About This Career

Identifies, removes, packs, transports, or disposes 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.

This career is part of the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources cluster Environmental Service Systems pathway.

A person in this career:

• Builds containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
• Removes asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.
• Identifies asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials to be removed, using monitoring devices.
• Prepares hazardous material for removal or storage.
• Complies with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
• Loads or unloads materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.
• Removes or limits contamination following emergencies involving hazardous substances.
• Cleans contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.
• Cleans mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials.
• Operates machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves use of special protective items such as a breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suit, or radiation protection
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overnight travel
• Overtime work
• Weekend work