Career summary

Details for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders


Description

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.

Tasks

  • 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.

Interests

  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Knowledge

  • Design -Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Law and Government -Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • Clerical -Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Administration and Management -Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Engineering and Technology -Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Computers and Electronics -Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Mechanical -Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Chemistry -Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • Production and Processing -Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Skills

None found.

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