Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Technician

Working Schedule

HAZWOPERs work full time with overtime common due to emergencies or other incident response.

Typical Duties

• Respond to routine and emergency hazardous material incidents. Assess hazardous situations
• When applicable, measure or test the hazard level posed by materials (such as radiation levels) using monitoring devices
• Plan and execute procedures for safely managing and cleaning up hazardous materials
• Work on teams to prevent exposure/contamination during emergency responses or waste operations
• Prepare containment areas before starting work
• Neutralize hazardous substances as needed before cleanup
• Identify and wear the proper personal protective equipment for the situation (i.e., bodysuits, gloves, face shields, breathing apparatus, etc.)
• Potentially work in confined spaces, at heights, or in inclement weather
• Use detergents, chemicals, and/or tools to remove harmful materials from affected surfaces
• Operate machines or vehicles to assist with cleaning, disposal, and transport
• Mix concrete to encase waste that will be disposed of, as needed
• Utilize bioremediation practices on substances that bacteria can safely break down
• Pack, load, transport, or store waste. Follow strict hazardous waste disposal methods and laws
• Label and track waste to be removed. Maintain documentation and records of where materials are moved
• Sort at landfills or other sites, as directed; separate waste that could be recycled

Additional Responsibilities

• Keep up-to-date on hazardous materials handling procedures and regulations
• Comply with organizational, state, and federal policies or regulations regarding safety, ethical, and legal requirements

1. Examples of federal agencies include the Environmental Protection 
   Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• Work closely with team leaders and members to ensure the overall job and all tasks are carried out safely and properly 

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

• Familiarity with chemicals including solvents and cleaners
• Operation of hoists, forklifts, cranes, or trucks and bobcats (if needed)
• Physical strength and stamina.
• Safety and emergency response protocols (such as using emergency showers and eyewash stations)
• Safe use of hand and power tools, such as vacuums, sandblasters, high-pressure sprayers, etc.)
• Use of appropriate personal protective equipment and related gear
• Use of hazardous material monitoring equipment
• First aid/CPR
• Incident Command System
• National Incident Management System
• OSHA lockout/tagout
• Confined space entry and rescue
• Knowledge of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

• Chemical plants
• Construction sites
• Emergency response service providers
• Governmental and environmental agencies
• Hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities
  Laboratories
• Manufacturing facilities
• Mining operations
• Oil spill cleanup sites
• Private contractors
• Remediation and waste management services
• Superfund sites

Over the decades, there have been numerous environmental disasters involving toxic substances which affected the health and lives of hundreds or even thousands of people. In some cases, exposure can be so bad that it makes an area uninhabitable for years.

That’s why Hazardous Materials Removal Workers are very important jobs, which can involve responding to situations quickly. Shifts can run long when there’s a big, urgent job, and sometimes workers will try to take shortcuts during cleanup efforts. HAZWOPER Technicians, however, must take their time and ensure the job is done right, not only for safety reasons but also because violations can lead to expensive fines.

Obviously, hazardous waste is dangerous, so they also have to follow safety rules closely to avoid personal risk. They’re also expected to neutralize and clean all affected surfaces swiftly and effectively, so waste doesn’t impact other workers, the local community, nearby wildlife, or the environment in general. 

The safe removal of hazardous material is a priority for the Environmental Protection Agency, OSHA, and many other governmental organizations. It’s also a matter of significance to private companies which can be hit with citations and massive fines for failing to comply with proper waste disposal rules.  

For example, in 2023, chemical manufacturer 3M was ordered to pay “$10.3 billion to settle lawsuits over contamination of many U.S. public drinking water systems with potentially harmful compounds.”

In 2021, the State of California sued Walmart for “illegal disposal of hazardous waste” such as “alkaline and lithium batteries, insect killer sprays and other pesticides, aerosol cans, toxic cleaning supplies, electronic waste, latex paints, and LED light bulbs” dumped in landfills.  

Clearly, the pressure is on companies to strictly comply with state and federal regulations designed to protect workers, the public, the environment, and wildlife.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers may have enjoyed being outdoors or engaged in physical activities when they were younger. They may have also liked working as part of a team striving toward a common goal such as in sports.