Hazardous material workers remove and dispose of harmful materials.

The duties of hazardous material (HAZMAT) workers depend on the type of materials they work with. In many cases, HAZMAT workers obtain specialized training to remove specific materials. Some use chemicals to remove lead paint on buildings. HAZMAT workers who remove asbestos use tools to scrape or vacuum asbestos from buildings. Others specialize in removing moldy materials like wood or carpet. Others use waste-eating bacteria to dispose of certain chemicals. Some remove hazardous materials from old computers. Others respond to accidents, spills, and releases. All HAZMAT workers sort materials from waste for recycling.

Because removing hazardous materials is dangerous, workers must follow safety standards and work together as a team. They must follow rules, act quickly, and follow the chain of command.

All HAZMAT workers wear protective gear, but the type of safety gear varies with the job. Those who need the most protection wear full body suits and respirators. Other workers wear less gear, but most wear some type of respirator that filters the air they breathe.

Treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) workers transport hazardous materials to treatment and disposal sites. They drive trucks and operate cranes and forklifts to move materials. They may build scaffolding or containment areas to reach and store materials. They also organize materials at disposal sites and label all items.

There are three levels of HAZMAT workers who remove radioactive materials:

Decontamination technicians

Decontamination technicians use brooms, mops, and other tools to clean contaminated areas. They also remove items to be cleaned or disposed of.

Radiation protection technicians

Radiation protection technicians use radiation survey meters to locate and evaluate contaminated materials. They use high-pressure cleaning equipment to wash areas, and also package materials for disposal.

Decommissioning and decontamination workers

Decommissioning and decontamination (D&D) workers remove radioactive materials from nuclear facilities and power plants. These workers sometimes build concrete storage boxes. They transfer radioactive materials from the site to the cement boxes or other storage containers.