Metal-Refining Furnace Operators
On the Job
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators operate or tend furnaces (such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction) to melt and refine metal before it is turned into steel parts.
Physical Demands 
This career requires time standing, walking, or running.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.
- Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate gas flow.
- Adjust flow of electricity to tools or production equipment.
- Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
- Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
- Ignite fuel to activate heating equipment.
- Skim impurities from molten metal.
- Inspect production equipment.
Typical Working Conditions
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
- Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- A work pace that is determined by the speed of equipment.
- Working with a group or team.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Making decisions that impact co-workers or company results.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Working indoors in non-environmentally controlled conditions.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
