Materials Handler (Medical Waste)

Full Job Description

About the Position: Position located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Primary duties are throughout the hospital in patient care areas, storage areas, warehouses, loading docks, and in administrative office settings. Work hours are regular first shift.

Shifts may rotate as necessary with sufficient advanced notice, with potential for over-time and on-call work.

The incumbent will work to sustain a clean and healthy environment for the care and treatment of hospital patients.

Who May Apply: US Citizens 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social).

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. There is no specific length of training or experience required.

However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a(n) Materials Handler (Medical Waste) ~ without more than normal supervision.

I have the ability to perform common Materials Handler (Medical Waste) duties. I am skilled in handling and managing regulated medical waste while working in a large facility.

I am skilled at labeling medical waste containers. I am skilled at collecting medical waste already placed in containers. I am skilled at storing medical waste.

I work under close supervision of a work leader or journey-level employee who observes tasks in progress and upon completion to make sure they are properly performed.

- Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc.

(Other Than Blueprint Reading) Dexterity and Safety Knowledge of Materials Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order) Physical Effort: Incumbent performs duties requiring physical strength to pull material (medical waste) carts throughout the facility.

Push heavy totes weighing 94 to 96 lbs each plus the weight of the waste (average 60lbs +).

Pushing and pulling battery powered stacker when relocating totes; standing on feet and walking continuously; stooping and bending; lifting of material (medical waste boxes) with average 22lbs.

Physical handling of materials (medical waste) will be routine.

Incumbent must be able to lift/ stack materials (medical waste boxes) weighing up to 50 pounds; shift/relocate other materials such as equipment, supplies and bundles of medical waste boxes (100 boxes a bundle 200lbs) using appropriate material handling equipment.

Working Conditions: The Incumbent usually works mostly inside and outside occasionally.

Inside work is performed in the main facility, but the storage area is near the loading dock which may be drafty or unheated in the winter and very warm in the summer.

Outside work is subject to inclement weather. Discomfort is experienced while wearing protective clothing, gloves, safety shoes, goggles or facemask.

Incumbent may be exposed to hazardous cleaning chemicals, machinery fluids, and possibly cuts and bruises.

May be subject to hazards of working close to moving equipment, (e.g., stacker lifts, electric golf carts, hand trucks, ride on cart moving equipment).

Care is required to avoid serious injuries when lifting boxes, pulling/pushing carts, pushing/ pulling totes and when operating powered equipment.

Incumbent may be exposed to infectious waste and needle sticks. Major Duties:

• Identify, package, handle, transport, store, and dispose of regulated medical waste (RMW) in support of the Military medical treatment facility (MTF).
• Retrieve waste from the areas of generation to include the hospital as well as other buildings on the installation.
• Transport waste to storage area using a RMW transporting cart, tote, flatbed cart, dolly, or an electric golf cart.
• Ensure accountability and custody of medical waste until disposed of through a contractor.
• Ensure documentation, weight labeling, and packaging is appropriate and in accordance with established procedures and safety regulations.
• Report improper waste disposal violations to the work leader, supervisor, or manager immediately.