MightyRecruiterHazardous materials removal workers have the very important task of getting rid of any potentially dangerous materials from premises. These materials can include radioactive waste, lead and asbestos. Once the hazardous substance is eliminated, the surrounding area it was in needs to be cleaned and neutralized so that it is safe for people to walk around in once again.
Attention to detail is a crucial skill to mention in your hazardous materials removal worker job description because not a trace of the substance can be left behind. Additionally, mechanical skills are good to see in applicants because heavy-duty machinery needs to be utilized to thoroughly clean a contaminated area.
These professionals also need excellent physical stamina to work for hours at a time cleaning. Get a sense of what other components need to go into a great hazardous materials removal worker job description by reading the example provided below.
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker Job Summary
Do you have a strong commitment to helping your community and making others feel just a little bit safer? As a hazardous materials removal worker at our organization, you will have an indispensable role on your demolition and decontamination team. Your sharp eye for detail will come in handy as you work on industrial, commercial and residential properties to get rid of any presence of asbestos or other dangerous materials. If you already have a comprehensive knowledge of various power tools and are certified in working around asbestos, then you are already a great fit. Apply today, and you can soon become an invaluable team player at our company.
Job Responsibilities
- Inspect properties set for demolition or renovation to determine if there are any hazardous substances within the vicinity
- Set up a containment area where the hazardous material is located to ensure no one else enters the area without the proper safety gear
- Remove substances, such as lead and asbestos, from a building using a variety of tools, which can include high pressure sprayers, vacuums and scrapers
- Comply with all regulations set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency
- Use forklifts and hoists to remove dangerous materials from the premises onto a truck, and transport it to the nearby landfill
- Clean the contaminated area thoroughly to ensure a trace of the substance is not left behind, which typically entails using steam cleaners and filter pumps
- Clean the equipment after it has been used on a worksite by using the proper solvents and chemicals
- Test an area after a job to ensure it is safe for habitation
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- High school diploma
- Experience working with hazardous materials in the past
- Knowledge of how to use various power tools
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Current certification in handling asbestos
Preferred:
- Carpentry skills
- Strong written communication skills
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker Job Responsibilities
Every candidate should come into a job interview with a clear understanding of what the roles and responsibilities are for the position that he or she is applying for. You can use that understanding as a way to gauge applicants’ true level of interest in the position by asking them what questions they have about the job. If they are able to respond with questions of their own, that confirms that they did indeed research the position. Of course, before you can establish this expectation, you need to first create a strong hazardous materials removal worker job description yourself.
The job responsibilities section should be the largest of your listing, yet still succinct enough as to not lose a reader’s interest. Detail your hazardous materials removal worker job responsibilities using bullet points that call an applicant’s attention to the job’s most important elements. Directly state what the successful candidate’s responsibilities will be using action words. This will help applicants to better envision the duties of the position and understand how to apply their skill set to them.
The examples shown below will help get you started in completing this portion of your hazardous materials removal worker job description:
- Respond to spills of chemical or biological agents
- Contain and cordon off spill areas to avoid exposure and contamination
- Retrieve all spilled compounds utilizing collection and storage tools and thoroughly clean affected areas of any residue
- Test environmental conditions following retrieval before allowing access
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker Job Specifications
Given the highly specialized nature of hazardous materials handling, you may only want to interview applicants who already have a familiarity with this sort of work. You can establish this baseline expectation in the job qualifications and skills section of your hazardous materials removal worker job description. Listing that candidates have a HAZMAT certification will ensure that you get the types of applicants you are looking for. Understand that doing so, however, limits your candidate pool. If you have additional resources that allow time for training, consider instead stating that those applicants who are not yet certified must earn it within a certain time frame.
Let the requirements of the position influence the hazardous materials removal worker job specifications in your listing. Depending on the level of interaction your new hire will have with third parties, consider whether to include “soft skills” in this section (such as being a good communicator or having strong organizational skills). While such attributes may have a place in other postings, one might expect them to be absent from a hazardous materials removal worker job description due to the unique nature of the work.
Consider the following examples when trying to determine what skill requirements to include in your listing:
- High school diploma or equivalent educational certificate
- Current HAZMAT certification (or willingness to become certified within first year of employment)
- 2 years of previous experience in materials handling and management
- Must be in good physical condition
