Reactor Operator

Job Posting Title Reactor Operator

Job Description

Duties and Responsibilities: 

A. Basic Company Requirements 

• Understand and adhere to company policies and procedures 
• Read and understand written procedures (in English) for processing chemicals 
• Follow written and verbal instructions from supervision, management, and engineering 
• Complete basic math functions (add, subtract, multiply, and divide) 

B. Safety and Environmental Requirements 

• Don Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) correctly and effectively 
• Read and understand a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to identify hazards of handling chemicals
• Safely handle solvents (such as methanol), acids (such as nitric acid), and bases (such as 50% sodium hydroxide) or other hazardous or potentially hazardous chemicals 
• Understand and adhere to company emergency procedures 
• Complete monthly and annual computer-based safety training on time 
• Report all spills, leaks, injuries, mischarges, and other incidents immediately to the Supervisor and/or management 
• Attend training as specified by Supervisor, including all safety training 
• Report all unsafe conditions immediately to the Supervisor and/or management 
• Understand policies and procedures for line breaks, hot work, Lock Out/Tag Out, and confined space 
• Protect the environment to prevent ground, water, and air pollution 

C. Batch Chemical Processing and Housekeeping Requirements 

• Correctly weigh materials (in drums, totes, bags, etc.) and understand gross weight, tare (or empty) weight, and net weight 
• Properly label all containers for identification 
• Understand operation of a pump for transferring chemicals 
• Properly connect hoses, pumps, and pipelines (including connections to tank trucks) 
• Safely collect samples from reactors or other vessels, label the samples, and submit the samples to the lab for analysis or shipment 
• Assist in charging liquid and solid/powdered raw materials to reactors or tanks 
• Follow all procedures for safe handling of empty drums or containers 
• Understand standard units of measure, including pressure and temperature 2 
• Accurately complete production documentation, such as sifter SOPs 
• Perform packaging operations, including sifting of powdered products and drumming of liquid products 
• Operate filter press and other auxiliary equipment, as specified by supervision 
• Operate valves, pumps, filters, etc. 
• Clean up spills and properly dispose of any waste 
• Keep operating area and grounds tidy and free of trash and debris 
•  Properly charge liquid and solid/powdered raw materials to reactors or tanks 
• Blend chemicals in a reactor or mix tank at atmospheric pressure 
• Run basic chemical reactions in reactors under pressure or vacuum with supervision
• Heat and cool reactors using steam, cooling water, or tempered water 
• Accurately record operating data and complete production documentation (SOPs) 2 
• Monitor and record data from in-field instrumentation as well as Distributed Control Systems (DCS) 
• Operate steps of a process using the DCS automatic controls 
• Troubleshoot process operations and be able to make corrections in temperature, pressure/vacuum, flow rates, and charge quantities as needed 
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervision 

D. Receiving, Shipping, and Other Material Movement Requirements 

• Assist with receiving and shipping of bulk and packaged materials, with an understanding of product identification and Bill of Lading 
• Inspect and operate a fork truck per company procedures 
• Safely transport materials using a fork truck (staging raw materials in the plant, transporting waste containers to waste pad, and transporting finished product to warehouse, etc.) or other transport device 

Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Special Physical Requirements: 

• High School Diploma and/or GED 
• Experience in a chemical manufacturing facility preferred but not required 
• Ability to lift 60 lbs. 
• Need to be able to read, write, and verbally communicate in English

Shift schedule

Must be able to work any shift, including rotating 12 hr shifts.

Disclaimer: 

The list of requirements, duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive, but merely the most accurate list for the current job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description and to require that other tasks be performed when circumstances of the job change.