Central Control and Process Operators in Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Processing

(NOC 9232)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

These workers monitor and run petroleum, petrochemical and chemical plants and monitor, adjust and maintain processing units and equipment in these plants. They work for petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical companies and industrial, agricultural and specialty chemical and pharmaceutical companies.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

  • Estimate 435 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1945 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$24.00

Minimum

$45.00

Median

$52.15

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$65,844

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Hourly Pay

$14.00

Minimum

$20.80

Median

$33.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,056

Minimum

$30,111

Median

$70,518

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

These workers monitor and run petroleum, petrochemical and chemical plants and monitor, adjust and maintain processing units and equipment in these plants. They work for petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical companies and industrial, agricultural and specialty chemical and pharmaceutical companies.

Job duties

Central control and process operators:

  • Use electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and adjust physical and chemical processes for several processing units.
  • Control process start-up, shutdown and troubleshooting.
  • Monitor outside process equipment.
  • Adjust equipment, valves, pumps and controls and process equipment.
  • Approve or co-sign maintenance work orders.
  • Shut down, isolate and prepare process units or production equipment for maintenance.
  • Sample products, perform tests, record data, carry out statistical process control on process operations, and write production logs.
  • Develop operating procedures for normal operation, start-up or shutdown of unit.
  • Participate in safety audits and programs and provide emergency response when needed.
  • Make sure safety and environmental regulations are followed.
  • May rotate between different processing units during shift cycles.
  • May work in a team with shared supervisory responsibilities and participate in training other workers.
  • May be cross trained in a skilled trade and work in the trade during shift cycles.

Sample job titles

  • acid plant operator
  • chemical process operator
  • chemical processing chief technician
  • chlor-alkali plant cell room operator
  • gas field production operator
  • gas plant operator
  • gas recovery operator
  • master operator
  • oil refinery process operator
  • panel operator
  • petroleum process operator
  • pharmaceutical processing operator
  • pipeline compressor station operator
  • process technician

Skills

  • You should be responsible and alert. Mechanical skill and strong computer skills are important. You must be able to work as part of a team.

Job requirements

  • High school is required. Mathematics, chemistry and physics subjects are often identified.
  • A college diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject may be needed for some positions.
  • Petroleum and chemical process operators and process technicians need completion of several years of formal company training.
  • Experience as a petroleum or chemical process operator in all the operating units controlled by the central control room is required for chief operators.
  • Company certification as a petroleum process operator or technician may be required.
  • A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
  • Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), first aid, firefighting, or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be required.

Other considerations

  • There is movement among jobs within a company, often as part of a formal development or training program. Movement to other petroleum or chemical processing plants is possible but may be limited by the usual practice of training and promoting workers from within the company. Movement to supervisory or managerial positions is possible with experience. Personal protective equipment may be required for occupations in this unit group that may involve exposure to hazards of toxic, flammable or explosive chemicals.

By the numbers

Quick look

165

employed in 2016

97.0%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

0.0%
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100%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
45.4

median age

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

15,275

employed in 2016

83.2%

employed full-time

3.2%

self employed

27.6%
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72.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

29.4%

Cape Breton

$98,464 median annual income
29.4%

Halifax

$45,451 median annual income
23.5%

North Shore

$94,643 median annual income
8.8%

Annapolis Valley

N/A
8.8%

Southern

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

35.5%

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

22.6%

Manufacturing

16.1%

Wholesale trade

6.5%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

6.5%

Construction

What is the age of Employment?

29.0%

45-54

26.0%

35-44

20.0%

55-64

20.0%

25-34

6.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

24.5%

45-54

20.8%

55-64

19.3%

35-44

16.5%

25-34

15.0%

15-24

Top levels of education

54.5%

College Diploma

$58,745 median annual income
18.2%

Trade Certification

$75,745 median annual income
12.1%

High school

N/A
6.1%

Bachelor

N/A
6.1%

Master

N/A

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

38.1%

High school

$28,505 median annual income
23.3%

Less than high school

$19,224 median annual income
19.9%

College Diploma

$38,781 median annual income
12.2%

Trade Certification

$43,975 median annual income
4.5%

Bachelor

$39,715 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair and maintain industrial machinery and equipment such as cranes, pumps, engines and motors, pneumatic tools, conveyor systems, production machinery, marine deck machinery, and steam propulsion, refinery, and pipeline-distribution systems.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Halifax, NS

Stationary Energy Sources Installer and Operator (Canada)

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply technical knowledge and skills to install, repair, operate, and maintain large power sources that could include generating electricity and heat.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

Regulations

Power Engineer

Compulsory Certification (Mandatory): This is a regulated designated trade in Nova Scotia. Individuals must hold a Certification of Qualification, be a registered apprentice, or hold a temporary work permit to legally work in this trade.

Regulating body:
Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, Technical Safety Division
Halifax, NS

Contacts

Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, Occupational Health and Safety Division
Halifax, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.