Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

Tasks

Core Tasks Include:

• 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.
• Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.
• Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
• Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
• Measure, weigh, and mix chemical ingredients, according to specifications.
• Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
• Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
• Test product samples for specific gravity, chemical characteristics, pH levels, concentrations, or viscosities, or send them to laboratories for testing.
• Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
• Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
• Notify maintenance engineers of equipment malfunctions.
• Add treating or neutralizing agents to products, and pump products through filters or centrifuges to remove impurities or to precipitate products.
• Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
• Read plant specifications to determine products, ingredients, or prescribed modifications of plant procedures.
• Drain equipment, and pump water or other solutions through to flush and clean tanks or equipment.
• Make minor repairs, lubricate, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
• Flush or clean equipment, using steam hoses or mechanical reamers.
• Observe and compare colors and consistencies of products to instrument readings and to laboratory and standard test results.
• Implement appropriate industrial emergency response procedures.
• Dump or scoop prescribed solid, granular, or powdered materials into equipment.
• Estimate materials required for production and manufacturing of products.
• Inventory supplies received and consumed.
• Direct activities of workers assisting in control or verification of processes or in unloading of materials.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)