DEPARTMENTAL SUMMARY:

Environmental Services (EVS) is responsible for maintaining a clean and safe environment throughout the hospital. EVS cleans and disinfects all surfaces. We provide cleaning standards that support a safe environment for patients, families, visitors, and caregivers.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Hazardous Waste Technician retrieves trace chemotherapy, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous and non-RCRA hazardous pharmaceutical waste from various areas within St. Charles Health System. In addition, this position is responsible for packaging these waste streams in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements. The technician is responsible to place regularly scheduled orders for pickup of these wastes. All manifests are maintained by this position in accordance with EPA requirements. They also participate in Environment of Care (EOC) rounds as needed to audit the storage and collection of hazardous waste. This position does not directly manage any other caregivers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

• Removes bio-hazardous waste, trace chemotherapy and hazardous waste.
• Collection and maintenance of Protected Health Information (PHI) containers located throughout St. Charles Health System and reporting violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
• Performs housekeeping duties.
• Performs special cleaning projects; such as: emergency floor care, trash removal, and support of the discharge cleaning process as needed.
• Participates in Quality Improvement activities as required to improve the environment for St. Charles Health System patients, staff and visitors.
• Reports needed repairs and/or services to hospital facilities per St. Charles Health System guidelines.
• Performs special cleaning projects, as needed.  May be assigned to perform various types of floor care.
• Supports the vision, mission and values of the organization in all respects.
• Supports Value Improvement Practice (VIP- Lean) principles of continuous improvement with energy and enthusiasm, functioning as a champion of change.
• Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests.
• Conducts all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality.  Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, supporting the organization’s corporate integrity efforts by acting in an ethical and appropriate manner, reporting known or suspected violation of applicable rules, and cooperating fully with all organizational investigations and proceedings.
• Delivers customer service and/or patient care in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient and accurate.
• May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.

EDUCATION

Required:

• N/A

Preferred:

• High school diploma or GED

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION

Required:

• Hazardous Waste Certification from the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA)
• At least 90 hours of Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials training

EXPERIENCE

Required:

• N/A

Preferred:

• Institutional housekeeping/janitorial experience. Prior experience with janitorial equipment

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Continually (75% or more): Standing and walking, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 1-10 pounds, grasping/squeezing.
• Frequently (50%): Sitting, bending, stooping/kneeling/crouching, climbing stairs, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 11-25 pounds.
• Occasionally (25%): Climbing ladder/step-stool, reaching overhead, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 25-50 pounds, operation of a motor vehicle, using clear and audible speaking voice and ability to hear normal speech level.
• Rarely (10%): Keyboard operation.
• Never (0%):  Ability to hear whispered speech level.

Exposure to Elemental Factors

• Occasionally (25%): Heat, cold, wet/slippery area, noise, dust, vibration, chemical solution, uneven surface.
• Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category
• Risk for Exposure to BBP