Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

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Also known as:  Asbestos Abatement Worker, Asbestos Remover, Decontamination Worker, Hazard Waste Handler, Hazmat Technician, Irradiated Fuel Handler, Lead Abatement Worker, Radiological Control and Safety Technician

ABOUT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REMOVAL WORKER CAREERS

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT Expand
The first century of the industrial revolution left a legacy of hazardous waste that government and environmental experts are trying to clean up. Hazardous materials and waste technicians are at the forefront of this effort.

Some hazardous waste technicians work on-site. Others work in a haza ...
rdous materials center called a "hazmat facility." There they perform a variety of tasks including transportation, treatment and storage of hazardous wastes.

Hazardous waste technicians must have specific and detailed training to get a hazardous waste worker certificate. This requires completion of an EPA-approved course, annual updates and medical supervision provided by the company. They learn painstaking procedures to protect worker health and community safety.

A high school diploma or equivalent is the minimum education in this field. Increasingly sophisticated equipment, complex processes and scientific techniques may require further education. Hazmat technicians who can adapt to new duties and procedures should be able to increase their earnings and move into supervision.

Above all, the hazmat technician knows he or she is helping to make the world cleaner for future generations.
SNAPSHOT Expand
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.
Leadership
HIGH
Critical decision making
HIGH
Level of responsibilities
HIGH
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines
HIGH
Dealing and handling conflict
LOW
Competition for this position
HIGH
Communication with others
LOW
Work closely with team members, clients etc.
HIGH
Comfort of the work setting
HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions
LOW
Exposure to job hazards
LOW
Physical demands
LOW
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DAILY TASKS
Clean contaminated equipment or areas for re-use, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.
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.
Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed.
Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
MAIN ACTIVITIES Expand
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE Expand
Chemistry Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Mechanical Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Education and Training Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Public Safety and Security Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Transportation Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Physics Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Administration and Management Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
KEY ABILITIES Expand
Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Control Precision The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Speech Recognition The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Multilimb Coordination The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Written Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
TOP SKILLS Expand
Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operation Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.