Facilities and Engineering Week - Donald

October 22 - 28 is Facilities and Engineering Week and gives us the chance to showcase the important role that facilities team members have in ensuring a safe and efficient environment for patients, residents, staff, and visitors. Today, we are highlighting SEIU-West member Donald, a Facility Maintenance Operator at an urban acute care facility.

Donald is a 5th Class Power Engineer and has additional training as a Refrigeration Engineer, and a Building Systems Technician. A typical day for Donald involves monitoring critical building systems, repair and maintenance of beds, stretchers, cribs and more. He is also on hand to assist other tradespeople as needed. He has been working in this field for over a decade and the best part of his job is being able to work with other highly skilled people from various backgrounds.

Working during the pandemic has been a challenge for Donald, he was busy but it was satisfying for him. We asked him how his job had changed as a result of the pandemic; he told us that he had to become more conscious about how infection spreads and control measures. He had previous experience working with hazardous materials, which was helpful in navigating the PPE measures and protocols.

The work of maintaining facilities can often go unnoticed, but the people doing this work are a vital part of the healthcare team. They keep the buildings, facilities, and grounds in good repair, while inspecting, testing, and monitoring the things we take for granted. To Donald, and your co-workers, thanks for all that you do!