9232 – Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing

Central control and process operators in petroleum, gas and chemical processing 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.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Absorption operator

Absorption plant operator

Acid mixer operator

Acid plant operator

Alkylation chief operator

Alkylation operator

Alkylation tower tender

Alum-liquor plant operator

Ammonia plant operator

Antibiotics fermenter

Assistant operator – chemical processing

Batching chemical process operator

Batching process chief operator

Battery operator – oil and gas

Benzol agitator operator

Bitumen extraction plant operator

Bitumen upgrading plant operator

Boardman/woman – chemical processing

Brine equipment tender

Brine purification operator

Burner operator – petroleum

Catalytic conversion operator

Catalytic cracking unit operator

Caustic cell operator

Chemical process operator

Chemical process unit operator

Chemical processing chief technician

Chemical roaster

Chief operator – chemical processing

Chlor-alkali plant cell room operator

Chlorination plant operator

Chlorine plant operator

Coal gas exhaust operator

Coal tar distiller

Column operator – chemical processing

Compressor station operator – pipelines

Continuous process chief operator

Control panel operator – chemical processing

Controller – oil

Cracking plant operator

Desulphurizer operator

Desulphurizing unit operator

Dissolver-precipitator

Distillation equipment operator

Distillation operator

Explosives senior operator

Field contract operator – oil and gas

Filter operator – petroleum, gas and chemical processing

Fractionator operator

Fractionator operator – petroleum

Fuel gas treater

Gas control co-ordinator

Gas control operator

Gas controller

Gas dispatcher

Gas field operator

Gas field production operator

Gas liquefaction and regasification plant operator

Gas pipeline operator

Gas plant operator

Gas pressure regulator

Gas processing compressor operator

Gas processing controller

Gas recovery operator

Gasoline catalyst operator

Gas-treating unit operator

Glycerine refiner

Glycerine refinery operator

Grease maker

Heavy water chemical process operator

Hydrogen process plant operator

Lead operator – chemical processing

Liquefaction plant operator

Master operator – chemical processing

Naphthalene clarifier

Natural gas compressor operator

Nitric acid oxidation plant operator

Nitrocellulose maker

Nitroglycerine maker

Nitroglycerine nitrator operator

Nitroglycerine separator

Nitroglycerine separator operator

Oil blender

Oil controller

Oil dispatcher

Oil field production operator

Oil field pumper

Oil gauger

Oil movement controller

Oil movement co-ordinator

Oil pipeline operator

Oil refiner

Oil refinery process operator

Operating technician – chemical processing

Operations technician – chemical processing

Oxygen recovery plant operator

Panel operator – chemical processing

Petroleum blender

Petroleum distillation operator

Petroleum process operator

Petroleum refiner

Petroleum refinery operator

Petroleum treater

Petroleum unit operator

Pharmaceutical processing operator

Phosphate process fertilizer maker

Pilot plant tender

Pipeline compressor station operator

Pipeline gauger

Polymerization kettle operator

Polymerization unit operator

Power switchboard operator – chemical

Process control system operator

Process technician – chemical processing

Processing laboratory operator

Processing operator – chemical processing

Production operator – chemical processing

Propellant blender

Pump station operator – pipelines

Pumping station operator

Purification operator – chemical processing

Refinery operator

Refinery process technician

Rotary furnace tender – chemical processing

Senior operator – chemical processing

Sterile products processor – chemical processing

Sulphuric acid plant operator

Synthesis chief operator

Tank farm operator

Thermal acid equipment operator

Upgrader process operator – petroleum

Wet explosives mixer

Main duties

This group performs 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 operating 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 power 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 information

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.

Personal protective equipment may be required for occupations in this unit group that may involve exposure to hazards of toxic, flammable or explosive chemicals.

Exclusions

Chemical plant machine operators (9421)

Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities (9212)