Stationary Engineer / Boiler Operator

Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Operate equipment such as steam engines, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Auxiliary Operator; Boiler Operator; Boiler Technician (Boiler Tech); Operating Engineer; Operator; Plant Utilities Engineer; Recovery Boiler Operator; Stationary Engineer; Stationary Steam Engineer; Utilities Operator

Tasks

• Operate or tend stationary engines, boilers, and auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, compressors, or air-conditioning equipment, to supply and maintain steam or heat for buildings, marine vessels, or pneumatic tools.
• Activate valves to maintain required amounts of water in boilers, to adjust supplies of combustion air, and to control the flow of fuel into burners.
• Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.
• Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.
• Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.
• Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.
• Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.
• Monitor and inspect equipment, computer terminals, switches, valves, gauges, alarms, safety devices, and meters to detect leaks or malfunctions and to ensure that equipment is operating efficiently and safely.
• Switch from automatic to manual controls and isolate equipment mechanically and electrically to allow for safe inspection and repair work.
• Perform or arrange for repairs, such as complete overhauls, replacement of defective valves, gaskets, or bearings, or fabrication of new parts.
• Adjust controls and/or valves on equipment to provide power, and to regulate and set operations of system or industrial processes.
• Clean and lubricate boilers and auxiliary equipment and make minor adjustments as needed, using hand tools.
• Develop operation, safety, and maintenance procedures or assist in their development.
• Test electrical systems to determine voltages, using voltage meters.
• Contact equipment manufacturers or appropriate specialists when necessary to resolve equipment problems.

Knowledge

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

Skills

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

Abilities

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