Chemical Plant and System Operators

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

• Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
• Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
• 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.
• Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
• Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
• Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
• 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.
• Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, or product quality.
• Turn valves to regulate flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks.
• Notify maintenance, stationary engineering, or other auxiliary personnel to correct equipment malfunctions or to adjust power, steam, water, or air supplies.
• 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.