What Do Chemical Equipment Operators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Chemical Equipment Operators operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels. They also observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.

Other tasks include:

• Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
• Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
• Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
• Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
• Adjust controls to regulate temperature, pressure, feed, or flow of liquids or gases and times of prescribed reactions, according to knowledge of equipment and processes.
• Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.

We asked Chemical Equipment Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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59% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 48% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Chemical Equipment Operators monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained. They record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.

A typical day for a Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender will also include:

• Adjust controls to regulate temperature, pressure, feed, or flow of liquids or gases and times of prescribed reactions, according to knowledge of equipment and processes.
• Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
• Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials.
• Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
• Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.

We asked some Chemical Equipment Operators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	55% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	55% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	90% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	3% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	14% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	47% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Chemical Equipment Operators also make minor repairs, lubricate, and maintain equipment, using hand tools. They may also drain equipment, and pump water or other solutions through to flush and clean tanks or equipment.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Chemical Equipment Operators Notify maintenance engineers of equipment malfunctions. They might also Flush or clean equipment, using steam hoses or mechanical reamers.

In addition, they Read plant specifications to determine products, ingredients, or prescribed modifications of plant procedures.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Observe and compare colors and consistencies of products to instrument readings and to laboratory and standard test results.

To some Chemical Equipment Operators, it is also their responsibility to Dump or scoop prescribed solid, granular, or powdered materials into equipment.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

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