• Dump, pour or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
• Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
• Monitor material flow or instruments such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters to ensure optimal processing conditions.
• Turn valves or move controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Separating Machine Operators monitor material flow or instruments such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters to ensure optimal processing conditions. They inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.

A typical day for a Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating and Still Machine Setter, Operator and Tender will also include:

• Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases.
• Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
• Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers.
• Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
• Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Separating Machine Operators also connect pipes between vats and processing equipment. They may also remove full containers from discharge outlets and replace them with empty containers.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Separating Machine Operators remove clogs, defects, or impurities from machines, tanks, conveyors, screens, or other processing equipment. They might also clean or sterilize tanks, screens, inflow pipes, production areas, or equipment, using hoses, brushes, scrapers, or chemical solutions.

In addition, they assemble fittings, valves, bowls, plates, disks, impeller shafts, or other parts to prepare equipment for operation.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them install, maintain, or repair hoses, pumps, filters, or screens to maintain processing equipment, using hand tools.

To some Separating Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to turn valves to pump sterilizing solutions or rinse water through pipes or equipment, or to spray vats with atomizers.