BlissPoint Analytics

Occupation AtlasHazardous Materials Removal Workers

O*NET · 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, 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 called Abatement Worker · Asbestos Abatement Worker · Asbestos Coverer · Asbestos Handler · Asbestos Remover · Asbestos Tech · Asbestos Technician (Asbestos Tech) · Asbestos Worker
30 more

Clan Lab Responder · Clandestine Laboratory Responder (Clan Lab Responder) · D and D Operator · D and D Operator (Decontaminate and Decommissioning Operator) · D and D Operator (Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator) · Decontamination Worker · Hazard Waste Handler · Hazardous Material Specialist · Hazardous Materials Handler · Hazardous Materials Specialist · Hazardous Waste Disposer · Hazardous Waste Remover · Hazardous Waste Specialist · Hazardous Waste Tech · Hazardous Waste Technician (Hazardous Waste Tech) · Hazmat Technician · Hazmat Technician (Hazardous Materials Technician) · Irradiated Fuel Handler · Junk Removal Specialist · Lead Abatement Worker · Mitigation Tech · Mitigation Technician (Mitigation Tech) · Mold Damage Tech · Mold Damage Technician (Mold Damage Tech) · Product Disposal Coordinator · Radiological Control Tech · Radiological Control Technician (Radiological Control Tech) · Waste Disposal Attendant · Waste Handling Tech · Waste Handling Technician (Waste Handling Tech)

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCI35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCIRealistic · Conventional · Investigative — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic7.00
  • C Conventional4.36
  • I Investigative2.57
  • S Social1.48
  • E Enterprising1.19
  • A Artistic1.00

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma46%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent33%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate4%
  • Some College Courses13%
  • Bachelor's Degree5%
Related work experience
None (42%)
On-site or in-plant training
Up to and including 1 month (47%)
On-the-job training
Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month (33%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Monitoringbasic3.53.3Level 4 looks like: Monitor a meeting and revise the agenda to ensure important topics are discussed
  • Critical Thinkingbasic3.33.4Level 4 looks like: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses
  • Active Listeningbasic3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Coordination3.03.1Level 4 looks like: Work with others to put a new roof on a house
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
  • Operation and Control3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
  • Operations Monitoring3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Monitor completion times while running a computer program
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
  • Speakingbasic3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Time Management3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Active Learningbasic2.93.0Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Complex Problem Solving2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
Show the other 23
  • Social Perceptiveness2.92.6Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Quality Control Analysis2.82.8Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
  • Writingbasic2.62.8Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Service Orientation2.62.5Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Instructing2.52.6Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Persuasion2.52.4Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Management of Personnel Resources2.52.3Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Equipment Maintenance2.42.3Level 2 looks like: Add oil to an engine as indicated by a warning light
  • Negotiation2.42.3Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Systems Analysis2.41.9Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Troubleshooting2.32.3Level 2 looks like: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine
  • Equipment Selection2.32.0Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
  • Learning Strategiesbasic2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Systems Evaluation2.11.8Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Mathematicsbasic2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
  • Repairing1.91.8Level 2 looks like: Tighten a screw to get a door to close properly
  • Sciencebasic1.81.3Level 2 looks like: Conduct standard tests to determine soil quality
  • Management of Material Resources1.61.1Level 2 looks like: Reserve a room for a management meeting
  • Management of Financial Resources1.50.5
  • Installation1.40.4
  • Operations Analysis1.40.4
  • Technology Design1.3—
  • Programming1.0—

Tasks

10 core · 9 supplemental

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.4.6
  2. Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.4.5
  3. Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.4.4
  4. Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.4.3
  5. Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed.4.1
  6. Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.4.1
  7. Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials.4.0
  8. Clean mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials.4.0
  9. Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.3.8
  10. Sort specialized hazardous waste at landfills or disposal centers, following proper disposal procedures.3.8
Show the other 9
  1. Identify asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials to be removed, using monitoring devices.4.1
  2. Remove or limit contamination following emergencies involving hazardous substances.3.8
  3. Drive trucks or other heavy equipment to convey contaminated waste to designated sea or ground locations.3.6
  4. Organize or track the locations of hazardous items in landfills.3.6
  5. Identify or separate waste products or materials for recycling or reuse.3.3
  6. Process e-waste, such as computer components containing lead or mercury.3.0
  7. Operate cranes to move or load baskets, casks, or canisters.2.8
  8. Apply bioremediation techniques to hazardous wastes to allow naturally occurring bacteria to break down toxic substances.2.8
  9. Mix or pour concrete into forms to encase waste material for disposal.2.1

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Public Safety and Security3.94.1Level 4 looks like: Inspect a building site for safety violations
  • Customer and Personal Service3.84.9Level 4 looks like: Be responsible for 10 children at daycare
  • Administration and Management3.63.7Level 4 looks like: Monitor progress of a project to ensure timely completion
  • Education and Training3.54.1Level 4 looks like: Lead a quality improvement seminar
  • English Language3.33.1Level 4 looks like: Edit an article for a news website
  • Chemistry3.24.0Level 4 looks like: Use the proper concentration of chlorine to purify a water source
  • Law and Government3.22.9
  • Transportation3.23.2Level 4 looks like: Drive a semi-truck through a busy city
Show all 33
  • Administrative3.12.6
  • Building and Construction3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Fix a plumbing leak in the ceiling
  • Mechanical3.13.5Level 4 looks like: Replace a valve on a steam pipe
  • Production and Processing3.03.8Level 4 looks like: Supervise an appliance assembly line
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.82.9
  • Sales and Marketing2.52.8
  • Computers and Electronics2.42.2Level 1 looks like: Operate a media player to watch a training video
  • Economics and Accounting2.42.3Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
  • Physics2.42.8
  • Mathematics2.32.4Level 1 looks like: Add two numbers
  • Design2.22.2Level 1 looks like: Draw a straight line 4 3/16 inches long
  • Foreign Language2.21.9Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
  • Psychology2.22.1Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
  • Geography2.11.8Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
  • Engineering and Technology2.02.4Level 1 looks like: Install a door lock
  • Telecommunications1.91.8Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Biology1.81.5Level 1 looks like: Feed domestic animals
  • Communications and Media1.81.6Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Therapy and Counseling1.81.3Level 1 looks like: Put ice on a sprained ankle
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.61.0Level 1 looks like: Use a band-aid
  • History and Archeology1.51.0Level 1 looks like: Take a class in US history
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.51.0Level 1 looks like: Identify two cultures in a story as being different
  • Fine Arts1.40.5Level 1 looks like: Attend a popular music concert
  • Food Production1.3—
  • Philosophy and Theology1.3—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Problem Sensitivity4.03.9Level 4 looks like: Notice from a subtle difference in a client's mood that something is bothering them
  • Oral Comprehension3.63.8Level 4 looks like: Understand a coach's oral instructions for a sport
  • Control Precision3.53.9Level 4 looks like: Adjust farm tractor controls
  • Deductive Reasoning3.53.8
  • Near Vision3.53.3Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.43.1Level 4 looks like: Thread a needle
  • Category Flexibility3.43.5Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
  • Information Ordering3.43.4Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
Show all 52
  • Inductive Reasoning3.33.3Level 4 looks like: Determine the prime suspect based on crime scene evidence
  • Manual Dexterity3.33.1Level 4 looks like: Pack oranges in crates as quickly as possible
  • Oral Expression3.33.8Level 4 looks like: Give instructions to a lost motorist
  • Multilimb Coordination3.13.9Level 4 looks like: Operate a forklift truck in a warehouse
  • Speech Clarity3.13.0Level 4 looks like: Make stadium-wide announcements during a sporting event
  • Speech Recognition3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Identify a former customer's voice over the phone
  • Static Strength3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Pull a 40-pound sack of fertilizer across the lawn
  • Trunk Strength3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Shovel snow for half an hour
  • Written Comprehension3.13.4Level 4 looks like: Understand an apartment lease
  • Written Expression3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Write a job recommendation for a subordinate
  • Extent Flexibility3.03.1Level 4 looks like: Reach for a box on a high warehouse shelf
  • Perceptual Speed3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Sort mail according to ZIP codes with no time pressure
  • Selective Attention3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
  • Far Vision2.92.6Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
  • Finger Dexterity2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Put coins in a parking meter
  • Flexibility of Closure2.93.0Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
  • Depth Perception2.83.1Level 4 looks like: Operate a crane to move materials from a truck bed to the ground
  • Reaction Time2.83.1Level 4 looks like: Press a button to stop operation when a warning light goes off
  • Response Orientation2.82.6Level 2 looks like: When a doorbell and phone ring at the same time, quickly select which to answer first
  • Time Sharing2.82.9Level 3 looks like: Watch street signs while driving at 30 miles an hour
  • Visualization2.82.8Level 2 looks like: Imagine how to place paper in a printer so that the letterhead comes out on top
  • Auditory Attention2.62.4Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
  • Fluency of Ideas2.62.9Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Originality2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Speed of Closure2.62.4Level 3 looks like: Recognize a song after hearing only the first few notes
  • Visual Color Discrimination2.62.6
  • Stamina2.52.3Level 1 looks like: Walk 1/4 mile
  • Dynamic Strength2.42.4Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Gross Body Coordination2.42.1Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Gross Body Equilibrium2.42.3Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Hearing Sensitivity2.42.1Level 2 looks like: Notice a doorbell ringing
  • Memorization2.42.4Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Rate Control2.42.1Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
  • Number Facility2.32.0Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
  • Spatial Orientation2.32.0Level 2 looks like: Use the floor plan to locate a store in a mall
  • Glare Sensitivity2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
  • Wrist-Finger Speed2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
  • Explosive Strength1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Hit a nail with a hammer
  • Mathematical Reasoning1.91.8Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Peripheral Vision1.91.8Level 2 looks like: Keep in step while marching in a band
  • Sound Localization1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Listen to a sound system to determine which speaker is working
  • Speed of Limb Movement1.81.0Level 2 looks like: Saw through a thin piece of wood
  • Night Vision1.61.3Level 2 looks like: Read street signs at dusk (just after sunset)
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.40.6

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Getting Information4.14.0Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.84.0Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.74.1Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems3.74.5Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials3.64.1Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.64.1Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards3.53.4Level 4 looks like: Evaluate a complicated insurance claim for compliance with policy terms
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.34.4Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
Show all 41
  • Performing General Physical Activities3.34.2Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
  • Thinking Creatively3.34.1Level 4 looks like: Adapt popular music for a high school marching band
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others3.23.3Level 4 looks like: Organize the cleanup crew after a major sporting event
  • Handling and Moving Objects3.25.1Level 4 looks like: Arrange books in a library
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment3.23.3Level 4 looks like: Drive an 18-wheel tractor-trailer
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information3.13.0Level 4 looks like: Estimate the time required to evacuate a city in the event of a major disaster
  • Processing Information3.13.2Level 4 looks like: Calculate the adjustments for insurance claims
  • Scheduling Work and Activities3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Prepare the work schedule for salesclerks in a large retail store
  • Training and Teaching Others3.12.8
  • Controlling Machines and Processes3.03.3Level 4 looks like: Operate a drilling rig
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.03.6Level 4 looks like: Determine the value of property lost in a fire
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies2.93.1Level 4 looks like: Develop the plan to complete the merger of two organizations over a 3-year period
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates2.93.1Level 4 looks like: Manage a small team of employees in a dynamic workplace
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment2.93.0Level 4 looks like: Change the oil on a tractor
  • Developing and Building Teams2.82.8
  • Documenting/Recording Information2.82.9
  • Analyzing Data or Information2.73.0Level 4 looks like: Determine the interest cost to finance a new building
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization2.72.7
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships2.73.4Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others2.72.8
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge2.73.0Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Coaching and Developing Others2.62.7
  • Assisting and Caring for Others2.52.3Level 1 looks like: Help a coworker complete an assignment
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources2.42.4Level 1 looks like: Work as a server responsible for keeping track of utensils
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public2.42.3Level 1 looks like: Check tickets at a concert
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment2.42.3Level 1 looks like: Use display settings to adjust a television picture
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others2.42.2Level 1 looks like: Apologize to a customer who complains about waiting too long
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others2.31.9Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that requires little advising of others
  • Staffing Organizational Units2.12.0Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.01.9Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment1.91.7Level 1 looks like: Specify the lighting for a work area
  • Working with Computers1.71.4Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database
  • Selling or Influencing Others1.61.2Level 1 looks like: Convince a coworker to assist with an assignment

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0
  • Health and Safety of Other Workers4.6
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.5
  • Telephone Conversations4.5
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.5
  • Contact With Others4.4
  • Time Pressure4.4
  • Frequency of Decision Making4.3
  • Physical Proximity4.3
  • Spend Time Standing4.3

Technology

11 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Hot (7)

  • Jenkins CI
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software
Other tools (4)
  • Computerized maintenance management system software CMMS
  • Database software
  • Inventory management systems
  • Xactware Xactimate

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Recycling and Reclamation Workers
  2. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
  3. Highway Maintenance Workers
  4. Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
  5. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
  6. Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
  7. Construction Laborers
  8. Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
  9. Recycling Coordinators
  10. Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

ESCO equivalents

From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.