United States Job Guide

For Labor / Trades

47-4041.00 - 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, contaminated soil, etc. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.

Tasks

Tasks

• Clean contaminated equipment or areas for re-use, using detergents and solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, and steam cleaners.
• Drive trucks or other heavy equipment to convey contaminated waste to designated sea or ground locations.
• Follow prescribed safety procedures, and comply with federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
• Identify asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials that need to be removed, using monitoring devices.
• Load and unload materials into containers and onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.
• Mix and pour concrete into forms to encase waste material for disposal.
• Operate cranes to move and load baskets, casks, and canisters.
• Operate machines and equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials.
• Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, and specify amounts and types of equipment and waste disposed.
• Apply chemical compounds to lead-based paint, allow compounds to dry, then scrape the hazardous material into containers for removal and/or storage.