Job Details

Cage Wash Technician

Facilitates the cleaning and sterilization of cages and cage accessories using mechanical washers and autoclaves and conducts preventative maintenance of cage wash equipment.

Essential Functions:

• Follows all standard operating procedures and guidelines to ensure personal safety, biosecurity, and compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations.
• Processes cages and accessories using mechanical washers and autoclaves. Ensures proper sanitation and sterilization using temperature sensitive indicators and promptly reports failures to supervisory staff and facility engineers.
• Delivers cages and cage accessories to and from animal holding rooms.
• Maintains inventory of supplies and equipment in the clean and sterile side of cage wash, animal feed rooms, and other areas as needed.
• Performs preventive maintenance on washers, autoclaves, racks, automatic watering system, and other caging equipment.
• Acts as a trainer or an on-boarding partner for newer staff.

Education Requirement:

High School Diploma or equivalent, required.

Certifications:

ALAT certification or completion of Lab Animal Research Support Staff certification program, preferred.

Skills:

• Familiar with specialized animal housing considerations to include infectious agent containment and barrier concepts.
• Working knowledge of federal animal welfare regulations and AAALAC accreditation standards.
• Working knowledge of animal technician safety precautions.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Experience:

One year of cage wash, laboratory animal, or other relevant experience, preferred.

Physical Requirements:

OCCASIONALLY: Biohazard waste, Blood and/or Bodily Fluids, Chemicals/Medications, Climb stairs/ladder, Communicable Diseases and/or Pathogens, Computer skills, Decision Making, Driving motor vehicles (work required) *additional testing may be required, Fume /Gases /Vapors, Hot Temperatures, Interpreting Data, Lifting / Carrying: 21-40 lbs, Lifting / Carrying: 41-60 lbs, Loud Noises, Patient Equipment, Pushing / Pulling: 41-60 lbs, Pushing / Pulling: 61-100 lbs, Sitting

FREQUENTLY: Bend/twist, Lifting / Carrying: 0-10 lbs, Lifting / Carrying: 11-20 lbs, Machinery, Problem solving, Pushing / Pulling: 0-25 lbs, Pushing / Pulling: 26-40 lbs, Squat/kneel, Standing, Walking

CONTINUOUSLY: Audible speech, Color vision, Depth perception, Flexing/extending of neck, Hand use: grasping, gripping, turning, Hearing acuity, Peripheral vision, Reaching above shoulder, Repetitive hand/arm use, Seeing Far/near

"The above list of duties is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this classification. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties performed by the individuals so classified, nor is it intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under their supervision. EOE M/F/Disability/Vet"