Talk to your school counselor about programs and classes like woodworking that are offered at your school so you can start learning skills that will get you started in this field.

Find a class to jump-start your construction skills.

Search online for how-to videos to see how hard this work is to master--and whether it's something you think you'd like. Does seeing this kind of work in action make you more interested in trying it?

Watch tutorials on how to do this kind of work.

The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration offers training opportunities through workshops and webinars. Explore their website to learn more.

Explore some Hazmat training opportunities.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

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.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Construction and Extraction Occupations

Other Construction and Related Workers

Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.

Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.

Identify asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials to be removed, using monitoring devices.

Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.

Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.

Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.

Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.

Remove or limit contamination following emergencies involving hazardous substances.

Clean mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials.

Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials.

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Database software

Xactware Xactimate

Microsoft Outlook

SAP software

Jenkins CI

Computerized maintenance management system software CMMS

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Word

Inventory management systems

Chemical protective clothing

Level B encapsulated suits

Liquid splash protective clothing

Vapor protective garments

Beta radiation meters

Gamma radiation meters

Radiation survey meters

Thermoluminescent dosimeters

Pneumatic scabbling tools

Sandblasters

Slurry blast equipment

Steel shot recyclable blasting equipment

Aerosol meters

Air monitoring equipment

Air sampling devices

Personal air monitors

Color changing gas detection devices

Electrochemical gas monitors

Total vapor survey instruments

Chemical agent detectors

Portable chemical agent detection devices

Decontamination trailers

Decontamination units

Mechanical arms

Remote control track robots

Filtered vacuums

High-efficiency particulate air HEPA vacuums

Chemical solution sprayers

High-pressure water sprayers

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Every day

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Once a week or more but not every day

Once a month or more but not every week

How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?

Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection

How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?

Very high responsibility

High responsibility

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Never

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Extremely important

Very important

Important

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Overview

Career

What Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Do

Other Job Titles Hazardous Materials Removal Workers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Overview

Career

What Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Do

Other Job Titles Hazardous Materials Removal Workers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders