Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
On the Job
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers identify, remove, and dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, oil, fuel, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. They need to have specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling.
Physical Demands 
This career requires time standing, walking, or running.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Decontaminate equipment or sites to remove hazardous or toxic substances.
- Inspect work sites to identify potential environmental or safety hazards.
- Load or unload materials used in construction or extraction.
- Mix substances or compounds needed for work activities.
- Pour materials into or on designated areas.
- Assemble temporary equipment or structures.
- Prepare hazardous waste for processing or disposal.
- Record operational or environmental data.
- Apply new technologies to improve work processes.
- Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Typical Working Conditions
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
- Working with a group or team.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Standing.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Working indoors in non-environmentally controlled conditions.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
