Job description School Janitor in the Vancouver Island and Coast Region

Find out what work is like for a school janitor in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents (NOC 65312).

Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners

Description

Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners clean and maintain the interior and exterior of commercial, institutional and residential buildings and their surrounding grounds. They are employed by office and apartment building management companies, condominium corporations, educational institutions, health care facilities, recreational and shopping facilities, religious, industrial and other establishments.

Work week duration

Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Operate industrial vacuum cleaners to remove scraps, dirt, heavy debris and other refuse
  • Wash windows, interior walls and ceilings
  • Empty trash cans and other waste containers
  • Sweep, mop, scrub and wax hallways, floors and stairs
  • Clean snow and ice from walkways and parking areas
  • Cut grass and tend grounds and plants
  • Clean and disinfect washrooms and fixtures
  • May move heavy furniture, equipment and supplies.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Handling material manually
  • Walking and running
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Education institutions
  • Apartment building management companies
  • Office building management companies
  • Religious establishments
  • Recreation facilities
  • Shopping facilities
  • Condominium corporations
  • Industrial establishments
  • Health care facilities

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • Standard safety equipment

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 65312), and a list of similar occupations:

  • building caretaker
  • custodian
  • heavy-duty cleaner
  • industrial cleaner
  • plant cleaner
  • school janitor

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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