Hazardous Waste Removal Workers
Description OES Code: 87803
Remove, pack, transport, and/or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, waste fuel, contaminated soil, etc. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling and/or a confined entry permit are generally required.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $10.61
25th Percentile $11.82
50th Percentile $14.30
75th Percentile $17.62

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Hours & Benefits
Hazardous waste removal workers may be expected to work irregular hours; Hazardous materials removal workers may be required to travel outside their normal working area in order to respond to emergency situations. These emergency cleanups sometimes take several days or weeks to complete and workers usually are away from home for the duration of the project.

Employment Trends by California County

Getting the Job & Other Information
Employment for treatment, storage and disposal workers are found primarily at facilities such as landfills, incinerators, boilers and industrial furnaces / incinerator facilities, asbestos and lead abatement or in radioactive decontamination facilities. These facilities are often located in remote areas. About two-thirds are employed by special trade contractors, primarily in asbestos and lead abatement. The next largest industry is the sanitary services industry, including treatment, storage and disposal facilities. A small number work in electric services at nuclear and electric plants as decommissioning and decontamination workers and radiation safety and decontamination technicians.

For a list of current job listing, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Education and Training
Federal regulations require a license to work as a hazardous materials removal worker. Most employers provide technical training on the job, but a formal 32- to 40-hour training program must be completed to be licensed to work as an asbestos and lead abatement worker or a treatment, storage, and disposal worker. The program covers health hazards, personal protective equipment and clothing, site safety, hazard recognition and identification, and decontamination. In some cases, workers will discover one hazardous material while abating another. If the workers are not licensed to work with the newly discovered material they cannot continue to work. Many experienced workers opt to take courses in additional disciplines to counteract this problem. Some employers prefer to hire workers licensed in multiple disciplines.

Skills & Other Requirements
Hazardous waste removal workers must be able to perform basic mathematical conversions and calculations, manipulating readings for consideration during the abatement. To perform the job duties, workers should also have good physical strength and manual dexterity. They must be able to use a variety of tools and equipment which may include anything from brooms to respirators (while working to protect them from airborne particles) that range from simple versions that cover only the mouth and nose to self-contained suits with their own oxygen supply.

References
Us Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

Related Occupations: Electric Power Generating Plant Operators, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)