EVS Technician Position Overview and Scope
EVS – environmental services technicians – are usually hired by hospitals where cleaning is a constant challenge.
They are responsible for the overall cleanliness and sanitization of all areas within the hospital.
While there are regular housekeepers to handle this work, the job of an EVS technician is more profound than that of an ordinary housekeeper.
There are three aspects of working as an environmental services technician:
- Cleaning and maintenance
- Equipment operation
- Customer service
As an EVS tech, you have to be good at all three if you want to succeed.
Customer service has been added to the list because it is important for EVS techs to be concerned about the safety and satisfaction of the people – patients, staff, and visitors – whom they serve on a daily basis.
They often work with equipment such as buffers, extractors, and vacuums so it is important for them to understand how to handle the basic operations of all three.
EVS Technician Job Requirements
If you want to work as an EVS tech, you do not need more than a high school diploma or a GED.
However, if you have had some housekeeping experience (preferably in a hospital), you have a strong candidature.
Most EVS technicians are in constant contact with patients and families so their manner of handling difficult situations needs to be oriented towards problem-resolution.
Related: EVS Tech Cover Letter for Resume
EVS Tech Duties and Responsibilities
• Perform cleaning and maintenance work on hard and soft floors by buffing, stripping, waxing and extraction.
• Mix cleaning agents together to create potent sanitizing mixtures and apply them to surfaces to ensure proper sanitization.
• Wipe clean any residue left behind by applying cleaning agents to ensure that no harmful agents are left behind.
• Use and maintain buffers and extractors in a safe manner and ensure that they are properly stored away after use.
• Collect soiled linen from patients’ rooms and ensure that they are transported to the laundry room.
• Account for cleaning inventory and equipment by ensuring that all supplies are in check.
• Coordinate efforts with procurement managers to ensure a constant supply of cleaning supplies.
• Clean and disinfect vents, furniture, woodwork, and bathroom fixtures such as showers and taps.
• Wash down sinks and toilets by performing spot cleaning services and sanitizing bathrooms properly.
• Vacuum and shampoo carpets and rugs in patients’ rooms, lobby areas, and staff offices.
• Make beds and ensure that trash is taken out and disposed of several times a day.
• Load linen carts and push them to required areas such as patients’ rooms and surgical areas.