Sanitation Technician

Sanitation Technician

Job description | Decko Products LLC / Miss Jones Baking Co. | Sandusky, Ohio

About the role

The Sanitation Technician breaks down, cleans, inspects and sanitizes production equipment and rooms so that every line starts up clean, safe and on time. We make icings and frostings, cookie icing and decorating gels, sprinkles and candy decorations, and dry baking mixes across two buildings in Sandusky. Some rooms are wet-cleaned (icing, frosting and gel kettles, pumps, fillers and pouch lines). Others are dry-cleaned with little or no water (dry blending, mix filling and kit pack-out). Many products carry allergens, and some are gluten-free, so the clean between products matters as much as the clean at the end of the night.

What you will do

• Clean and sanitize kettles, mixers, blenders, pumps, piping, fillers, hoppers, augers, conveyors and pouch, tube and bottle lines by following the written procedure for each piece of equipment.

• Follow the cleaning sequence every time: dry clean, pre-rinse, wash, rinse, inspect, sanitize, working top down.

• Dry-clean the dry blend and mix rooms with vacuums, brushes and scrapers, keeping water out of areas that must stay dry.

• Break down equipment for cleaning with basic hand tools, and put it back together complete, with every part, gasket and guard accounted for. The Sanitation Engineer leads the more complex teardowns.

• Inspect equipment while it is apart: gaskets, seals, O-rings, scrapers and product-contact surfaces. Report anything worn, damaged or missing.

• Carry out allergen and gluten-free changeover cleans to the full procedure, including augers, hoppers, seals and other places product hides.

• Mix and use cleaning chemicals at the right strength, check concentration with test strips or titration, and allow the full contact time.

• Clean floors, drains, walls, overheads and wash-up areas on the master sanitation schedule.

• Inspect your own work with a flashlight and by touch before you call it done, and re-clean anything that does not pass.

• Fill in the sanitation records as you complete the work, accurately and legibly.

• Lock out equipment before reaching in, wear the right protective gear for the chemical in hand, and follow Good Manufacturing Practices at all times.

• Report leaks, pest signs or anything that looks wrong to the supervisor the same shift.

What you bring

• At least six months of sanitation, production or cleaning experience, preferably in a food, beverage or other regulated plant. We will train the right person.

• Able to read and follow written procedures and labels in English, and to complete records by hand or on a phone or tablet.

• Reliable attendance. The line cannot start if the clean is not finished.

• Care for detail and pride in work that others inspect.

• Comfortable working with cleaning chemicals and hot water, and able to take equipment apart and reassemble it with basic hand tools.

• Works well alone and as part of a small crew.

• Helpful: experience with allergen cleaning, lockout/tagout, chemical titration or ATP swabbing.

Physical demands and conditions

• On your feet for the full shift; frequent bending, reaching, climbing ladders and working in tight spaces.

• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds; push and pull carts, hoses and equipment parts.

• Wet, humid, warm or cool areas depending on the room; dusty conditions in dry blend areas; moderate noise.

• Wear required gear: chemical-resistant gloves, apron, boots, eye and face protection, hairnet, and a respirator where needed.

Decko Products LLC is an equal opportunity employer. This description covers the main duties of the job and is not a complete list; duties may change as the plant's needs change.