WHAT DOES A CHEMICAL OPERATOR DO?

The Chemical Operator is tasked with implementing and monitoring processing steps as per directives from Senior Operators or the Shift Supervisor, ensuring timeliness and adherence to quality standards. This role encompasses the maintenance of health and safety standards through strict compliance with departmental policies, SOPs, cGMP procedures, and other regulatory requirements, including the proper handling of detergents and chemicals for equipment and facility sanitation. Additionally, the operator is accountable for precise data recording, effective communication with supervisory staff, reviewing procedural updates, and maintaining a clean and orderly production environment.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Chemical Operator

1. Chemical Operator Job Summary

  • Machine Operation: Operate a cryogenic deburring machine and assist in supporting the production mold line.
  • Equipment Assistance: Assist in the operation of bin handling equipment, and other commonly used materials for moving equipment.
  • Material Handling: Pumping and loading/unloading of tank trucks and rail cars.
  • Safety and Maintenance: Responsible for safe handling, cleanup, and disposal of any raw material along with routine cleaning/maintenance of machinery and workspace.
  • Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot and operate all commonly used equipment.
  • Process Monitoring: Load vessels, monitor reaction conditions, and transfer production with pumps.
  • Equipment Operation: Operate various drying equipment such as centrifuges and oven dryers.
  • Housekeeping and Safety: Focus on high levels of industrial housekeeping and personal protective equipment usage.
  • Documentation: Requires documentation and record keeping of information as established in written operating procedures.

2. Chemical Operator Functions

  • Chemical Handling: Handle chemicals to manufacture Intermediates and APIs.
  • Safety and Compliance: Ensuring that plant operations are performed in a safe manner and to cGMP standards.
  • Production Issue Resolution: Dealing efficiently and effectively with production issues that may arise.
  • IT and Automation Systems Usage: Use IT/Automation systems to complete assigned tasks.
  • Emergency Response Team Membership: Be a member of the site emergency response team.
  • Process Equipment Operation: Operate process equipment including mixer and blenders as per batch sheet instructions and all safety guidelines.
  • Troubleshooting and Reporting: Assist in troubleshooting machine problems and report processing issues promptly.
  • Forklift and Equipment Operation: Operate forklifts and other equipment as per production schedules.
  • Chemical Processing Assistance: Assist in other chemical processing projects as assigned.
  • Environmental Safety Maintenance: Assist in maintaining a safe and clean production environment.

3. Chemical Operator Overview

  • Safety Rule Adherence: Abides by all safety rules.
  • Material Handling and Safety Knowledge: Understands and uses the handling and safety procedures for all raw materials and finished goods.
  • PPE Usage: Ensures the use of appropriate proper personal protective equipment.
  • Chemical Blending Proficiency: Demonstrates and uses a complete understanding of chemical blending, including equipment function and proper use.
  • Knowledge of Material Properties: Uses knowledge of physical and chemical properties to operate safely and efficiently.
  • Equipment Operation: Operates mix tanks, agitators, and other pumps as directed by the supervisor, and all instruments in the production room.
  • Safe and Quality Manufacturing: Uses detailed procedures to manufacture safe and quality products.
  • Material Weighing and Handling: Weighs out quantities of raw materials and pours and/or pumps materials into vessels.
  • Process Monitoring and Control: Monitors and controls blending processes, and adjusts batches per laboratory instruction.
  • Problem Troubleshooting: Troubleshoots processing problems, takes corrective action when possible, and seeks assistance when necessary.
  • Emergency Corrective Actions: Takes corrective actions when an alarm condition exists.
  • Emergency Response: Takes actions necessary in an emergency to help minimize danger to personnel and the environment.

4. Chemical Operator Tasks

  • Process Management: Responsible for setting up, carrying out, and monitoring processing steps as assigned by the Senior Operators or Shift Supervisor, ensuring quality work on time.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Responsible for always working in compliance with all departmental and company Health and Safety policies, SOPs, cGMP procedures, and other governmental regulations.
  • Equipment Sanitation: Responsible for the cleaning and sanitation, using detergents and chemicals, of all production equipment and production areas, such as dryer rooms.
  • Data Recording: Responsible for accurately recording data on time in production documents under the supervision of the Senior Operator, Lead hand, or Shift Supervisor.
  • Incident Reporting: Responsible for reporting injuries, accidents, or damaged equipment to the Senior Operators, Lead hand, or Shift Supervisor.
  • Safety Compliance: Responsible for using the appropriate safety equipment and following all safety procedures at all times when working in the production facility.
  • Facility Maintenance: Responsible for ensuring that the production facility is maintained in a neat manner following departmental policy.
  • Communication: Responsible for being in constant communication with the Senior Operators, Lead hand, or Shift Supervisor.
  • SOP Training: Responsible for reviewing new or updated departmental SOPs and attending required training sessions.
  • Ethics and Compliance Adherence: Ensure personal adherence to all compliance programs including the Global Business Ethics and Compliance Program, Global Quality policies and procedures, Safety and Environment policies, and HR policies.

5. Chemical Operator Roles

  • EIP Lockout Compliance: Walk down EIP lockouts required for the assigned task
  • Troubleshooting Responsibility: Take responsibility for performing troubleshooting tasks
  • Converter Assembly/Disassembly: Assembly/Disassembly of Converter internals, electrodes, graphite parts, attached piping, and converter shells
  • Base Plate Maintenance: Perform Base plate revisions and related tasks in Deposition
  • Inventory Management: Responsible for inventory of base plate consumables
  • Condenser and Piping Work: Perform Vertical condenser and piping exchange, main filter work and related tasks in CSR
  • Equipment Exchange Support: Hydro Cyclone, filter and strainer exchange, Buffer tank exchange, Column revision support and related activities in DITF
  • Insulation Fabrication and Repair: Manufacturing and repair of Converter insulation
  • Part Cleaning and Preparation: Cleaning and preparation of Converter parts for assembly
  • Electrode and Ceramic Cleaning: Cleaning of electrodes and ceramic parts