HAZARDOUS WASTE OPERATIONS TECHNICIAN

Code: 07988 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under supervision of a Hazardous Waste Operations Supervisor or other supervisory official, performs activities necessary to the operation of temporary or permanent waste facilities, including handling, processing, and managing household hazardous waste, hazardous and acutely hazardous waste from universal and conditionally exempt small quantity generators, and other waste materials requiring special handling; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Classifies, segregates, lab packs, consolidates, and labels hazardous waste materials and ensures that activities are done in accordance with applicable rules and regulations (USDOT, USEPA, USOSHA) and disposal facility protocol.
• Conducts chemical and physical tests to determine nature of unknown substances or to assign a hazardous and compatibility group.
• Prepares and signs Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest documents for the transportation and disposal of hazardous waste, and maintains records.
• Provides information and complete forms for the procurement of service contracts for hazardous waste transportation, treatment, storage, incineration, and recycling; identifies available facilities and vendors; prepares technical specifications for public bidding and solicits quotations.
• Provides information and completes forms for the procurement of supplies and equipment, maintains inventories, and places order to ensure availability of supplies.
• Participates in the development, implementation, and routine updating of health and safety plans, contingency plans, and emergency procedures.
• Performs compliance inspections of the facility and maintains the temporary and/or permanent collection facility in accord with applicable federal and state regulations.
• Provides information to users of the facility on the safe transportation of hazardous waste material.
• Inspects and removes hazardous waste from vehicles, lifts materials weighing up to 50 pounds, and places waste into special containers or dumpsters 5 feet high.
• Trains staff in the various aspects of handling hazardous waste, manifest preparation, and the appropriate use of protection equipment.
• Operates equipment such as hand jacks, drum trucks, drum hoists, can crushers, forklifts, pickup trucks, roll-off hoist trucks, dump trucks, bucket loaders, and various hand and power tools utilized in the performance of assigned duties.
• Implements spill prevention plans developed for the county waste facility.
• May assist with the segregation, containment, and packing of suspected hazardous waste delivered to other solid waste facilities, transfer stations, landfill, incinerator, or composting facility within the county.
• May be responsible for maintenance of the work area, cleaning, custodial duties, snow removal, and so forth.
• Will be required to successfully complete the OSHA Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response certification and the DOT training for Hazardous Materials Employees. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Sciences, or Engineering.

Experience

Two (2) years of experience in environmental work involving the management of hazardous materials or in the field of chemistry, one (1) year of which shall have been involved in the handling, identification, segregation, lab packing, and consolidation of hazardous waste.

License

Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

May be required to obtain specific license necessary to operate vehicles assigned to the program.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of principles and techniques involved in the classification, segregation, lab packing, consolidation, and labeling of hazardous substances.
• Knowledge of the use of personal protective equipment utilized in the handling of hazardous waste.
• Knowledge of health and safety practices and procedures in the handling of hazardous waste materials, including asbestos.
• Knowledge of federal and state rules and regulations related to storage and transportation of hazardous waste.
• Knowledge of field air monitoring equipment such as photo ionization detector, combustible gas indicators, air sampling pumps, dragger tubes, and so forth.
• Knowledge of chemistry, chemical nomenclature, chemical formulations, and chemical incompatibilities.
• Ability to instruct and train assigned staff.
• Ability to read and apply federal, state, and local laws as they relate to the handling of household hazardous waste.
• Ability to follow complex oral and written directions.
• Ability to perform chemical tests and make field evaluations and analyses.
• Ability to work alone or as one of a team and to work effectively with coworkers and members of the public and other agencies.
• Ability to observe established safety rules and precautions.
• Ability prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain records, reports, and files.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.