Chemical Plant Machine Operators

Nature of work

Chemical plant machine operators monitor and use machinery to blend, mix, process and package a wide range of specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cleaning and toiletry products. They work for chemical, cleaning compound, ink and adhesive industries, but may also work for chemical processing departments in other industries.

Job duties

Chemical plant machine operators:

• Watch meters, gauges and electronic instrumentation on one or more chemical or formulation units like mixers, kettles, blenders, dryers, tabletting, encapsulation, granulation and coating machines.
• Measure, weigh and load chemical ingredients following formulation cards.
• Start up, shut down, troubleshoot and clean equipment.
• Adjust processing machines and equipment.
• Monitor reaction processes and transfers of products in conformance with safety procedures.
• Take samples and do regular chemical and physical tests of products.
• Record production data.
• May run equipment from a control room or from control consoles located near the production units.

Sample job titles

• batch mixer
• blender
• capsule machine operator
• evaporator operator
• formulations blender operator
• glue blender
• granulator machine operator
• mixer
• screener
• soap maker

Skills

• You should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and a mechanical skill are important. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

• High school is usually required.
• Mixer and blender operators usually need several months to one year of informal, on-the-job training.
• Some operators working in pharmaceutical, explosives and agricultural chemical or in specialty chemical plants need more than one year of formal and informal company training.
• Experience in chemical products processing as an assistant, labourer or helper may be necessary for some jobs.
• Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), first aid, firefighting or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be necessary.

Other considerations

• Experience as an assistant, helper, tender or packer, often in the same company, may be required as an entry point to these positions. Movement between employers making similar products is possible for some of the more skilled operators in this group. Movement to supervisor positions or to process control jobs is possible with experience. Personal protective equipment may be required when working with some types of chemicals or pharmaceuticals.

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