Hazardous Materials Removal Worker

Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Abatement Worker; Asbestos Abatement Worker; Asbestos Worker; Clandestine Laboratory Responder (Clan Lab Responder); D and D Operator (Decontaminate and Decommissioning Operator); D and D Operator (Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator); Hazmat Technician (Hazardous Materials Technician); Mold Damage Technician (Mold Damage Tech); Product Disposal Coordinator; Waste Handling Technician (Waste Handling Tech)

Tasks

• Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.
• Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
• Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.
• Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
• Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed.
• Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.
• Clean mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials.
• Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials.
• Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.
• Sort specialized hazardous waste at landfills or disposal centers, following proper disposal procedures.

Knowledge

• Public Safety and Security
• Customer and Personal Service
• Administration and Management
• Education and Training
• English Language
• Chemistry
• Law and Government
• Transportation
• Administrative
• Mechanical
• Production and Processing
• Building and Construction

Skills

• Monitoring
• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity
• Oral Comprehension
• Deductive Reasoning
• Control Precision
• Near Vision
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Oral Expression
• Inductive Reasoning
• Manual Dexterity
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Multilimb Coordination
• Static Strength
• Trunk Strength
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Perceptual Speed
• Selective Attention
• Extent Flexibility