Chemical Plant / System Operator

Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Chemical Operator; Chemical Plant Operations Technician (Chemical Plan Operations Tech); Chemical Plant Production Operator; Chemical Process Control Operator; Plant Technician (Plant Tech); Process Control Operator; Process Development Associate; Process Operator; Process Technician (Process Tech); Production Technician (Production Tech)

Tasks

• Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
• Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
• Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met.
• Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings.
• Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
• Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
• Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
• Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases or vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, or perfume to towers, or to add products to converter or blending vessels.
• Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, or product quality.
• Turn valves to regulate flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks.
• Notify maintenance, stationary engineering, or other auxiliary personnel to correct equipment malfunctions or to adjust power, steam, water, or air supplies.
• Inspect operating units, such as towers, soap-spray storage tanks, scrubbers, collectors, or driers to ensure that all are functioning and to maintain maximum efficiency.
• Interpret chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on television monitors and review laboratory test reports for process adjustments.
• Calculate material requirements or yields according to formulas.
• Direct workers engaged in operating machinery that regulates the flow of materials and products.

Knowledge

• Mechanical
• Mathematics
• Chemistry
• Production and Processing
• Physics
• Public Safety and Security
• Engineering and Technology
• Computers and Electronics
• English Language

Skills

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

Abilities

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