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How exposed to AI is a Hazardous Materials Removal Worker?

Of the 21 tasks O*NET lists for hazardous materials removal workers, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 19 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Abatement WorkerAsbestos Abatement WorkerAsbestos Hazard Abatement WorkerAsbestos RemoverAsbestos WorkerDecontamination and Decommissioning Operator (D and D Operator)Hazmat Technician (Hazardous Materials Technician)Waste Handling Technician
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
21
tasks rated for this occupation
14%
hold a degree, from a survey of 22
44k
people do this job in the US
20 of 61
least protected in construction

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Only with software built on top

2
  • Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed
  • Apply bioremediation techniques to hazardous wastes to allow naturally occurring bacteria to break down toxic substances

Cannot be sped up

19
  • 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
  • Sort specialized hazardous waste at landfills or disposal centers, following proper disposal procedures
  • Operate cranes to move or load baskets, casks, or canisters
  • Drive trucks or other heavy equipment to convey contaminated waste to designated sea or ground locations
  • Identify or separate waste products or materials for recycling or reuse
  • Upload baskets of irradiated elements onto machines that insert fuel elements into canisters and secure lids
  • Process e-waste, such as computer components containing lead or mercury
  • Organize or track the locations of hazardous items in landfills
  • Mix or pour concrete into forms to encase waste material for disposal
  • Package, store, or move irradiated fuel elements in the underwater storage basins of nuclear reactor plants, using machines or equipment
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.