Waste Collection Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary:
Under the direction of the HMM Technical Operations Supervisor, Principal Technicians serve as lead technicians for HMM and are responsible for performing all technician duties, assigning work schedules, and providing guidance to less experienced technicians. A thorough understanding of the regulations governing hazardous waste transportation and disposal is required.
Department Description:
The Office of Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) is responsible for promoting environmental stewardship and a safe workplace at UCSF while helping to ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations pertaining to occupational safety and the environment. Hazardous Materials Management (HMM) within EH&S provides the following services to UCSF:

• Hazardous chemical waste collection and disposal
• Medical waste collection and disposal
• Receipt of radioactive material
• Radioactive waste collection and disposal
• Controlled substance receipt and disposal
• Radioactive contamination monitoring
• Calibration of radiation survey meters
• Emergency shower and eyewash testing
• Fume hood testing
• Support services for patients receiving radiation therapies

Responsibilities
DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Identify the functions or tasks that employees in the job perform. The essential functions should state the purpose of the work and the results to be accomplished, rather than how the function is performed. Of the tasks listed, what percentage of time is devoted to each? The more time employees spend on a function, the more likely it is that the function is essential. Generally, include those functions that account for 10% or more of the work, i.e., key items that contribute significantly to the achievement of the job. The functions should add up to 100%.
of time
Essential Function (Yes/No)
Key Responsibilities
(To be completed by Supervisor)
15
Yes
Oversight of Chemical and Radioactive Waste Ship Outs:
Prepare waste inventories prior to ship outs. Oversee vendors ensuring waste is packaged appropriately for transportation and disposal. Sign and review manifests for accuracy and completeness. Ensure waste in the 90-day waste accumulation area does not exceed 90 days. Maintain detailed records of waste in waste facilities and waste shipped offsite.
15
Yes
Team Lead Duties
Assign daily schedules for other technicians. Serve as a lead for tasks that must be performed as part of a team such as room setups, teardowns, bulking of solvents, and lab cleanouts. Provide training and guidance to less senior technicians on standard operating procedures. Ensure technician assignments are completed, and records are maintained according to SOP's. Communicate any issues to the technical operations supervisor. Help maintain data for regulatory reports and internal reporting to UCSF leadership.
15
Yes
Chemical Waste Operations
Collect hazardous chemical waste from waste generators and consolidates it in the central 90 day waste accumulation area for processing. Segregate and store waste appropriately according to hazard class. Ensure waste is appropriately labeled. Consolidate waste into shipping containers. Performs weekly inspections of waste facilities. Maintain accurate records of waste collected, stored and shipped offsite according to standard operating procedures.
5
Yes
Radiation Contamination Monitoring
Perform radiation surveys with survey meters and wipe tests of all EH&S areas where radiation is used and stored. Perform radiation surveys and wipe tests for customers as part of the wipe test service offered to UCSF radiation users. Analyze wipe tests using the liquid scintillation counter and interpret results. Perform decontamination of contaminated areas. Maintain detailed records of surveys. Report monthly wipe totals to EH&S administrative support services for recharge purposes.
5
Yes
Receipt of Radioactive Material
Receive radioactive material. Inspect and perform surveys on radioactive material packages.
Maintain detailed receipt records. Verify radioactive material users are approved to receive isotopes. Maintain equipment in radiation receiving laboratory. Perform daily efficiencies of equipment. Deliver isotopes to satellite campuses. Report any issues to the supervisor and radiation safety officer.
5
Yes
Support Services for Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy
Prepare patient rooms for patients receiving radiation therapies. Protect all surfaces with plastic sheeting, tape, and absorbent materials to prevent contamination of surfaces. Prepare pump for foley catheter, and position lead shielding in the room. Pickup radioactive waste generated by the patient and bring it to the radiation waste accumulation area for decay. After patient discharge remove protective coverings and linens and process as radioactive material for decay. Perform radiation surveys of the room and decontaminate all areas over three times background radiation. Maintain detailed records of technician hours, waste and service reports. Interact with radiation specialists, and nursing staff to ensure excellent service and patient care is provided.
10
Yes
Radioactive Waste Operations
Collect radioactive waste from waste generators and bring it to central waste accumulation areas for processing and disposal. Segregate according to half-life and type of waste. Consolidate waste into larger containers for ship out and disposal. Analyze waste for radioactivity. Process decayed less than 90-day waste for downgrade and disposal. Prepare waste inventory for shipout of greater than 90-day waste. Maintain detailed records of all waste in waste facility. Perform weekly radiation surveys and inspections of all waste facilities. Schedule waste vendor pick-up and collection of radioactive waste from campus and satellites. Communicate issues to other HMM specialists and Technical Operations Supervisor.
10
Yes
Safety Equipment Testing
Perform weekly and monthly eyewash and shower tests according to ANSI guidelines and Cal-OSHA standards. Perform detailed annual testing of showers and eyewashes to ensure all units are in compliance with ANSI standards. Perform annual certification of fume hoods and other local exhaust ventilation systems used to control hazardous vapors. Report issues to Facilities for repair. Regularly, follow up on the status of repairs to ensure repairs are made in a timely manner. Report all problems to the occupants and campus safety. Prepare monthly reports documenting current non-compliant safety equipment and send it to stakeholders. Commission new equipment and prepare project request forms for recharge to customers.
10
Yes
Medical Waste Collection
Collect medical waste from laboratories and bring to waste accumulation areas for shipout and disposal. Ensure medical waste shipped offsite is packaged correctly. Sign medical waste manifests. Ensure good housekeeping and security for waste accumulation areas. Report issues of non-compliance to supervisor.
5
Yes
Controlled Substances Services
Receive control substances for campus research. Ensure controlled substances are properly and securely stored to prevent diversion. Distribute to campus researchers after verifying they are approved to receive and order matches purchase order documentation from central purchasing. Maintain detailed records of distribution including 222 forms. Collect controlled substances for disposal from research laboratories. Maintain accurate disposal records. Prepare inventories for disposal. Arrange for disposal with waste vendors. Ensure RIO records are accurately updated.
5
Yes
Calibration of Radiation Survey Equipment
Perform annual calibrations on Geiger Mueller survey meters and ion chambers. Calibrate meters to read in both counts per minute to measure contamination and mR/hr to measure exposure rate. Perform minor repairs on equipment. Ensure all meters are calibrated within one year and keep track of meters needing calibration to ensure they are calibrated on time. Shipout equipment that needs repair or cannot be calibrated in house to manufacturer for calibration.
Other Tasks
Assist with the UCSF PPE and laundry program. Help maintain EH&S vehicles. Provide logistical support to Emergency Response Team. Assist other groups within the department with miscellaneous tasks when required.
0%
(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

• Graduation from high school or General Education Diploma (GED) and four years of experience in an environmental health and safety program, or two years of college including appropriate science courses and three years of experience in an environmental health and safety program; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position
• At least two years of experience managing hazardous waste.
• Current 24 hour HAZWOPER certification
• DOT Hazmat employee training within the last 3 years
• Strong working knowledge of chemical, radioactive and biological hazards including best practices for handling hazardous substances. Ability to assess hazards and determine proper storage and handling procedures.
• Knowledge of the regulatory requirements governing storage, transportation, disposal, and recordkeeping for hazardous, radioactive, medical, and controlled substance waste.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, organizational, verbal and written communication skills including use of computer for email, word processing, and recordkeeping.
• Possession of a California Driver's license with a good driving record is required.
• Ability to lift at least 50 lbs is required; wear appropriate personal protective clothing, including a full-face respirator; position requires, pushing, pulling, bending stooping, twisting; Ability to work in areas with wide temperature ranges; Ability to work in laboratory and waste processing environments.
• This is a 'critical' position; fingerprinting and a background check are required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree preferred