Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Working Schedule

Work schedules and environments vary depending on a Hazmat worker’s area of specialization (i.e. lead paint, asbestos, fuel or oil spills, radioactive materials, explosives, flammable gasses, etc.). Some may work predominantly outdoors and may be on call to respond to emergency situations. Working nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime is not uncommon.  

Typical Duties

• Assess work environment to determine appropriate levels of personal protective equipment 
• Determine if particle respirators or self-contained breathing apparatus are needed
• Plan out procedures for safely entering, cleaning, and removing hazardous materials
• Prepare containment areas prior to starting work
• Build scaffolding, if necessary to reach materials 
• Test hazardous substances using monitoring devices and neutralize them as needed before attempting cleanup
• Measure and track radiation levels when working around irradiated materials 
• Use detergents, chemicals, sandblasters, or other cleaning tools to decontaminate and clean all affected areas to include equipment, tools, or other items that need to be kept
• Use appropriate tools to remove harmful materials such as asbestos or lead
• Pack, remove, load, transport, and store or otherwise dispose of hazardous waste materials in accordance with applicable state and federal laws 
• Use lifting equipment like hoists or forklifts to lift pallets and other heavy objects and load them onto vehicles 
• Respond to routine and emergency cleanups
• Remove mold and contaminated materials that cannot be salvaged
• Clearly label and keep close track of all waste to be removed
• Maintain thorough documentation of where the materials are moved 
• Follow suitable disposal methods to ensure the inappropriate waste matter is not dumped in landfills or in bodies of water
• Encase hazardous materials in concrete when necessary 
• Prepare suitable materials for bioremediation 
• Recycle materials as warranted 
• Dispose of computer-related waste such as lead or mercury

Additional Responsibilities

• Stay on top of safety developments in the industry
• Work closely with team leaders and members to ensure the overall job and all tasks are fully understood
• Wear all appropriate protective gear and follow all applicable guidelines 
• Ensure compliance with safety, ethical, and legal requirements. Raise questions if a situation doesn’t seem right

Soft Skills

• Active listening
• Compliance-oriented
• Coordination
• Critical thinking
• Detail-oriented
• Monitoring
• Patience
• Planning and organization
• Problem-solving skills
• Safety-minded
• Strong communication skills
• Sound judgment 
• Teamwork
• Time management 

Technical Skills

• Ability to operate hoists, forklifts, cranes, or trucks (if needed)
• Familiarity with hand tools and power tools, such as vacuums, sandblasters, filter pumps, steam cleaners, high-pressure sprayers, and concrete mixers 
• Familiarity with various hazardous chemicals including solvents and cleaners 
• Knowledge of buildings and construction
• Physical strength and stamina
• Understanding of appropriate personal protective equipment and related gear
• Understanding of safety and emergency response protocols (such as using emergency showers and eyewash stations)

• Construction services 
• Governmental and environmental agencies
• Private contractors 
• Remediation and waste management services
• Waste treatment and disposal companies

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers are expected to know and follow safety procedures to mitigate risks of exposure to themselves and others. They may often be called upon to work long hours, which can lead to some workers seeking to take “shortcuts” in their procedures. However, employers are on the hook to ensure workers do their jobs correctly. The EPA and OSHA can issue citations with heavy fines for those who fail to comply, especially when there are mishaps or incidents which cause harmful exposure, injuries, or illnesses. Hazmat workers must work efficiently to meet timeframes, but also maintain strict compliance with protocols as they perform their duties. 

Safe hazmat removal has long been a priority for the EPA, OSHA, and other governmental organizations, but private companies have sometimes been hit or miss when it came to doing the cleanups and disposals right. In 2021, Greens Steel reported that Texas companies had received a stunning “$5,648,881,393 in fines issued for incorrect disposal of hazardous waste over the past 5 years.” 

The pressure is increasingly on such companies to commit to compliance in order to protect their workers, the public, the environment, and any wildlife that could be impacted by harmful exposures. This includes the decommissioning of nuclear power plants which must be carefully removed from service while “reducing residual radioactivity to a level that permits release of the property and termination of the operating license,” per the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers may not have dreamed of entering this career field when they were younger, but chances are they enjoyed working outdoors or with their hands. They might have enjoyed participating in sports or other physical activities, as well as taking up hobbies that involved following methodical, step-by-step procedures (such as working on vehicle engines). They don’t mind wearing protective gear while they work and take suitable precautions to ensure they’re working safely when handling tools or other equipment. Chances are, they were equally happy working on their own or as a part of an organized team striving towards a common goal.