Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.

The automation risk for the occupation “Hazardous Materials Removal Workers” is estimated at 36.4%, slightly below the base risk of 36.9%. This moderate risk reflects a balance between tasks that can be mechanized and those that still require significant human oversight or adaptability. Automation technologies are increasingly capable of handling certain repetitive, hazardous, or precision-driven tasks in this field, but there remain substantial barriers when it comes to tasks that require nuanced judgement or adaptation to complex and variable conditions at job sites. Among the most automatable tasks in this occupation are activities such as building containment areas prior to abatement, removing asbestos or lead using various tools, and identifying hazardous materials via monitoring devices. These actions often follow standardized procedures and involve the use of equipment that can, to an extent, be automated or operated remotely. For example, the use of remote-controlled vacuums or robotic sprayers can minimize worker exposure and improve efficiency. Similarly, advancements in sensor technologies enable machines to detect hazardous materials with increasing accuracy, reducing the need for manual inspection in certain scenarios. However, several tasks remain highly resistant to automation due to the unique skills and situational awareness they demand. Handling irradiated fuel elements in underwater storage basins, applying bioremediation techniques, and encasing waste materials with concrete all involve complex, context-sensitive decision-making and hands-on expertise. These duties often require adaptability, troubleshooting, and a deep understanding of the materials and environments involved—capabilities where current automation falls short. Bottleneck skills like originality, though assessed at a relatively low level of 2.8%, still pose challenges for machines, as adaptive thinking and unstructured problem-solving are crucial in managing unexpected scenarios or devising innovative remediation solutions. Thus, while automation is changing some aspects of hazardous materials removal, core human skills continue to safeguard many jobs in this field.