Cage Wash Technician I

JOB SUMMARY

The Cagewash Technician I will maintain the sanitation of cages and supplies to ensure animal welfare and regulatory compliance. This role includes keeping the Cage Wash area organized and ensuring that all equipment is functioning properly to maintain productivity and safety standards. 

Training schedule:       Monday - Friday, 6:00am-2:30pm

Permanent schedule:   Sunday - Thursday  or  Tuesday - Saturday, 6:00am - 2:30pm

Overtime may be required including weekends, and extended shifts as required to meet operational demands. Must be flexible and available to work holidays (on rotational basis) and overtime as needed.

The pay for this position is $17.00 per hour.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Transports cages using a two-person procedure
• Performs cage rack preparation, prepares cage racks according to the Standard Operating Procedures to run through the automated cage wash machine
• Operate automated Cage Wash Machine according to Rack Washer Operation Instructions
• Load & Unload automated Cage Wash Machine
• Perform daily routine maintenance checks on the automated cage wash machines
• Record all required tasks on relevant logbook records accurately and completely
• Prioritize and prepare caging for receipt of new animals
• Test functionality of all moving parts on each cage rack
• Report the need for equipment repair (cages, racks, cage wash machines, etc.) to the appropriate personnel
• Storage of enrichment devices by type, Sort devices(toys) for functionally and need for replacement
• Organize, clean and maintain cage wash area
• Replenish cleaning chemicals as needed
• Ensure equipment and compressor is properly clean and put away at the end of the day
• ·Sanitize floors, walls, and other surfaces in the automatic cage wash areas 
• May assist with Animal Care sanitation tasks such as changing cage and sanitizing animal room walls and floors
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or G.E.D. preferred
• 1 year experience in a physically demanding role
• Experience working in lab animal vivarium preferred 
• Experience working in an environment requiring compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and maintaining records, strongly preferred
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions, and complete required documentation
• Ability to work independently and as a team member with good interpersonal skills

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk, stoop, crouch or kneel, and bend for extended periods of time; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to talk and hear.
• The employee must be able to regularly lift, hold and/or move up to 50 pounds; this includes equipment and animals
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly wears protective clothing (goggles, face shield, surgical mask, cap, gloves, scrubs, boots); works with biohazards; and works with live animals (small, medium and/or large) with risk of exposure to allergens and/or zoonotic diseases.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to fumes or airborne particles, unpleasant odors, and wet, humid and/or extreme temperature conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The physicality of the duties, personal protective equipment (PPE), spraying water, and climate/temperature appropriate for the animals when combined frequently cause employees to become hot and sweaty.