According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions. | 95% |
| Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results. | 94% |
| Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products. | 93% |
| Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions. | 92% |
| Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed. | 92% |
| Adjust controls to regulate temperature, pressure, feed, or flow of liquids or gases and times of prescribed reactions, according to knowledge of equipment and processes. | 91% |
| Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained. | 90% |
| Test product samples for specific gravity, chemical characteristics, pH levels, concentrations, or viscosities, or send them to laboratories for testing. | 89% |
| Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary. | 89% |
| Open valves or start pumps, agitators, reactors, blowers, or automatic feed of materials. | 89% |
| Read plant specifications to determine products, ingredients, or prescribed modifications of plant procedures. | 89% |
| Implement appropriate industrial emergency response procedures. | 89% |
| Measure, weigh, and mix chemical ingredients, according to specifications. | 88% |
| Dump or scoop prescribed solid, granular, or powdered materials into equipment. | 85% |
| Notify maintenance engineers of equipment malfunctions. | 85% |
| Estimate materials required for production and manufacturing of products. | 83% |
| Add treating or neutralizing agents to products, and pump products through filters or centrifuges to remove impurities or to precipitate products. | 83% |
| Observe and compare colors and consistencies of products to instrument readings and to laboratory and standard test results. | 81% |
| Direct activities of workers assisting in control or verification of processes or in unloading of materials. | 79% |
| Drain equipment, and pump water or other solutions through to flush and clean tanks or equipment. | 79% |
| Flush or clean equipment, using steam hoses or mechanical reamers. | 77% |
| Make minor repairs, lubricate, and maintain equipment, using hand tools. | 76% |
| Inventory supplies received and consumed. | 73% |
