Profession asbestos abatement worker

Asbestos removal workers remove asbestos from buildings and facilities.

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Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Tasks asbestos abatement worker

• Prepare work sites, e.g. erect barriers and scaffolding.
• Select or request equipment and machines, transport and set them up.
• Locate the indentified asbestos that needs to be removed, e.g. using monitoring devices.
• Wear respirators for protection from dangerous airborne particles and suits that completely protect from hazardous materials (e.g. disposable or reusable overalls, gloves, hardhats, shoe covers, safety glasses or goggles, chemical-resistant clothing, face shields and devices to protect hearing).
• Perform demolition and deconstruction work.
• Remove asbestos from the surfaces of walls and structures, using various hand and power tools (e.g. vacuums and scrapers).
• Package, transport and dispose of asbestos in a safe manner.
• Respond to accidents and emergencies, and clean up after accidents.

Related professions hazardous materials

• Removal worker, all other hazardous materials

Knowledge

• Asbestos removal regulations

  The legislation and regulations surrounding the removal of asbestos contamination from buildings or structures, the safe removal of contaminated materials and the regulations to avoid and prevent contamination.

• Health, safety and hygiene legislation

  The set of health, safety and hygiene standards and items of legislation applicable in a specific sector.

• 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.

Skills

• 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.

• Disinfect surfaces

  Apply the correct cleaning procedures, taking into account safe handling of disinfectants, to remove contaminants, pollutants, and bacterial risks, from various surfaces, such as buildings exteriors, vehicles, and roads.

• Use personal protection equipment

  Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.

• Investigate contamination

  Perform tests to investigate the properties of contamination in an area, or on surfaces and materials, in order to identify the cause, its nature, and the extent of the risk and damage.

• Assess contamination

  Analyse evidence of contamination. Advise on how to decontaminate.

• Avoid contamination

  Avoid the mixing or contamination of materials.

• Remove contaminants

  Use chemicals and solvents to remove contaminants from products or surfaces.

• 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.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB