Custodian

Custodian Job Description

Custodians are responsible for keeping buildings clean and in an orderly condition. They have to perform heavy cleaning duties, such as washing walls and windows, shampooing rugs, cleaning floors, removing rubbish and performing routine maintenance activities. Custodians also have to notify management of repairs needed, tend to furnaces and boilers and clean snow and other debris from sidewalks.

Duties include replenishing stock in bathrooms, cleaning restrooms, gathering and emptying trash, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, monitoring building safety and security and dusting. Keeping the school as clean and tidy as possible is the overall responsibility of a custodian. They should be prepared to do things like moving heavy furniture to reach corners, cracks and crevices of covered parts of the room. They may have to clean laboratory equipment, such as computers and tables.

Skills required to become a custodian include reading comprehension skills, coordination skills, oral comprehension skills and equipment selection skills. It is important to be able to read instructions for cleaning certain surfaces and fixtures. It is also important to have oral comprehension skills to be able to follow verbal cleaning instructions. Equipment selection skills are useful in selecting the proper tools for each cleaning surface and fixture. It is also helpful to have manual dexterity, flexibility and trunk strength when moving heavy furniture and lifting and arranging things.

Working conditions for custodians usually include evenings and weekends depending on sporting events. Custodians usually work in well-lit, heated buildings, but they may also have to work outdoors. Custodians are susceptible to bruises and burns from the tools and equipment and chemicals they use on a daily basis. Most of their time is spent on their feet, pushing and lifting heavy items. They may work around lots of noise, from loud rambunctious students to noisy machines and bending, stooping and stretching may be required for certain tasks.