Sanitation workers are needed in almost all cities and towns of any size. A sanitation worker may be involved in sewage system work or the disposal of items that are too large to fit into standard garbage cans in addition to collecting trash. While the requirements for becoming a sanitation worker differ from one municipality to the next, there is a common set of skills or aptitudes.
While not universally true, many cities and towns now require all sanitation workers to have a high school diploma, a certificate of completion, or a General Education Degree (GED). While collecting and properly disposing of trash and other debris is the primary focus of sanitation work, there are aspects of the job that require basic reading, writing, and math skills. This minimum education requirement ensures that all applicants have the necessary skills.
Most municipalities around the world have a minimum age requirement for sanitation worker positions. While the minimum age varies by location, most places set it somewhere between eighteen and twenty-one. Local laws and customs governing the extension of adulthood recognition, such as voting privileges, are frequently used as guidelines to determine the minimum age required for sanitation workers to obtain employment.
It’s not uncommon for a sanitation worker job to require the candidate to be able to lift a certain amount of weight without straining or injuring their back. This is to ensure that the new employee meets the physical requirements of muscle strength and endurance necessary to cover an assigned route, collect garbage, or perform other duties. This requirement benefits both the employer and the employee; the employer can be confident in the sanitation worker’s ability to perform his or her duties efficiently and safely. As a result, the worker does not have to be concerned about putting an excessive amount of stress on his or her body, which could result in permanent injury.
The procedure for submitting a job application is straightforward. A general employment office oversees the hiring of civil employees in each city, town, county, or parish. This office handles the basic application, performs the initial screening, and makes the final decision on whether or not to hire a particular candidate. When a new sanitation worker starts work, they are given an hourly wage and told about any available benefits, such as health insurance, vacation days, paid holidays, and a variety of other perks that are available to employees in other professions.