Chemical Equipment Operator / Tender

Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Chemical Operator (Chemical Tech); Chemical Process Operator; Chemical Reactor Operator; Chlorination Operator; Multiskill Operator; Outside Operator; Process Equipment Operator; Process Operator; Spray Dry Operator

Tasks

• Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.
• Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
• Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
• Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
• Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
• Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
• Measure, weigh, and mix chemical ingredients, according to specifications.
• Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
• Test product samples for specific gravity, chemical characteristics, pH levels, concentrations, or viscosities, or send them to laboratories for testing.
• Adjust controls to regulate temperature, pressure, feed, or flow of liquids or gases and times of prescribed reactions, according to knowledge of equipment and processes.
• Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
• Load products into tanks for shipment.
• Estimate materials required for production and manufacturing of products.
• Dump or scoop prescribed solid, granular, or powdered materials into equipment.
• Read plant specifications to determine products, ingredients, or prescribed modifications of plant procedures.

Knowledge

• Chemistry
• Production and Processing
• Mathematics
• Mechanical

Skills

• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Writing
• Critical Thinking

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity
• Near Vision
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Control Precision
• Oral Expression
• Perceptual Speed
• Information Ordering
• Written Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Category Flexibility
• Manual Dexterity
• Rate Control
• Reaction Time
• Inductive Reasoning
• Flexibility of Closure
• Visualization
• Selective Attention
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Finger Dexterity
• Multilimb Coordination
• Trunk Strength
• Far Vision
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Auditory Attention