Environmental Affairs Technician

About the role

Discover your opportunities at Yale! This role contributes to the university's mission of advancing knowledge and fostering innovation.

Responsibilities

• Identifies and safely handles classes of regulated waste.
• Collects and transports regulated waste from generators to a storage area or treatment location.
• Follows EHS standard operating procedures and all applicable local, state, and federal requirements.
• Labs packs chemicals according to DOT specifications and fingerprints unknown chemicals.
• Interacts with faculty, staff, and vendor employees regarding the compliant collection and storage of regulated waste.
• Assists in setting up and maintaining RCRA satellite accumulation areas.
• Provides oversight of RCRA 90-day storage areas.
• Ensures proper packaging and arranges for biomedical waste disposal via a commercial vendor.
• Treats biomedical waste using autoclave/shredder unit.
• Schedules timely waste pick-ups and treatment.
• Ensures proper temperature and pressure performance of autoclave unit on a weekly basis.
• Ensures timely preventative maintenance for both autoclave and shredder units.
• Evaluates handling of biomedical waste and operation of autoclave/shredder unit ensuring proper technique and personal protective equipment is used.
• Performs radiation surveys and conducts inspection of EHS-EAS waste storage facilities.
• Develops awareness of principles regarding the decay and survey of radioactive materials.
• Surveys and disposes decayed waste.
• Prepares and maintains documentation.
• Prepares radioactive waste packages and documentation for off-site disposal.
• Delivers supplies to laboratories and other areas as required.
• Assists with environmental compliance programs and performs other functions as needed and identified by the section manager or supervisor in support of other EHS programs.
• Creates and maintains databases and documents in support of various EAS programs.
• Maintains all waste paperwork and reporting.
• During work hours, participates as a member of the EHS on-call emergency response team.
• Maintains all required licenses, certifications, and trainings.
• May perform other duties as requested.

Requirements

• Two years of related work experience in the same job family and a Bachelor's degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Knowledge of chemistry, biology, and physics to perform necessary tasks and recognize potentially dangerous situations.
• At least one year work experience segregating and lab packing chemical hazardous wastes according to DOT requirements for disposal, and managing a chemical hazardous waste program.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

• BS in Chemistry, Biology, or Environmental Sciences.
• Department of Transportation HM-181 training (required after hire).
• 24-hour OSHA HAZWOPER certification (required after hire).
• Commercial driver’s license (CDL) with hazardous materials endorsement (required after hire).

Physical Requirements

• Lifts up to 50 lbs and move up to 500 lbs of waste material using rolling carts or drum carts.
• Lifts, pushes, pulls, twists, and negotiates awkward paths of travel and doorways.
• Pushes large wheeled carts throughout hallways, in and out of autoclave, and in and out of elevators and tight spaces.
• Lifts and moves supplies from warehouse to customer locations negotiating on and off loading docks, using truck lift gate and cart.
• Removes large containers up to 200 pounds each from horizontal chest freezers using lift arm equipment.
• Ability to wear and use personal protective equipment for hazardous materials handling and spill clean-up including respirators, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, and fully encapsulating protective suit.
• Ability to carry harness-mounted air tanks and wear and use self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Ability to work in a variety of physical environments including weather extremes, potential confined spaces, elevated locations, etc.

Required Education and Experience

Two years of related work experience in the same job family and a Bachelor's degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.