Custodians are responsible for keeping buildings, stores, and public institutions clean and safe. Custodian jobs can be found in nearly every industry and workplace, including hospitals, schools, supermarkets, retail stores, factories, and office buildings. Most employers look for people who are knowledgeable about general cleaning and maintenance techniques and do not require employees to have any special training or licensing. However, some custodian jobs require extensive training in the disposal and cleanup of hazardous or dangerous materials.
Medical hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and treatment facilities employ a large number of custodians. Custodians are required to provide intensive and frequent cleaning services in such establishments where sanitation is a top priority. Custodians are typically trained on the importance of maintaining sterile conditions and being considerate of ill patients and their visitors. Custodians may be required to work day, swing, or overnight shifts because most medical institutions are open 24 hours a day.
Custodians are employed by grade schools and universities to ensure the safety and appearance of school grounds. Custodians at schools may work during or after school hours. A custodian may be called upon throughout the school day to clean up spills and accidents, as well as perform maintenance on furniture and fixtures. The custodian cleans floors, scrubs bathrooms, and straightens classrooms and hallways after school hours. School custodians are usually required to pass the same extensive criminal background checks as other school employees to ensure the safety of students.
Many custodians work for companies that subcontract cleaning services to various offices, factories, and retail outlets. Cleaning crews are usually assigned to a job and given access to the property after hours. Depending on the state of a facility and the wishes of clients, they may perform a variety of cleaning tasks. Custodian jobs in private companies are typically part-time and occur primarily on weekends, evenings, or overnight shifts.
Candidates for most custodian jobs must have a high school diploma and prior experience working with cleaning equipment and products. Working alongside experienced custodians in a variety of settings is how most people learn the trade. On-the-job training is frequently brief and informal, and after demonstrating basic competency, a person is allowed to practice on his or her own. A custodian may be required to enroll in a special training program that teaches them how to safely handle hazardous biomedical waste by hospitals and surgical clinics. Other industries, such as nuclear power plants and waste management facilities, provide new custodians with extensive hazardous materials training.