9421 – Chemical plant machine operators
Chemical plant machine operators monitor and operate units and machinery to blend, mix, process and package a wide range of specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cleaning and toiletry products. They are primarily employed in chemical, cleaning compound, ink and adhesive industries, but may also be employed by chemical processing departments in other industries.
Profile
Index of titles
Example titles
Acetylene plant attendant
Acid pumper – chemical processing
Acidulation plant tender
Asphalt coater – chemical processing
Asphalt heater tender
Asphalt plant dryer tender
Asphalt roofing material mixer
Asphalt roofing materials inspector
Autoclave operator – chemical processing
Backing-in machine tender
Batch mixer – chemical processing
Batch still operator
Battery acid adjuster
Battery paste maker
Battery paste mixer
Black powder grainer and glazier tender
Black powder press tender
Bleaching solution maker
Blender – chemical processing
Blender operator – chemical processing
Cadmium liquor maker
Calciner tender
Capsule filler – chemical processing
Capsule machine operator
Capsule machine operator – chemical processing
Carbon black pelletizer
Carbon paste mixer operator
Cellulose film caster – chemical processing
Cellulose film dry-end tender
Cellulose film rewinder
Cellulose film wet-end tender
Centrifugal separator tender – chemical processing
Centrifuge tender – chemical processing
Charcoal burner
Chemical plant machine operator
Chemical plant operator
Chemical processing machine operator
Chiller operator – chemical processing
Chiller tender – chemical processing
Cleaning compounds mixer
Coating compounds mixer – chemical processing
Coating machine operator – chemical processing
Coating machine tender – chemical processing
Coatings mixer – chemical processing
Coke by-products pump operator – chemical processing
Colorant weigher and mixer – chemical processing
Colour grinder tender – chemical processing
Colour matcher – chemical processing
Colour weigher and mixer
Composition mixer – chemical processing
Compounder – chemical processing
Cooker – chemical processing
Cosmetics and perfume maker
Crusher tender – chemical processing
Crutcher operator – chemical processing
Crystallizer tender – chemical processing
Dehydrating press tender – chemical processing
Detergent and powdered soap screener-perfumer
Devulcanizer tender
Digester operator – chemical processing
Distiller operator – soda ash processing
Drug and toilet goods weigher
Dry explosive mixer
Dry ice maker
Dryer operator – chemical processing
Dryer tender – chemical processing
Dryhouse attendant – chemical processing
Dye maker
Electrode oven operator
Evaporator operator – chemical processing
Explosive primers dryhouse attendant – chemical processing
Explosive primers dryhouse tender – chemical processing
Explosives mixer
Explosives mixer tender
Fertilizer mixer
Fibreglass binder mixer
Filter press tender – chemical processing
Flaker tender – chemical processing
Formulations blender operator
Formulations blender operator – chemical processing
Furnace cooler
Fuse maker – chemical processing
Glue blender
Glue blender – chemical processing
Graining press operator – chemical processing
Granulator machine operator
Granulator machine operator – chemical processing
Grinder tender – chemical processing
Hydrator operator
Ink matcher
Ink purifier
Insecticide mixer
Kettle operator – chemical processing
Kettle tender – chemical processing
Lacquer maker
Latex coagulation operator
Latex compounder
Lead oxide maker – chemical processing
Lead oxide mill tender – chemical processing
Light-oil extractor operator
Linoleum oil oxidizer
Liquefied gas drum filler
Loading inspector – chemical processing
Match head maker
Mercury recoverer – chemical processing
Mill roll tester – chemical processing
Mill tender – chemical processing
Mixer – chemical processing
Mixer operator – chemical processing
Mixer tender – chemical processing
Moulder – chemical processing
Neutralizer
Nitrocellulose dryer tender
Nitrocellulose finisher
Nitrocellulose screener and weigher
Nitroglycerine neutralizer
Odorization technician – chemical processing
Oil bleacher
Orthophosphate wet mix operator
Packaging machine operator – chemical processing
Paint maker
Paint mixer
Paint mixer – chemical processing
Paradichlorobenzene equipment tender
Perfume maker
Pesticide formulation blender operator
Pesticide mixer
Phenol extractor operator
Phenol plant extractor operator
Phosphoric acid extractor
Photographic chemical liquid mixer
Plastics pelletizer
Plodder operator
Powder blender
Precipitator operator – chemical processing
Print colour mixer
Print colour mixer – chemical processing
Pulverizer and sifter tender – chemical processing
Pulverizing and sifting equipment tender – chemical processing
Reagent mixer – cellulose film manufacturing
Recausticizer
Recausticizer tender
Recovery equipment operator – chemical processing
Recovery vat tender
Ring furnace operator
Ring furnace operator helper
Saturating machine tender – chemical processing
Saturator operator
Scratcher tender
Screener – chemical processing
Sealant operator – chemical processing
Separation press tender
Settler-filterer – chemical processing
Shredding machine tender – chemical processing
Slabber
Soap boiler
Soap chipper
Soap cutter and stamper
Soap flake dryer operator
Soap maker
Soda dialyzer
Soda solution maker
Soda solution mixer
Solution mixer – chemical processing
Solvent recovery tender – chemical processing
Spinneret pack preparer – chemical processing
Splash line tender
Spray dryer tender – chemical processing
Still tender
Sulphonator
Sulphonator operator – chemical processing
Textile treatment solution mixer
Tinter – chemical processing
Tital liquor plant operator
Toiletries moulder and compressor
Toiletries moulder and compressor – chemical processing
Tower operator – soap
Tracer powder blender
Varnish maker
Vinyl and asbestos-blending machine tender
Vinyl fabrics inspector
Viscose filter operator
Viscose maker
Viscose solution mixer
Wallpaper colour mixer helper
Washer and dryer – chemical processing
Wash-house and recovery equipment operator – chemical processing
Wash-house and recovery operator
Wax bleacher
Weigher – chemical processing
White lead mixer
Wood distillation and charcoal distiller
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Monitor meters, gauges and electronic instrumentation on one or more chemical or formulation units, such as mixers, kettles, blenders, dryers, tabletting, 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.
Employment requirements
Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Completion of several months to one year of informal, on-the-job training within the company is required for most mixer and blender operators.
Completion of more than one year of formal and informal company 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), first aid, firefighting or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be required for some occupations in this unit group.
Additional information
Mobility between employers producing similar products is possible for some of the more skilled operators in this unit group.
Progression to supervisory positions or to process control occupations is possible with experience.
Personal protective equipment may be required when working with some types of chemicals or pharmaceuticals.
Exclusions
Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing (9232)
Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities (9212)