A New Career in Hazardous Waste Cleanup

Already Trained

With approximately 800,000 volunteer firefighters in the United States, there is a large group of individuals that already have some valuable training and experience. Active volunteer firefighters should have Basic Hazardous Materials training (First Responder Awareness/Operational), Incident Command System (ICS), Emergency Medical (First Aid/CPR, First Responder or EMT), along with experience in using protective clothing and respiratory protection. Why not put these skills to work as a site worker in your area? Full time firefighters looking for added income can also pursue hazardous waste jobs. Most importantly however is trying to get those in need of work certified to pursue this career and get America back to work.

Advancement

Once you get your training and some basic experience, you can pursue other more lucrative opportunities. With so many Americans out of work with advanced degrees, you can move up to supervision or management of environmental companies with that MBA or Bachelors in Business. As a large user of hazardous chemicals, the Federal government is always recruiting for hazardous waste personnel, visit http://www.usajobs.gov/ to explore these opportunities. State and local governments are also in the market, search key words such as “safety” and “environmental” to broaden your search.

Overseas companies may also have opportunities, possibly with tax benefits for United States citizens. Use your imagination, and start searching the internet today. Check search engines including http://www.simplyhired.com/  and http://www.indeed.com/ .

Other Opportunities

With your new found skills, you can begin branching out in the safety filed. Take the OSHA General Industry Safety Course (10 or 30 hours) and expand your horizons. Training in Confined Space operations will also benefit you in this field and can bring more opportunities. Training in Confined Spaces will keep you and your co-workers safe, and is readily available online and from local instructors.

Is it Safe?

Any job has some type of safety concerns. Utilize your training, coupled with common sense and good listening skills and you will do just fine. The primary risks include heat stress on your body, so be sure to hydrate and eat while working with protective clothing and respiratory protection. Use proper lifting techniques while moving heavy objects such as drums and tools, and use team work with your partner. By keeping these simple rules in mind, you are off to a safe and lucrative career in the hazardous waste industry.