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Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

People classed as Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. The strongest interest signal is Realistic (6.6 of 7), then Conventional (4.6) and Investigative, which gives it the code RCI. The preparation level is some preparation, typically a few months to a year of learning on the job. O*NET’s skill data points to operation and control, operations monitoring, and monitoring as the ones to build. You may also need to observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions. People who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world usually fit better here than those who need creative work with room for original expression.

What they do

Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.

Main tasks

  • Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.
  • Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
  • Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
  • Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
  • Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.
  • Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.

Skills

  • Operation and Control
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Monitoring
  • Time Management
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Judgment and Decision Making

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on operation and control and operations monitoring.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Also called

  • Chemical Operator (Chemical Tech)
  • Chemical Process Operator
  • Chemical Reactor Operator
  • Chlorination Operator
  • Multiskill Operator

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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.