Sanitation Technician

Job Full Description

The 2nd Shift Packaging Sanitation Technician is responsible for maintaining packaging equipment, production areas, and supporting facilities in a clean, sanitary, safe, and production-ready condition.


This position performs routine and detailed sanitation of packaging equipment and surrounding areas during and following production. The Sanitation Technician is expected to work safely and efficiently, follow established sanitation procedures, properly use cleaning chemicals and equipment, identify sanitation and equipment concerns, and ensure assigned areas meet Packaging, Quality, GMP, and housekeeping standards.


As a second-shift position, the Sanitation Technician is expected to work independently, prioritize assigned sanitation activities based on production needs, and ensure equipment and production areas are left in an acceptable condition for the following production shift.


Equipment Sanitation


• Perform daily, weekly, and periodic sanitation activities according to established Packaging sanitation schedules and procedures.


• Perform detailed cleaning of packaging equipment, including fillers, conveyors, pasteurizers, labelers, packers, accumulation areas, equipment framework, guarding, drip pans, and other assigned equipment.


• Clean underneath, around, above, and within accessible areas of production equipment where product residue, labels, glue, broken containers, standing water, dirt, or other debris may accumulate.


• Foam, scrub, rinse, and sanitize equipment and production areas according to established procedures.


• Remove product residue and debris from equipment surfaces and surrounding areas.


• Complete assigned deep-cleaning projects during production downtime, maintenance periods, changeovers, and scheduled sanitation windows.


• Ensure equipment is returned to a clean, orderly, and production-ready condition following sanitation activities.


• Reassemble or return removable sanitation components, guards, hoses, and other items to their proper locations when applicable and authorized.


Packaging Area & Facility Sanitation


• Clean and maintain floors, drains, walls, stairs, platforms, production support areas, and other assigned Packaging Department areas.


• Clean underneath conveyors, fillers, pasteurizers, pallets, equipment, and other areas that may not be accessible during normal production.


• Maintain sanitation chemical stations, hose stations, cleaning equipment, brushes, foamers, and sanitation storage areas in a clean and organized condition.


• Respond to spills, product leaks, broken containers, and other sanitation issues occurring during the shift.


• Assist with the removal and proper disposal of production waste, broken glass, damaged containers, labels, cardboard, and other debris.


• Maintain a high level of housekeeping throughout assigned Packaging areas.


Sanitation Verification & Quality


• Inspect assigned equipment and areas following cleaning to verify sanitation work has been completed to the required standard.


• Correct sanitation deficiencies identified during self-inspection or by Packaging, Quality, or other authorized personnel.


• Follow applicable GMP, food-safety, sanitation, and quality requirements.


• Complete required sanitation documentation and checklists accurately and on time.


• Immediately report conditions that may present a food-safety, product-quality, or sanitation concern.


• Participate in sanitation inspections and corrective cleaning as required.


Equipment Observation & Reporting


The Sanitation Technician is expected to use sanitation activities as an opportunity to identify abnormal equipment or facility conditions.


• Identify and report leaks, damaged hoses, loose components, damaged guarding, abnormal wear, drainage problems, excessive product buildup, or other equipment concerns discovered during cleaning.


• Notify the Packaging Supervisor and/or Maintenance of equipment conditions requiring attention.


• Do not operate, disassemble, repair, or access equipment beyond the employee's level of training and authorization.


• Clearly communicate equipment or sanitation conditions that could affect the following production shift.


Chemical & Sanitation Equipment Safety


• Properly handle, prepare, apply, and store cleaning and sanitation chemicals.


• Follow established chemical concentrations, application methods, contact times, and rinsing requirements where applicable.


• Review and follow Safety Data Sheet (SDS) requirements for chemicals used.


• Wear all required personal protective equipment (PPE).


• Never mix chemicals unless specifically required by an approved procedure.


• Inspect sanitation equipment such as hoses, foamers, brushes, chemical dispensers, and related equipment before use and report damaged or unsafe equipment.


• Maintain proper chemical labeling and storage practices.


Safety Responsibilities


• Follow all company safety policies and procedures.


• Follow Lockout/Tagout requirements whenever sanitation activities require access to hazardous equipment areas.


• Never bypass machine guards, safety devices, interlocks, or Lockout/Tagout requirements.


• Maintain awareness of operating equipment, forklifts, wet floors, chemical exposure, hot surfaces, compressed air, and other hazards associated with the Packaging environment.


• Immediately report unsafe conditions, near misses, injuries, chemical spills, and equipment hazards.


• Maintain work areas in a manner that minimizes slip, trip, and fall hazards.


2nd Shift Expectations


Because this position operates primarily on second shift, the employee must be capable of working independently and maintaining sanitation standards with limited direct supervision.


• Review and understand sanitation priorities for the shift.


• Adjust sanitation activities as necessary based on production schedules and operational needs.


• Complete priority sanitation work before the end of the shift whenever reasonably possible.


• Ensure assigned equipment and areas are left clean, organized, and ready for the following production shift.


• Communicate incomplete sanitation work and explain what additional work is required.


• Communicate equipment, safety, quality, or sanitation concerns to the appropriate Packaging Supervisor, Maintenance employee, or other designated personnel.


• Maintain productivity throughout the shift without requiring continuous direction.


• Proactively identify sanitation needs rather than waiting to be assigned every individual cleaning task.


• Support Packaging operations when sanitation priorities change due to production conditions.


Performance Expectations


• Completion of assigned sanitation tasks according to schedule.


• Consistent achievement of established cleanliness and sanitation standards.


• Thoroughness and attention to detail.


• Proper and safe use of chemicals and sanitation equipment.


• Compliance with GMP, Quality, Safety, and Lockout/Tagout requirements.


• Reliable attendance and punctuality.


• Effective communication of sanitation and equipment concerns.


• Proper completion of required sanitation documentation.


Education, Skills & Experience


• High school diploma or GED equivalent preferred.


• Manufacturing, food/beverage production, sanitation, or industrial cleaning experience preferred.


• Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions.


• Ability to safely use industrial cleaning chemicals and sanitation equipment.


• Ability to complete sanitation documentation accurately.


• Ability to recognize and communicate unsafe, unsanitary, or abnormal equipment conditions.


• Ability to work independently and manage multiple sanitation priorities.


• Ability to communicate effectively with Packaging, Maintenance, Quality, and supervision.


Work Environment


The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position. The employee will regularly work:


• In wet and potentially slippery conditions.


• In cold, warm, and humid production environments.


• Around operating production equipment and industrial machinery.


• Around cleaning and sanitation chemicals.


• In areas requiring hearing protection and other PPE.


• On stairs, platforms, and ladders.


• Around forklifts and other material-handling equipment.


• In areas where exposure to broken glass, aluminum containers, product residue, water, steam, and other production-related conditions may occur.


Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.


Physical Demands


• Lift, carry, pull, or drag 50 pounds or more multiple times during the shift.


• Frequently climb and descend stairs throughout the workday.


• Perform extended periods of scrubbing, foaming, rinsing, and sanitizing.


• Safely climb and work from ladders as required.


• Stand and walk for approximately 8-10 hours per shift.


• Work in cold and/or wet environments for extended periods.


• Frequently bend, reach, squat, kneel, push, pull, and work around or underneath production equipment.


• Safely handle hoses and sanitation equipment for extended periods.


Pre-employment process includes a drug test & background check


Please visit to apply or contact Express Employment Professionals at View phone number on click.appcast.io for more information.


Express Employment Professionals is an Equal Opportunity Employer


#EXP003

Utica-Rome, NY
2747
118 Columbia Street
Suite 103
Utica, NY 13502