Chemical Plant and System Operators
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
What is this job like?
- Interpret chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on television monitors and review laboratory test reports for process adjustments.
- Direct workers engaged in operating machinery that regulates the flow of materials and products.
- Control or operate chemical processes or systems of machines, using panelboards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
- Calculate material requirements or yields according to formulas.
- Defrost frozen valves, using steam hoses.
- Record operating data, such as process conditions, test results, or instrument readings.
- Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met.
- Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
- Repair or replace damaged equipment.
- Repair or replace damaged equipment.
- Move control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, or yields.
- 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.
- Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
- 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.
- Monitor recording instruments, flowmeters, panel lights, or other indicators and listen for warning signals to verify conformity of process conditions.
- Turn valves to regulate flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks.
- Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, or product quality.
- Supervise the cleaning of towers, strainers, or spray tips.
- Draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and to ensure that standards are met.
- 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.
Local Wage Data
Showing wage data for: New Orleans
Entry
Median
High
Salary
Hourly Wage
$46,380
$76,670
$102,000
$22.30
$36.86
$49.04