Description
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.
- • Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
- • Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.
- • Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
- • Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed.
- • 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.
- • Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.
- • Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.
- • Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.
- • Upload baskets of irradiated elements onto machines that insert fuel elements into canisters and secure lids.
- • Identify asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials to be removed, using monitoring devices.
- • Package, store, or move irradiated fuel elements in the underwater storage basins of nuclear reactor plants, using machines or equipment.
- • Organize or track the locations of hazardous items in landfills.
- • Operate cranes to move or load baskets, casks, or canisters.
- • Mix or pour concrete into forms to encase waste material for disposal.
- • Apply bioremediation techniques to hazardous wastes to allow naturally occurring bacteria to break down toxic substances.
- • Clean mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials.
- • Identify or separate waste products or materials for recycling or reuse.
- • Process e-waste, such as computer components containing lead or mercury.
- • Remove or limit contamination following emergencies involving hazardous substances.
- • Sort specialized hazardous waste at landfills or disposal centers, following proper disposal procedures.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
