Chemical plant machine operators

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Monitor meters, gauges and electronic instrumentation on one or more chemical processing or formulation units, such as mixers, kettles, blenders, dryers, tabletting, encapsulation, granulation and coating machines

• Measure, weigh and load chemical ingredients following formulation cards

• Start up, shut down, troubleshoot and clean equipment

• Adjust processing machines and equipment

• Monitor reaction processes and transfers of products in conformance with safety procedures

• Take samples and perform routine chemical and physical tests of products

• Record production data

• May operate equipment from a control room or from control consoles located near the production units.

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.

• Completion of several weeks of on-the-job training or informal/formal company training is usually required.

• Completion of additional training may be required for some operators working in pharmaceutical, explosives and agricultural chemical or in specialty chemical plants.

• Mobility between employers producing similar products is possible for some of the more skilled operators in this unit group.

• Progression to supervisory positions or to process control occupations is possible with experience.

• Personal protective equipment may be required when working with some types of chemicals or pharmaceuticals.