Every building needs to be kept clean to encourage a healthy working and living environment. Building porters, also known as janitors, are thus essential in all buildings, especially commercial settings. You will find them in institutions such as schools, hospitals, and hotels.
Who is a Building Porter?
The responsibility of a building porter is to keep buildings and compounds clean. Usually, their work is indoors. However, they may also be required to clean the outdoors by sweeping walkways, trimming flowers, and more. A building porter, therefore, needs to be conversant with cleaning procedures for all materials and equipment.
Additionally, building porters are tasked with ensuring guests get to their rooms or offices easily. Therefore, as a building porter, you need to be acquainted with directions and functions performed in the various rooms in the facility. You will also fix minor issues in buildings, such as changing lose curtain rails and light bulbs. Different companies will have different roles for a building porter depending on what they do and their number.
Read on to find the job descriptions, qualifications and salaries for building porters in different facilities.
- Building Porter in Hospitals
Job Summary
The building porter thoroughly cleans and disinfects all areas of the medical facility. These areas include wards, nursing and clinical stations, waiting areas, lavatories, and corridors. You must also demonstrate the ability to use cleaning supplies and appropriate chemicals according to the procedure.
Essential Functions
- Polish the elevator walls
- Wipe and disinfect the furniture in the waiting area and around the hospital
- Mop spillages in the waiting area
- Wipe and disinfect handrails
- Clean and disinfect lavatories
- Replenish handwash and toilet paper in the lavatories
- Take out trash from rooms to the dumpster
- Perform minor maintenance duties
- Inspect the hospital for safety and request routine maintenance repair where needed
- Keep the inventory of cleaning equipment and materials
- Make patients’ beds
- Direct patients and visitors to the various areas in the hospital that they need to access
- Change soiled towels and bedding on patients’ beds
- Assist in taking patients to their respective wards
- Make reports on equipment that require repair or replacement
- Dispose of medical waste appropriately
- Clean hospital gowns, towels, and bedding
Non-Essential Functions
- Perform any other duty that the seniors deem fit
Professional Qualifications
- High school diploma
- Training in housekeeping safety
- Computer literacy is a plus
Technical Skills and Abilities
- Professional working knowledge of the English language
- Ability to handle challenging situations calmly
- Excellent time management skills
- Strong listening and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and cooperate with team members
- Ability to multi-task and decide what to prioritize
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Ability to uphold confidentiality
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work in irregular hours
- Ability to work in a high-stress environment
- Ability to push/pull heavy objects
- Ability to handle blood and other body fluids comfortably
Salary
In a report compiled by the U.S Bureau of Labor, a hospital building porter earns an average of $12.51 per hour. This amount translates into $26,030 per year. This report was published in May 2011.
- Building Porter in Schools
Job Summary
A building porter in a school is responsible for maintaining cleanliness around the school. They ensure that the environment is clean and safe for the students, staff, and visitors.
Essential Functions
- Clean classrooms, dorms, dining areas, corridors, and other workspaces
- Removing trash and disposing of it accordingly
- Erect tents and arrange furniture for occasions such as prize giving and music festivals
- Fix minor hitches such as repairing broken furniture
- Water and weed the flower gardens
- Inspect the school premises to ensure that every machine, such as heating pumps and fire extinguishers are working appropriately
- Keep a record of cleaning materials and equipment
- Slash grass and trim overgrown twigs
- Request and schedule major repairs whenever necessary
- Help in cleaning kitchen utensils and prepare foodstuff when need be
- Show visitors the way to where they need to be
Non Essential Functions
- Perform other duties as expected by the seniors
Professional Qualifications
- High-school diploma or equivalent vocational training
- Training in housekeeping safety
- Knowledge of computer applications
Technical skills and Abilities
- Strong oral and written knowledge of the English language
- Interpersonal relations
- Ability to multi-task and plan work efficiently
- Ability to relate professionally with students, teachers, and visitors with diverse backgrounds
- Good time management skills
- Ability to come up with a solution for various problems swiftly
Physical Requirements
- Physical ability to lift and move heavyweight
- Ability to handle dust and other forms of dirt with no health complications
Salary
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor, as of May 2011, a building porter in a school earns an average of $12.51 per hour. In a year, therefore, they earn an average of $26,030.
- Building Porters in Hotels
Job Summary
In hotels, building porters keep the indoors and outdoors in clean, safe, and healthy conditions. It is their responsibility to ensure that the hotel has a good image to the general public regarding proper sanitation. Consequently, they play a major role in influencing the number of clients a hotel receives and whether they will return.
Essential Functions
- Clean and disinfect furniture at the reception, walkways, restaurants, and guest rooms
- Remove bedding after every use
- Replenish bedding and spread the beds neatly
- Clean the floors and walls of the guest rooms
- Replenish toiletries in the public lavatories and guest rooms
- Direct guests to wherever they need to be
- Help in carrying the guests’ luggage to the guest rooms
- Replenish the water dispenser and tumblers
- Mop spills and messes in the restaurant, corridors, guest rooms, and the reception area
- Polish shoes, launder, and iron the guests’ clothes upon request.
Non-Essential functions
- Carry out other tasks assigned from to time by the supervisors
Professional Qualifications
- High school diploma or tertiary education equivalent from a recognized institution
- Computer literacy
Technical Skills and Abilities
- Excellent English skills
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to make a work plan and follow it
- Ability to interact comfortably with clients from diverse settings
- Ability to think critically and solve problems fast
- Basic knowledge in minor repair and maintenance
Physical Requirements
- Physical and mental ability to work effectively for long hours
- Ability to lift heavy luggage, cleaning materials, and other equipment
- Ability to handle strong cleaning equipment, dust, and dirt without developing health problems
Salary
As of May 2011, a building porter earns an average of $12.51 per hour and $26,030 per year. This is according to a report published by the U.S Bureau of Labor.
- Building Porter in Homes for the Elderly
Job Summary
In a home for the elderly, cleanliness is a key virtue that must be maintained at all times. Older people have a weak immune system and are thus susceptible to infections. A building porter is thus essential in such a home to ensure much-needed cleanliness.
Essential Functions
- Launder soiled clothes and bedding
- Mop spills of the floor to always keep it dry
- Clean the lavatories
- Replenish sanitary supplies in the lavatories and dorms
- Empty trash and disposing of it appropriately
- Assist the elderly in movement whenever necessary
- Help the elderly reach for their essentials
- Cleaning and disinfecting walking aids
- Clean and disinfect the handrails
- Give a listening ear to the elderly
- Help in feeding those unable to feed themselves
- Help in dressing and changing their clothes
Non-Essential Functions
- Take up various roles assigned by the supervisors from time to time
Professional Qualifications
- High school diploma or its equivalent
- Caregiving training will be an advantage
Technical Skills and Abilities
- Ability to work in a challenging environment
- Impeccable listening skills
- Ability to handle and clear messes, including excrement
- Ability to communicate in the local languages
- Compassionate and ready to help
- Clean with strong organizational skills
Physical Requirements
- Ability to be on duty for extended hours
- Ability to lift heavy weights
Salary
In May 2011, the U.S Bureau of Labor compiled a report regarding the salary for building porters. In the report, a building porter earns an average of $12.51 per hour and $26,030 per year.
- Building porter in Children homes
Job Summary
Infants and little children easily fall sick due to their underdeveloped immune systems. Therefore, the environment in which they live should always be clean. In children’s homes, a building porter helps maintain a clean environment, safe for the children therein.
Essential Functions
- Clean the surfaces inside and outside the rooms
- Launder clothes
- Empty trash
- Clean and disinfect changing tables and furniture
- Clear spills on the floor and keep them dry
- Clean and disinfecting toys
- Change bedding and spreading the beds
- Empty, clean, and disinfect potties
- Assist the children to get to areas difficult for them to access
Non-Essential Function
- Perform duties assigned from time to time by the seniors
Professional Qualifications
- High school diploma or it’s equivalent
- Child care training is a plus
Technical Skills and Abilities
- Excellent listening skills
- Passion for working with children
- Patience and humorous
- Creativity
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work comfortably in a noisy environment
- Ability to clear messes with no disgust
Salary
The U.S Bureau of Labor gave the average salary for a building porter in a report published in May 2011. The salary stood at an average of $12.51 per hour and $26,030 per year.
Also read Building Porter Job Description 2021 – Salary & Duties