Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

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.

Also Known As:

Abatement Worker Asbestos Abatement Worker Asbestos Hazard Abatement Worker Asbestos Remover Asbestos Worker Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator (D and D Operator) Hazmat Technician (Hazardous Materials Technician) Waste Handling Technician

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

51,800

1% Change From 2024

Explore Hazardous Materials Removal Workers video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Organize or track the locations of hazardous items in landfills.
Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.
Operate cranes to move or load baskets, casks, or canisters.
Sort specialized hazardous waste at landfills or disposal centers, following proper disposal procedures.
Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.
Process e-waste, such as computer components containing lead or mercury.
Clean mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials.
Remove or limit contamination following emergencies involving hazardous substances.
Identify or separate waste products or materials for recycling or reuse.
Identify asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials to be removed, using monitoring devices.
Mix or pour concrete into forms to encase waste material for disposal.
Package, store, or move irradiated fuel elements in the underwater storage basins of nuclear reactor plants, using machines or equipment.
Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.
Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed.
Upload baskets of irradiated elements onto machines that insert fuel elements into canisters and secure lids.
Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
Apply bioremediation techniques to hazardous wastes to allow naturally occurring bacteria to break down toxic substances.
Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.
Mix or pour concrete into forms to encase waste material for disposal.
Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.
Drive trucks or other heavy equipment to convey contaminated waste to designated sea or ground locations.
Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
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.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
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.
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.
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.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.