Chemical Plant and System Operators
On the Job
Chemical Plant and System Operators operate systems of machines that control entire chemical processes.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Monitor equipment fluid levels.
- Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.
- Operate chemical processing or water treatment systems or equipment.
- Operate pumping systems or equipment.
- Analyze test results.
- Inspect production equipment.
- Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
- Estimate material requirements for production.
- Confer with others to resolve production problems or equipment malfunctions.
- Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
Typical Working Conditions
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Exposure to hazardous conditions.
- Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
- Working indoors in non-environmentally controlled conditions.
- Frequent decision-making.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- A work pace that is determined by the speed of equipment.
- Working with a group or team.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
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.
