Chemical Plant Machine Operators
NOC 9421
Description
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.
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.
Other Titles
- Acidulation plant tender
- Batch mixer – chemical processing
- Soap maker
- Screener – chemical processing
- Formulations blender operator
- Evaporator operator – chemical processing
(Government of Canada National Occupation Classification)
Skills
- Quality control and assurance
- Decision-making
- Troubleshooting
- Numeracy
- Physical stamina
- Time management
- Coordination
- Equipment maintenance
Education/Training Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- Completion of secondary school is usually required
Post-secondary diploma/degree
- Not required;
- Several months to one year of informal, on-the-job training within the company is required for most mixer and blender operators
- 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
Certification
- Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), first aid, firefighting or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be required for some occupations
Potential Earnings in Durham Region
The average and median wages and salaries for individuals employed as chemical plant machine operators are as follows. Place of Residence (POR) is defined as individuals who reside within the Durham Region. Place of Work (POW) is defined as individuals who are employed within the Durham Region.
| Median Wages and Salaries (POW) | Average Wages and Salaries (POW) | Median Wages and Salaries (POR) | Average Wages and Salaries (POR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60,851 | $54,049 | $76,319 | $64,197 |
Employment Prospects
| Industry (NAICS) | Jobs in Durham Region (POW) | Durham Region Residents Employed (POR) |
|---|---|---|
| 3254 – Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 75 | 0 |
(Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development 2016 data in Durham Workforce Authority’s 2017 Sector Report)
Additional Resources
- Transportation of dangerous goods and WHMIS certification: https://canadasafetycouncil.org/ ds/