This position is located within Environmental Management Services (EMS) of the Wilkes Barre (VA) Medical Center. This position is a specialized housekeeping aid responsible for the removal, disposal and preparation for transportation of regulated medical waste (RMW), Infectious, hazardous and other general waste generated by this Medical Center. Incumbent must have specialized knowledge of regulations, including handling, storing and shipping of RMW, Hazardous, and other general medical waste.

Duties

The housekeeping aids who maintain VA facilities for Veterans and their families are essential to the patient care experience at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). A VA healthcare career as a housekeeping aide means working alongside other Veterans, who make up 85 percent of the housekeeping staff. As a Housekeeping Aid, you will perform a full range of light and heavy cleaning duties and routine housekeeping duties. Veterans rely on the skills of these professionals to keep patient areas clean and safe by addressing spills quickly, discarding trash, installing light bulbs in halls and rooms, and vacuuming and polishing floors. Duties include working in Waste Processing area and San-I-Pak Sterilizer/ Compactor area. Incumbent "pulls" waste from the generating areas, transports, and disposes of waste through the compactor and/or autoclave. Waste is separated into infectious/medical, chemotherapeutic, recyclable, noninfectious, and general waste. Waste is placed into carts and transported to the disposal site. The RMW waste is then separated for sterilization/disposal in the San-I-Pak Sterilizer/compactor or bagged, boxed, and weighed for removal/transport by contractor, insuring that all state and federal regulations, manifests, and any other crucial documents are properly generated. Operates and performs operator maintenance, scheduled performance maintenance inspection on the San-I- Pak sterilizer/compactor, monitors the operation of the compactor and related contracted Infectious waste disposal/removal services. Collects, prepares and sterilizes RMW for disposal, through Sani-pak sterilizer/compactor unit. Collects sharps/needles independently and with contracted vendor. Picks up sensitive and non-sensitive paper material throughout the Medical center facility, some of which are in locked containers. She/he stores sensitive material until contractor shreds the sensitive material on site. Incumbent is available for the Sharps removal contractor to pick up sharps and signs the manifest (DOT training required). Authorized to sign medical waste disposal contractors' manifests for compactor, pathological, chemotherapeutic, and sharps/needles disposal by contracted vendors. Incumbent will ensure documents are hand-delivered to the appropriate supervisor. Records and maintains log books and data slips generated by the San-I Pak sterilizer/compactor for monitoring and recording medical waste destruction data. Must have the ability to read labels, procedural manuals, and San-I-Pak operation manuals. Must safely mix and use chemicals properly for the San-I-Pak deodorizer and the sanitation of the surrounding areas. Possess knowledge of proper procedures to handle suspected radioactive waste. Must have basic computer knowledge to perform job duties. Other duties as assigned such as may be requested to perform normal housekeeping duties. She/he assists with setting up of tables, chairs, etc. for set ups for facility functions and performs all other duties as assigned by the supervisor. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 6:00am-2:30pm, required to work weekends and holidays. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#: Housekeeping Aid(Hazardous Waste Disposer)/PD02150A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Approved

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/23/2024. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Dexterity and SafetyInterpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)Use and Maintain Tools and EquipmentWithout more than normal supervisionWork Practices Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: Incumbent must be physically able in body and mind to perform repeated body movements that include, but are not limited to: reaching, lifting/lowering, bending, stooping, walking, pushing, etc. He/she may be required to climb stairs and/or ladders and use ladder-type devices to perform some duties. Required to work continuously on hard surfaces (i.e., concrete or tiled flooring) for extended periods of time. He/she may be required to do heavy lifting (sometimes in excess of 50 lbs.) and move heavily loaded carts and work in congested areas. She/he may be required to lift or move items in excess of 50 lbs with the help of weight handling equipment and/or with the assistance of other workers. Pushes/pulls waste and laundry carts weighing up to 400 pounds. Must be physically able to remain engaged in manual work requiring muscular effort for the entire assignment. Incumbent is subject to outdoor temperature variations: hot, humid conditions in the summer, and cold, damp conditions in the winter. Incumbent is subject to the possibility of cuts, bruises, abrasions and falls. She/he is exposed to noise, heat, cold, unpleasant odors and sights. While handling waste, incumbent may be exposed to infectious, medical, pathological, chemotherapeutic, sharps/needles, and radioactive waste in the performance of duties. Incumbent may also be exposed to chemical vapors, skin irritants, caustic and poisonous items in the collection, treatment and/or containment of hazardous waste. During maintenance on the San-I-Pak system, incumbent is subjected to work within a confined space, in extreme heat and cold. Possibility of burns may occur from steam lines. Position may involve odd tours, weekends, and holidays.

Education

Not applicable.

Contacts

• Address Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center 1111 East End Boulevard Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 US
• Name: Kathleen Ford-Wilson
• Phone: 786-790-1799
• Email: [email protected]