United States
9232- Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators
Canada NOC:
9232
Job Title:
Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators
Job Description:
Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators monitor and operate petroleum, petrochemical and chemical plants and monitor, adjust and maintain processing units and equipment in these plants. They are employed by petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical companies and industrial, agricultural and specialty chemical and pharmaceutical companies.
Main Duties:
Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators perform some or all of the following duties:
Operate electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units
Control process start-up, shut-down and troubleshooting
Monitor outside process equipment
Adjust equipment, valves, pumps and controls and process equipment
Authorize 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 operator procedures for normal operation, start-up or shut-down of unit
Participate in safety audits and programs and provide emergency response when required
Ensure adherence to safety and environmental regulations
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.
Employment Requirements:
Completion of secondary school is required. Mathematics, chemistry and physics subjects are often specified.
A college diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject may be required for some positions.
Petroleum and chemical process operators and process technicians require 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 stationary 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.
Additional Inormation:
There is considerable mobility among jobs within a company, often as part of a formal development or training program.
Mobility 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 establishment.
Progression to supervisory or managerial positions is possible with experience.
Occupations in this unit group may involve exposure to hazards of toxic, flammable or explosive chemicals and personal protective equipment may be required.
Classified Elsewhere:
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International Careers(ISCO):
Source Of Info:
National Occupation Classification, (2011)
Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada,
February 2012,
Catalogue no. 12-583-X
