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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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93101.00 – Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing

Central control and process operators in petroleum, gas and chemical processing monitor and operate petroleum, petrochemical and chemical plants and monitor, adjust and maintain processing units and equipment in these plants.

Overview

Example job titles

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  • Process technician - chemical processing
  • Refinery process technician

Core competencies

  • Operation and Control to maneuver and control machinery and equipment in petroleum, petrochemical, or chemical plants, which may include valves, pumps, reactors or distillation columns
  • Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment to ensure reliable performance and prevent operational disruptions in petroleum, gas and chemical processing plants
  • Control of Settings to adjust machine and system settings precisely when operating compressors, scrubbers, evaporators and pumping systems
  • Multi-Signal Response to choose rapidly between different control actions when lights, sounds or images indicate changes in pressure or temperature
  • Attention to Detail to identify potential hazards, prevent quality deviations and optimize process efficiency by meticulously adjusting and maintaining processing units
  • Knowledge in Chemistry to comprehend the chemical reactions and processes involved in petroleum refining, petrochemical production and chemical processing

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units
  • Control process start-up, shut-down and troubleshooting
  • Monitor outside process equipment
  • Adjust equipment, valves, pumps and controls and process equipment
  • Authorize or co-sign maintenance work orders
  • Shut down, isolate and prepare process units or production equipment for maintenance
  • Sample products, perform tests, record data, carry out statistical process control on process operations, and write production logs
  • Develop operating procedures for normal operation, start-up or shut-down of unit
  • Participate in safety audits and programs and provide emergency response when required
  • Ensure adherence to safety and environmental regulations
  • May rotate between different processing units during shift cycles
  • May work in a team with shared supervisory responsibilities and participate in training other workers
  • May be cross-trained in a skilled trade and work in the trade during shift cycles.

Additional information

  • There is considerable mobility among jobs within a company, often as part of a formal development or training program.
  • Mobility to other petroleum or chemical processing plants is possible, but may be limited by the usual practice of training and promoting workers from within the establishment.
  • Progression to supervisory or managerial positions is possible with experience.
  • Personal protective equipment may be required for occupations in this unit group that may involve exposure to hazards of toxic, flammable or explosive chemicals.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Chemical plant machine operators (94110)
  • Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities (92011)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

9 – Occupations in manufacturing and utilities

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major group

93 – Central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors

Sub-major group

931 – Central control and process operators in processing and manufacturing

Minor group

9310 – Central control and process operators in processing and manufacturing

Unit group

93101 – Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing

Occupational profile

93101.00 – Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.