, blood, body waste, and contaminated waste.
• Exposure to climate conditions when depositing trash in compactor.
• Possibility of cuts and needle punctures.
• Occasional exposure to hazards which may cause serious injury/illness (T.B., hepatitis, rodent bites) – minimal in non-patient areas.
• Manual dexterity using fine hand manipulation.

What We Offer

• Competitive salaries
• Competitive benefits that start on day one
• 403(b) retirement with company match
• Tuition reimbursement
• Free on-campus parking
• Career growth opportunities
• Guaranteed hours and set schedule

Work Schedule

• 32 Hours
• 3pm-11:30pm
• Every other weekend (Sat-Sun) and every other holiday is required

Location

• Lowell General Hospital - 295 Varnum Avenue - Lowell, MA