Hospital Dishwasher

Hospital Dishwasher

The Hospital Dishwasher plays a vital role in maintaining a safe, sanitary, and efficient food service operation within a healthcare setting. This position focuses on cleaning and sanitizing patient meal trays, utensils, cookware, and food service equipment in alignment with strict hospital infection-control standards. The role directly supports the dietary team by ensuring a timely turnaround of dishware for patient meals, staff dining, and clinical nutrition services.

Responsibilities

• Clean, sanitize, and inspect all dishes, trays, utensils, and kitchen equipment using industrial dish machines and manual cleaning methods.
• Follow strict infection-control procedures to prevent cross-contamination, including proper separation of clean and dirty areas.
• Maintain an organized dishroom workflow by sorting, stacking, and arranging items for efficient processing.
• Monitor and document dish machine temperatures and sanitizer levels to ensure compliance with hospital and regulatory standards.
• Safely handle cleaning chemicals and follow all safety data sheet (SDS) guidelines and chemical safety procedures.
• Assist with receiving, storing, and rotating food service supplies to support overall kitchen operations.
• Remove trash, clean floors, and maintain a sanitary work environment in accordance with health and safety regulations.
• Communicate effectively with dietary aides, cooks, and nursing staff regarding tray returns, shortages, or special requests.
• Report equipment malfunctions, safety concerns, or maintenance needs promptly to the appropriate personnel.
• Support meal service operations by helping assemble or deliver meal trays when required.

Essential Skills

• Experience with food service operations, preferably in a hospital, healthcare, or institutional setting.
• Proficiency in dishwashing and sanitizing using industrial dish machines and manual cleaning methods.
• Strong infection-control awareness, including understanding cross-contamination risks, proper sanitizing temperatures, and hospital hygiene protocols.
• Ability to operate, load, unload, and perform basic troubleshooting on high-capacity industrial dish machines.
• Knowledge of chemical safety, including safe handling of detergents, sanitizers, and disinfectants; reading SDS sheets; and proper dilution and storage.
• Understanding of food safety practices and sanitary food handling procedures.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while maintaining cleanliness and safety standards.
• Effective communication skills to coordinate with the dietary, kitchen, and nursing staff.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in food handling or food production is beneficial.
• Experience in hospitality, general labor, or the broader food industry is an advantage.
• Familiarity with trayline or tray assembly processes in a healthcare or institutional setting.
• Awareness of dietary restrictions and special diets, including allergies and immune-compromised patient needs, to ensure careful handling of dishware.
• Ability to support basic cooking or line cook tasks when needed.
• Comfort with service-oriented work and collaborating as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Why Work Here?

This opportunity offers a clear path from contract to hire after a set number of hours, giving you the chance to build long-term stability while developing valuable skills in a hospital food service environment. You will work in a mission-driven setting where your attention to cleanliness and safety directly supports patient care and wellbeing. The role provides consistent, hands-on experience with professional kitchen equipment and infection-control practices, helping you grow your expertise in a specialized, highly regulated environment.

Work Environment

This role operates in a hospital kitchen and dishroom setting with a continuous workflow and frequent interaction with dietary and clinical staff. You will work in an environment with exposure to heat, humidity, and cleaning chemicals, and you will regularly use industrial dish machines and related sanitizing equipment. The position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and other…