What does an environmental service technician do?
An environmental service technician is an employee who works in a hospital or healthcare facility to maintain cleanliness and a healthy environment within the premises. Environmental service technicians are involved in traditional janitorial tasks as well as proper handling and disposal of biological waste. Although not responsible for laundering them, they are required to distribute linens and keep track of the linens used per department. Environmental service technicians must also refill toilet papers and other paper products to rooms when needed.
Environmental service technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real environmental service technician resumes:
- Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
- Used extension poles, ladders, and scaffolds while cleaning walls, ceilings, wash light fixtures, change draped.
- Enhance productivity and efficiency of departmental operations by maintaining a safe and clean environment for patients and staff.
- Train new employees, as well as re-train per JCAHO requirements.
- Perform terminal cleans within operating rooms, NICU, ICU and E/R.
- Work as an EVS technician, maintaining and cleaning hospital rooms and lobbies.
- Operate floor cleaning and extraction equipment to insure sanitary conditions of all floors.
- Perform carpet care, including spot removal, bonnet cleaning, and extraction cleaning.
- Use proper PPE, communication, and procedures to maintain safety of all employees.
- Utilize GIS light program to determine property flood elevation levels and create flood maps.
- Prepare HIPPA and JCAHO reviews, ensuring require brochures and pamphlets are available to staff.
- Collect information for site inspections through research tasks and by assembling data with GIS tools.
- Job duties as an EVS technician include routine cleaning and maintaining assign areas of the hospital.
- Prepare rooms for admission and discharge on labor and delivery, pediatrics, and rehabilitation units.
- Ensure employees are following establish safety procedures and utilizing personal protective equipment (PPE) as appropriate.
Environmental service technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Environmental Service Technicians are proficient in Patients, Environmental Services, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Environmental Service Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 24%
Provided customer service to patients and departments at Central Peninsula Hospital by cleaning and sanitizing patient access areas and offices
- Environmental Services, 15%
Carried the departmental telephone and assisted hospital departments in any request pertaining to the Environmental Services departmental duties.
- Customer Service, 12%
Provided excellent customer service by utilizing active listening and problem solving skills.
- Cleanliness, 6%
Maintained cleanliness and sanitation of hospital areas including but not limited to Emergency or Operating Room areas.
- Floor Care, 5%
Performed floor care functions based on hospital standards such as waxing, stripping, buffing and other duties according to regulations.
- EVS, 4%
Performed routine cleaning duties in patient care areas and public areas under the guidance and direction of the EVS Supervisor.
Common skills that an environmental service technician uses to do their job include "patients," "environmental services," and "customer service." You can find details on the most important environmental service technician responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for an environmental service technician to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what environmental service technicians do because "environmental science and protection technicians must carry out a wide range of laboratory and field tests, and their results must be accurate and precise." Additionally, an environmental service technician resume shows how environmental service technicians use analytical skills: "recorded accurate data after the completion of patient discharges and patient isolation rooms. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform environmental service technician duties is communication skills. Environmental service technicians responsibilities require that "environmental science and protection technicians must have good listening and writing skills, because they must follow precise directions for sample collection and communicate their results effectively in written reports." Environmental service technicians also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "completed labor training for union which included obtaining an osha certification, general construction, hazardous communication and hazardous waster. "
Interpersonal skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of environmental service technicians is interpersonal skills. This skill is critical to many everyday environmental service technician duties, as "environmental science and protection technicians need to work well and collaborate with others, because they often work with scientists and other technicians." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "utilize strong interpersonal communication skills to assist patients and enhance the patient experience. "
The three companies that hire the most environmental service technicians are:
- Sanford Health130 environmental service technicians jobs
- Swedish Hospital95 environmental service technicians jobs
- TPI52 environmental service technicians jobs
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Compare different environmental service technicians
Environmental service technician vs. Laboratory analyst
A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an environmental service technician are more likely to require skills like "patients," "environmental services," "customer service," and "cleanliness." On the other hand, a job as a laboratory analyst requires skills like "test methods," "lab equipment," "lims," and "laboratory procedures." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Laboratory analysts really shine in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $47,806. Comparatively, environmental service technicians tend to make the most money in the health care industry with an average salary of $31,196.laboratory analysts tend to reach higher levels of education than environmental service technicians. In fact, laboratory analysts are 5.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Environmental service technician vs. Housekeeping aide
The primary job of a housekeeping aide is to maintain the cleanliness of an assigned area, including hospital rooms, hotel rooms, and corridors. This role will require you to perform various housekeeping chores as requested by the housekeeping manager, such as cleaning the restrooms and kitchens. You will be responsible for keeping the office pantries tidy and ensuring the availability of supplies for beverages such as chocolate and coffee at all times. Other duties include cleaning floors, clearing away garbage, and attending to the needs of guests.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, environmental service technician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "environmental services," "evs," "medical waste," and "good communication." Meanwhile, a housekeeping aide has duties that require skills in areas such as "guest rooms," "home health," "newspapers," and "patient rooms." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, housekeeping aides earn a lower salary than environmental service technicians. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, housekeeping aides earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $30,153. Whereas environmental service technicians have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $31,196.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Housekeeping aides tend to reach similar levels of education than environmental service technicians. In fact, they're 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for environmental service technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Doug Spieles Ph.D.
Professor, Denison University
Environmental service technician vs. Service cleaner
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from environmental service technician resumes include skills like "patients," "environmental services," "cleanliness," and "floor care," whereas a service cleaner is more likely to list skills in "building floors," "patient rooms," "bathroom fixtures," and "office buildings. "
Service cleaners earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $28,787. Environmental service technicians earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $31,196.When it comes to education, service cleaners tend to earn similar degree levels compared to environmental service technicians. In fact, they're 0.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Environmental service technician vs. Technician
Types of environmental service technician
Updated January 8, 2025
