Chemical Equipment Controllers and Operators

Control or operate equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Typical equipment used are: reaction kettles, catalytic converters, continuous or batch treating equipment, saturator tanks, electrolytic cells, reactor vessels, recovery units, and fermentation chambers.

Job Task

• Sets and adjusts indicating, controlling, or timing devices, such as gauging instruments, thermostat, gas analyzers, or recording calorimeter.
• Moves controls to adjust feed and flow of liquids and gases through equipment in specified sequence.
• Adjusts controls to regulate temperature, pressure, and time of prescribed reaction, according to knowledge of equipment and process.
• Opens valves or operates pumps to admit or drain specified amounts of materials, impurities, or treating agents to or from equipment.
• Starts pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
• Monitors gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or product to regulate or maintain specified conditions.
• Mixes chemicals according to proportion tables or prescribed formulas.
• Records operational data such as temperature, pressure, ingredients used, processing time, or test results, in operating log.
• Flushes or cleans equipment, using steamhose or mechanical reamer.
• Draws samples of product and sends to laboratory for analysis.
• Tests sample for specific gravity, chemical characteristics, pH level, concentration, or viscosity.
• Patrols and inspects equipment or unit to detect leaks and malfunctions.
• Operates or tends auxiliary equipment, such as heaters, scrubbers, filters, or driers, to prepare or further process materials.
• Weighs or measures specified amounts of materials.
• Reads plant specifications to ascertain product, ingredient, and prescribed modifications of plant procedures.
• Dumps or scoops prescribed solid, granular, or powdered materials into equipment.
• Adds treating or neutralizing agent to product and pumps product through filter or centrifuge to remove impurities or precipitate product.
• Directs activities of workers assisting in control or verification of process or in unloading materials.
• Makes minor repairs and lubricates and maintains equipment, using hand tools.

Looking for a job in Chemical Equipment Controllers and Operators? Check out these great job search websites. Thousands of job opportunities and reseach for a new career! Includes job search websites from Australia and internationally