Will hazardous materials removal workers be replaced by AI?
Updated
Hazardous materials removal workers score 14 of 100 for AI exposure. 77% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 3% today and speed up another 20%.
- 3% AI can do it
- 20% AI helps
- 77% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 91% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 21 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 1 of them today, speeds up 4 and leaves 16 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed. Container counts and waste logs are routine data recording. | 65% AI can do it |
| Organize or track the locations of hazardous items in landfills. Location tracking and inventory logs can be software assisted. | 50% AI helps |
| Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods. AI can explain rules and draft compliance documentation; worker stays accountable. | 45% AI helps |
| Identify asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials to be removed, using monitoring devices. Sampling is hands-on, but AI can help interpret monitoring data. | 30% AI helps |
| Apply bioremediation techniques to hazardous wastes to allow naturally occurring bacteria to break down toxic substances. AI can help plan bioremediation; field application stays hands-on. | 28% AI helps |
| Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage. Physical packing and prep of materials; paperwork is a small part. | 12% Needs a person |
| Identify or separate waste products or materials for recycling or reuse. Physical separation of waste materials for recycling. | 12% Needs a person |
| Sort specialized hazardous waste at landfills or disposal centers, following proper disposal procedures. Physical sorting of hazardous waste at disposal sites. | 10% Needs a person |
| Process e-waste, such as computer components containing lead or mercury. Hands-on dismantling of e-waste containing lead or mercury. | 10% Needs a person |
| Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work. Physical containment setup with sheeting and negative air machines. | 8% Needs a person |
Show the other 11 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Remove or limit contamination following emergencies involving hazardous substances. Live emergency response at contaminated sites needs physical presence. | 8% Needs a person |
| Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials. Operating machinery to remove and haul waste loads. | 8% Needs a person |
| Clean mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials. Physical removal of mold-damaged materials on site. | 6% Needs a person |
| Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners. Hands-on cleaning with sandblasters and steam equipment. | 5% Needs a person |
| Drive trucks or other heavy equipment to convey contaminated waste to designated sea or ground locations. Driving heavy trucks to convey contaminated waste. | 5% Needs a person |
| Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers. Hands-on scraping and vacuuming of asbestos or lead surfaces. | 4% Needs a person |
| Mix or pour concrete into forms to encase waste material for disposal. Physical pouring of concrete to encase waste. | 4% Needs a person |
| Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts. Physical loading with hoists and forklifts. | 3% Needs a person |
| Operate cranes to move or load baskets, casks, or canisters. Crane operation to move casks and canisters. | 3% Needs a person |
| Upload baskets of irradiated elements onto machines that insert fuel elements into canisters and secure lids. Physical handling of irradiated elements at nuclear facilities. | 2% Needs a person |
| Package, store, or move irradiated fuel elements in the underwater storage basins of nuclear reactor plants, using machines or equipment. Remote handling of fuel elements underwater at reactor plants. | 2% Needs a person |
How hazardous materials removal workers compare
All occupations (923)
Construction and extraction (61)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $49,450 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 51,710 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +1.5% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Hold HAZWOPER 40-hour certification for asbestos and lead work
- Remove asbestos and lead with HEPA vacuums and scrapers
- Operate forklifts, hoists, and cranes for container loading
- Track hazardous item locations in inventory management systems
- Log container counts and waste types in Microsoft Excel
- Schedule equipment upkeep in CMMS software
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about hazardous materials removal workers and AI
Will AI replace hazardous materials removal workers?
Partly. About 1 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly recording container counts and tracking the locations of hazardous items. Hands-on removal, packing, and loading stay with people because they need a worker on site in protective gear, and the job still depends on that physical presence.
Which hazardous materials removal tasks will AI take over?
Container logging and location tracking are the tasks AI takes over first. Recording container counts and waste types at disposal sites scores 65 on exposure, since it is routine data entry. Tracking hazardous items in landfills scores 50 and can be software assisted through inventory logs.
Which hazardous materials removal tasks stay with people?
Physical removal stays with people. Removing asbestos or lead from surfaces scores just 4 on exposure, because scrapers, vacuums, and high-pressure sprayers need a worker in the room. Loading with hoists, forklifts, and cranes scores 3 and is hands-on work on a live site.
How can hazardous materials removal workers stay valuable?
Keep hands-on certifications current, starting with HAZWOPER and the confined entry permit. Check every AI-generated container log against the physical record in Microsoft Excel. Use CMMS software to schedule equipment upkeep, and build skill in the sampling and monitoring work where AI only helps interpret the data.
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