According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work. | 88% |
| Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers. | 88% |
| Identify asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials to be removed, using monitoring devices. | 87% |
| Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage. | 85% |
| Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed. | 85% |
| Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods. | 85% |
| Sort specialized hazardous waste at landfills or disposal centers, following proper disposal procedures. | 83% |
| Operate cranes to move or load baskets, casks, or canisters. | 83% |
| Drive trucks or other heavy equipment to convey contaminated waste to designated sea or ground locations. | 82% |
| Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts. | 81% |
| Identify or separate waste products or materials for recycling or reuse. | 80% |
| Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners. | 78% |
| Remove or limit contamination following emergencies involving hazardous substances. | 78% |
| Clean mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials. | 78% |
| Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials. | 77% |
| Upload baskets of irradiated elements onto machines that insert fuel elements into canisters and secure lids. | 77% |
| Process e-waste, such as computer components containing lead or mercury. | 76% |
| Organize or track the locations of hazardous items in landfills. | 76% |
| Mix or pour concrete into forms to encase waste material for disposal. | 76% |
| Apply bioremediation techniques to hazardous wastes to allow naturally occurring bacteria to break down toxic substances. | 73% |
| Package, store, or move irradiated fuel elements in the underwater storage basins of nuclear reactor plants, using machines or equipment. | 68% |