The Hazmat Team special shift turns the entire clinic green with slime and drops Slimebert into the halls, a roaming goo monster that swallows players on contact. It plays out like any other shift, except one Anomaly is actively trying to slow you down the whole time. Clearing it comes down to two things, keeping a Fire Extinguisher ready and treating patients as fast as possible.
Quick answer: Keep a Fire Extinguisher in your inventory, spray Slimebert only when he blocks your path, and check in and treat every patient before the shift timer ends. The shift clears the moment all patients are handled, and Slimebert disappears on his own.
When the Hazmat Team shift triggers
The special shift lands somewhere between Shift 12 and Shift 17, with most runs hitting it around Shift 15. It is not locked to a fixed number, so the exact shift varies slightly each time. It lasts for a single shift only.
You get a clear warning before it begins. Dr. Harlow leaves the hospital and walks outside to meet the Animal Corporation Hazmat team. During that scene he tells them to use the back door next time and mutters something before returning inside. Right after, a pop-up notes that the air feels slimy, the air fills with green gas, and slime starts spreading everywhere. That is your cue that the shift is live.
Complete it quickly. Slimebert grows more aggressive the longer the round runs, so a slow shift only makes it harder.
What happens during the slime shift
Once the shift starts, the corporation van pulls up and Hazmat workers enter through reception. After you stamp their form, they walk the building and vacuum up green slime with specialized equipment. The hospital keeps its slime-covered look and green gas throughout the round.
Shortly after, Slimebert checks in as a patient. He is a large goo monster that drips slime, wanders the corridors, and eats any player he touches. Being eaten does not end your run. He chews for a moment, then spits you back out. The real cost is lost time and a drop in your Sanity Bar, which matters most in high-shift runs.
How to deal with Slimebert
The only counter to Slimebert is a Fire Extinguisher. A hit pushes him back for a moment and stops him from eating you right then. He does not stay down, though. He gets back up after being knocked over and keeps roaming, and he cannot be permanently removed during the shift.
Because of that, use the extinguisher reactively rather than hunting him. Spray him only when he is directly in your path, then get straight back to check-ins. He moves slowly, so with a little spacing you can walk around him most of the time.
Note: Keep the Fire Extinguisher equipped or in your inventory before the shift even starts, so you are not caught out when Slimebert corners you.
Why the Firefighter class helps
The Firefighter class was added alongside this event, and it fits the slime shift better than any other role. It starts every game with a Fire Extinguisher that recharges automatically in your inventory instead of needing a refill station, so you never run dry against Slimebert. It also grants immunity to sanity drain from fires, which is useful when fire hazards stack up on later shifts.
The class resembles an elephant and costs 1,100 Animal Coins, with Utility and Sanity as its main stats. It is not required to clear the shift. Any class survives as long as you keep a standard Fire Extinguisher handy. The Firefighter simply removes the refill problem and makes the whole round more comfortable.
| Detail | Firefighter |
|---|---|
| Cost | 1,100 Animal Coins |
| Main stats | Utility and Sanity |
| Starting gear | Fire Extinguisher plus +1 max inventory |
| Level 2 perk | Recovers 1 Sanity when clearing fires |
| Level 3 perk | Immunity to Sanity drain from fires, +10 bonus Sanity |
Tips to clear the shift faster
- Speed through Shifts 1 to 11. The quicker those go, the sooner you reach the Hazmat event, so prioritize check-ins over perfect patient scores early on.
- Do not chase Slimebert. Hunting him wastes time you should spend on patients. Hit him once if he blocks you, then move on.
- Carry the Fire Extinguisher at all times during the shift in case you get trapped in a corridor.
- Focus every action on ending the shift. The fewer patients left, the less time Slimebert has to interfere.
How you know the shift is cleared
Once you treat all patients, the shift ends and Slimebert vanishes on his own. On the following day, a new NPC named Sam visits the clinic. You can hire him for $250, and he cleans slime and takes out Hiders, the anomalies that blend into the walls. Sam showing up is a solid sign that the Hazmat shift is fully behind you.
Common questions about the Hazmat Team shift
Does Slimebert kill you?
No. He eats you on contact but spits you back out instead of ending your run. The only real damage is lost time and Sanity while you are stuck inside him.
Is the Firefighter class required?
No. Any class can clear the shift as long as you spray Slimebert with a Fire Extinguisher when he blocks you. The Firefighter’s auto-recharging extinguisher and fire immunity just make it easier, especially if fires spawn during the same round.
Does the shift happen every run?
It appears in every run within the Shift 12 to 17 window, though the precise number varies. There is no known way to skip it or force it onto a specific shift. Play through your shifts normally and it triggers within that range.
Treat the Hazmat shift like a normal round with one loud distraction. Keep the extinguisher ready, refuse to be baited into chasing Slimebert, and finish your check-ins, and the slime clears out the moment the last patient is treated.