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This group performs some or all of the following 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.

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of several months to one year of informal, on-the-job training within the company is required for most mixer and blender operators.
• Completion of 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.
• Previous experience in chemical products processing as an assistant, labourer or helper may be required for some occupations in this unit group.
• Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), first aid, firefighting or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be required for some occupations in this unit group.

• Mobility between employers producing similar products is possible for some of the more skilled operators in this unit group.
• Personal protective equipment may be required when working with some types of chemicals or pharmaceuticals.
• Progression to supervisory positions or to process control occupations is possible with experience.

• Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing (9232)
• Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities (9212)