What does a decontamination technician do?
Decontamination technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real decontamination technician resumes:
- Concrete crushing, demolition, and wrecking of commercial buildings, apartments, and homes.
- Assign with ALARA for lead shielding projects.
- Monitor NRC license compliance and support inspections.
- Set up ladders, scaffolds and hoists.
- Perform decontamination of a sand blast booth using a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
- Design, maintain, install, and replace rectifiers and grind beds.
- Cut and scrapes asbestos from surfaces shovels asbestos into plastic disposal bags.
- Provide RP support at containment control point under the direction of RP technicians.
- Assist in the transport and removal of contaminate trash and PC's from the RCA.
- Dress and undress personnel in bubble hoods and power visors for work on steam generators and RCP's.
- Decontaminate tools, hoses, valves, equipment, etc in order for them to exit the RCA safely.
- Assist Sr RP in cut out and discrete particle monitoring of personnel exiting the primary steam generator bull pen.
- Execute various decontamination projects successfully during plant refuel outage.
- Supervise subcontract decontamination technicians as team leader during refueling outages.
- Assist in demolition and decontamination of interior and exterior structures containing hazardous materials.
Decontamination technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Decontamination Technicians are proficient in Papr, Safety Procedures, and PPE. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Decontamination Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Papr, 14%
Use of PAPR and Power Visor as appropriate during decontamination activities.
- Safety Procedures, 13%
Perform decontamination and cleaning services of control areas Adheres to work techniques and safety procedures including handling of hazardous materials and waste
- PPE, 12%
Experienced with PPE involved in semiconductor manufacturing including full scuba respiration and fire prevention PPE.
- Hazardous Materials, 10%
Instructed Hazardous Materials containment and First Responder Training.
- Radioactive Waste, 7%
Meter qualified for concealing and labeling Radioactive Waste Removal.
- Hazardous Waste, 6%
Maintain records such as hazardous and non-hazardous waste manifests and associated documents.
Common skills that a decontamination technician uses to do their job include "papr," "safety procedures," and "ppe." You can find details on the most important decontamination technician responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a decontamination technician to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "environmental science and protection technicians must carry out a wide range of laboratory and field tests, and their results must be accurate and precise." Additionally, a decontamination technician resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "performed instrumentation calibrations, daily background and source checks and e-bar analysis. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling decontamination technician duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "environmental science and protection technicians need to work well and collaborate with others, because they often work with scientists and other technicians." According to a decontamination technician resume, here's how decontamination technicians can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "demonstrate positive interpersonal skills while working with patients, families, physician, co-workers, and other departments. "
Communication skills. decontamination technicians are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to decontamination technician responsibilities, because "environmental science and protection technicians must have good listening and writing skills, because they must follow precise directions for sample collection and communicate their results effectively in written reports." A decontamination technician resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "worked closely with building and maintaining papr units and radio communications for workers in drywell, under vessel and refuel floor. "
The three companies that hire the most decontamination technicians are:
- Mérieux NutriSciences1 decontamination technicians jobs
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Compare different decontamination technicians
Decontamination technician vs. Laboratory analyst
A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a decontamination technician are more likely to require skills like "papr," "safety procedures," "ppe," and "hazardous materials." On the other hand, a job as a laboratory analyst requires skills like "test methods," "lab equipment," "lims," and "laboratory procedures." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Laboratory analysts tend to make the most money working in the pharmaceutical industry, where they earn an average salary of $47,806. In contrast, decontamination technicians make the biggest average salary, $47,560, in the energy industry.The education levels that laboratory analysts earn slightly differ from decontamination technicians. In particular, laboratory analysts are 5.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a decontamination technician. Additionally, they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Decontamination technician vs. Environmental services supervisor
Environmental services supervisors direct and administer a healthcare facility's housekeeping program to maintain sanitation and occupational health. They help departments in charge of the cleanup, sanitation, pest control, housekeeping, and laundry. These professionals should be experts in health, sanitation, and safety policies and regulations. They oversee the staff of the department and their working conditions. They inspect the ventilation, air conditioning, and heating. Also, they take charge of equipment and supplies, quality assurance and control, and prepare budgets.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real decontamination technician resumes. While decontamination technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "papr," "safety procedures," "radioactive waste," and "outage," environmental services supervisors use skills like "patients," "environmental services," "cleanliness," and "customer service."
Environmental services supervisors earn a lower average salary than decontamination technicians. But environmental services supervisors earn the highest pay in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $43,387. Additionally, decontamination technicians earn the highest salaries in the energy with average pay of $47,560 annually.In general, environmental services supervisors achieve similar levels of education than decontamination technicians. They're 0.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Decontamination technician vs. Environmental assistant
An environmental assistant is primarily in charge of performing daily administrative support tasks in an office. Their responsibilities include preparing and processing documentation, coordinating services and procedures, monitoring the inventory of supplies, participating in the procurement procedures, answering calls and correspondence, and maintaining records of all transactions. They may also perform managerial duties if necessary. Furthermore, as an environmental assistant, it is essential to keep an active communication line with staff, coordinating every step of the way while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, decontamination technicians are more likely to have skills like "papr," "safety procedures," "ppe," and "radioactive waste." But a environmental assistant is more likely to have skills like "patients," "patient rooms," "cleanliness," and "patient care."
Environmental assistants earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $45,535. Decontamination technicians earn the highest pay from the energy industry, with an average salary of $47,560.Most environmental assistants achieve a similar degree level compared to decontamination technicians. For example, they're 2.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Decontamination technician vs. Hazardous waste technician
Types of decontamination technician
Updated January 8, 2025
