Occupational Profiles

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
 

• Monitor meters, gauges and electronic instrumentation on one or more chemical processing or formulation units, such as mixers, kettles, blenders, dryers, tableting, encapsulation, granulation and coating machines
• Measure, weigh and load chemical ingredients following formulation cards
• Start up, shut down, troubleshoot and clean equipment
• Adjust processing machines and equipment
• Monitor reaction processes and transfers of products in conformance with safety procedures
• Take samples and perform routine chemical and physical tests of products
• Record production data
• May operate equipment from a control room or from control consoles located near the production units.

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of several weeks of on-the-job training or informal/formal company training is usually required.
• Completion of additional training may be required for some operators working in pharmaceutical, explosives and agricultural chemical or in specialty chemical plants.
• Previous experience in chemical products processing as an assistant, labourer or helper may be required for some occupations in this unit group.
• Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), forklift operator certification, first aid, firefighting, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) and other health and safety training may be required for some occupations in this unit group.