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Career Details :: Chemical Plant and System Operators
Description
Control or operate an entire chemical process or system of machines.
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.
Tasks
- Confers with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, and product quality.
- Turns valves to regulate flow of product or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks, according to process.
- Monitors recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, and other indicators, and listens for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
- Starts pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases and vapors, and to mix product with water.
- Interprets chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on television monitor and reviews laboratory test reports for process adjustments.
- Records operating data, such as process conditions, test results, and instruments readings, calculating material requirements or yield according to formulas.
- Notifies maintenance, stationary-engineering, and other auxiliary personnel to correct equipment malfunction and adjust power, steam, water, or air supply.
- Gauges tank levels, using calibrated rod.
- Draws samples of products and conducts quality control tests to monitor processing and ensure standards are met.
- Defrosts frozen valves, using steam hose.
- Patrols work area to observe level of carbon in thickener tank and wash solutions in overflow troughs to prevent spills.
- Moves control settings to make control adjustments on equipment units affecting speed of chemical reactions and quality and yield.
- Inspects equipment for potential and actual hazards, wear, leaks, and other conditions requiring maintenance shutdown.
- Manually regulates or shuts down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
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- Petroleum Refinery and Control Panel Operators
- Photographic Processing Machine Operators
- Platemakers
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
- Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Monitor Processes, Material, Surroundings
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, Material
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Handling and Moving Objects
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Consequence of Error
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Degree of Automation
- Indoors
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Pre-business |  [ add ] |
| Pre-civil Engineering | [ add ] |
| Pre-medicine Studies | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.