Chemical Plant and System Operators

Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals, to verify conformity of process conditions.

Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.

Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.

Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.

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.

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.

Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.

Turn valves to regulate flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks.

Interpret chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on television monitors and review laboratory test reports for process adjustments.

Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, or product quality.

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.

Gauge tank levels, using calibrated rods.

Notify maintenance, stationary-engineering, or other auxiliary personnel to correct equipment malfunctions or to adjust power, steam, water, or air supplies.

Calculate material requirements or yields according to formulas.

Repair or replace damaged equipment.

Direct workers engaged in operating machinery that regulates the flow of materials and products.

Supervise the cleaning of towers, strainers, or spray tips.

Defrost frozen valves, using steam hoses.