Summary for:
Chemical Plant and System OperatorsDescription:
Control or operate an entire chemical process or system of machines.Sample of reported job titles:
Sample of reported job titles: Operator, Chemical Operator, Process Technician, Process Operator, Operations Technician, Process Development Associate, Chemical Plant Operations Technician, Continuous Operator, Control Room Operator, Process Development Technician
Tasks | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Activites | Experience | Example | Education | Work Style | Work Values | Related Jobs | Wage | Employment | Expected Growth | Expected Need
Tasks:
- Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, and yields.
- Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, and other indicators, and listen for warning signals, in order to verify conformity of process conditions.
- Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
- Record operating data such as process conditions, test results, and instrument readings.
- Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, and product quality.
- Draw samples of products, and conduct quality control tests in order to monitor processing, and to ensure that standards are met.
- Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
- Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases and vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, and perfume to towers, and to add products to converter or blending vessels.
- Interpret chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on television monitors, and review laboratory test reports for process adjustments.
- Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks and troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
Knowledge:
| Problem Sensitivity ó The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. |
| Near Vision ó The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
| Selective Attention ó The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. |
| Information Ordering ó The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
| Oral Comprehension ó The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
| Oral Expression ó The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
| Auditory Attention ó The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds. |
| Control Precision ó The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. |
| Deductive Reasoning ó The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
| Far Vision ó The ability to see details at a distance. |
Skills:
| Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings ó Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Controlling Machines and Processes ó Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
| Getting Information ó Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates ó Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material ó Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Making Decisions and Solving Problems ó Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| identifying Objects, Actions, and Events ó identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Performing General Physical Activities ó Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials. |
| Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards ó Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Documenting/Recording Information ó Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
Abilities:
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets ó How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled ó How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? |
| Face-to-Face Discussions ó How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
| Consequence of Error ó How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? |
| Contact With Others ó How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? |
| Frequency of Decision Making ó How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate ó How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? |
| Telephone ó How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions ó How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions? |
| Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable ó How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable? |
Work Activities:
| Title | Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed |
| Overall Experience | Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty. |
| Job Training | Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. |
| Job Zone Examples | These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers. |
| SVP Range | (4.0 to < 6.0) |
| Education | These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed. |
Work Style:
| 51-5022.00 | Prepress Technicians and Workers |
| 51-8031.00 | Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators |
| 51-8092.00 | Gas Plant Operators |
| 51-8093.00 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers |
| 51-9041.00 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| 51-9051.00 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders |
| 51-9132.00 | Photographic Processing Machine Operators |
| 51-9194.00 | Etchers and Engravers |
| 53-7072.00 | Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers |
| 53-7121.00 | Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders |
Decline rapidly (-10% or lower)