Hazardous waste technicians dispose of materials that have been in contact with or are ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic or a combination of the aforementioned hazardous traits. They remove the waste from industrial facilities or households and transport them to a treatment facility to ensure they are treated and disposed of according to regulations. They may also advise on the proper treatment of hazardous waste, and aid in the clean-up of hazardous waste spills.
Working conditions are sometimes damgerous to workers’ health, because these workers handle highly toxic substances. To cut down on risks, workers wear protective clothing ranging from gloves to fully self-contained suits, depending on the level of toxicity at the site. Monitoring equipment lets workers know whether they have been exposed to a high level of toxins.
Hazardous waste technicians may work indoors, outdoors, or both. Many technicians travel between sites for inspections, but they may also need to spend time in laboratories performing tests.
In the past, hazardous waste technicians could find plenty of work with only a high school diploma. Hazardous waste management is becoming an increasingly sophisticated field, however, because of tighter regulations and advances in cleanup technology. More and more, a two-year diploma or degree in hazardous waste management is becoming important for many positions.
There are hundreds of choices for those interested in pursuing postsecondary training in hazardous waste management. Options include community colleges, technical colleges, vocational institutes, and college outreach programs. Students should make sure the school is accredited and talk to the people in the career services office to find out where graduates have gone on to work.
Whether or not a degree is required depends on the task, the company, and the nature of the problem. For some field or monitoring work, two-year degrees may be needed. Some of these jobs involve sophisticated work like chemical analyses or working under protocols.
On the other hand, other technicians are essentially moving waste, like forklift drivers, warehouse workers, or drivers. They will get some particular training or instruction from the company, but generally don’t need a degree.
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Hazardous waste technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of hazardous waste technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of hazardous waste technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of hazardous waste technician.
Contamination exposure regulations: The regulations concerning exposure to contaminated materials or a hazardous environment which regulate the actions surrounding risk assessment, minimisation of further exposure, quarantine, and treatment of the exposed persons.
Hazardous materials transportation: Regulations and safety procedures which are involved in the transportation of hazardous materials and products, such as hazardous waste, chemicals, explosives, and flammable materials.
Waste management: The methods, materials and regulations used to collect, transport, treat and dispose of waste. This includes recycling and monitoring of waste disposal.
Hazardous waste treatment: The methods applied in the treatment and disposal of hazardous waste such as asbestos, dangerous chemicals, and various contaminants, as well as the surrounding environmental regulations and legislation.
Hazardous waste types: The different types of waste which poses risks to the environment or public health and safety, such as radioactive waste, chemicals and solvents, electronics, and mercury-containing waste.
Characteristics of waste: Expertise in the different types, the chemical formulas and other characteristics of solid, liquid and hazardous waste.
Waste and scrap products: The offered waste and scrap products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
Hazardous waste storage: The regulations and procedures surrounding the safekeeping of materials and substances which pose health and safety risks.
These skills are necessary for the role of hazardous waste technician.
Remove contaminated materials: Remove materials and equipment which are contaminated with hazardous substances in order to protect the surroundings from further contamination and to treat or dispose of the contaminated materials.
Assess waste type: Identify waste materials during collection and sorting operations which can either be recycled, disposed of, or otherwise treated, in order to assess the way in which they need to be treated and sorted.
Assess contamination: Analyse evidence of contamination. Advise on how to decontaminate.
Store contaminated materials: Package and store materials which pose risks to health and safety due to contamination, and awaiting disposal or treatment, in a manner compliant with safety regulations.
Dispose of hazardous waste: Dispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of hazardous waste technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Radioactive contamination: The different causes of the presence of radioactive substances in liquids, solids, or gases or on surfaces, and the manner in which to identify the types of contaminants, their risks, and the contaminants’ concentration.
Decontamination techniques: The methods and techniques used for the decontamination of waste by removing or neutralising the harmful substance.
Pollution legislation: Be familiar with European and National legislation regarding the risk of pollution.
Hydraulics: The power transmission systems that use the force of flowing liquids to transmit power.
Pollution prevention: The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.
Pneumatics: The application of pressurised gas to produce mechanical motion.
Radiochemistry: The chemistry of radioactive materials, the way to use radioactive isotopes of elements to study the properties and chemical reactions of non-radioactive isotopes.
Radiation protection: The measures and procedures used to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of hazardous waste technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Sort waste: Manually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.
Operate recycling processing equipment: Operate recycling processing equipment such as granulators, crushers and balers; process and sort materials to be recycled.
Collect industrial waste: Collect non-hazardous or hazardous waste produced by industrial activities, such as paints, chemicals, industrial byproducts, and radioactive waste.
Develop hazardous waste management strategies: Develop strategies that aim to increase the efficiency in which a facility treats, transports, and disposes of hazardous waste materials, such as radioactive waste, chemicals, and electronics.
Inspect compliance with hazardous waste regulations: Inspect an organisation’s or facility’s strategies which deal with the management of hazardous waste in order to ensure that their actions are compliant with relevant legislation and that measures are taken to improve protection from exposure, and ensure health and safety.
Test electrical equipment: Test electrical systems, machines, and components and check electrical properties, such as voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, and inductance, using electrical testing and measuring equipment, such as a multimeter. Gather and analyse data. Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.
Issue licences: Issue official documentation which grants licence holders with official permission to perform certain activities, after having investigated the application and processed the necessary documentation.
Maintain recycling records: Maintain records and process facts and figures about type and volume of different recycling operations.
Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
Develop radiation protection strategies: Develop strategies for facilities and organisations which are at risk for exposure to radiation or radioactive substances, such as hospitals and nuclear facilities, for the protection of people within the premises in case of risk, as well as the minimisation of radiation exposure during working operations.
Follow nuclear plant safety precautions: Comply with nuclear power plant safety procedures, policies and legislation to ensure a safe working environment for all employees, and to ensure the safety of the public.
Educate on hazardous waste: Educate the public or specific organisations on the importance of correct handling of hazardous waste in order to promote public safety, ensure compliance with legislation, and raise awareness of the different types of hazardous waste and their threats to public health and safety as well as the environment.
Establish waste collection routes: Establish and outline the routes which would ensure efficient and fast waste collection in the designated area.
Drain hazardous liquids: Drain substances which pose health and safety risks from equipment, appliances or installations in order to store the liquids according to safety guidelines and dispose or treat them as required.
Instruct employees on radiation protection: Explain the various legal and operational measures established in the company against radiation, such as reducing exposure time and wearing protective gear, to the employees and communicate the emergency procedures.
Document analysis results: Document on paper or on electronic devices the process and the results of the samples analysis performed.
Monitor disposal of radioactive substances: Ensure correct management and disposal of radioactive substances used for medical purposes, in compliance with established procedures.
Test samples for pollutants: Measure concentrations of pollutants within samples. Calculate air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes. Identify potential safety or health risks such as radiation.
Maintain waste collection records: Maintain records on waste collection routes, scheduling, and types and volume of waste collected.
Respond to nuclear emergencies: Set in motion the strategies for reacting in the event of equipment malfunctions, errors, or other events which may lead to contamination and other nuclear emergencies, ensuring that the facility is secured, all necessary areas are evacuated, and further damages and risks are contained.
Monitor radiation levels: Use measuring and testing equipment and techniques to identify the levels of radiation or radioactive substances in order to control exposure and minimise health, safety, and environmental risks.
Report pollution incidents: Examine the extent of the damage and consequences when an incident causes pollution, and report it to the relevant institution following pollution reporting procedures.
Advise on waste management procedures: Advise organisations on the implementation of waste regulations and on improvement strategies for waste management and waste minimisation, to increase environmentally sustainable practices and environmental awareness.
