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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.

• Completion of secondary school is required. Mathematics, chemistry and physics subjects are often specified.
• A college diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject may be required for some positions.
• Petroleum and chemical process operators and process technicians require completion of several years of formal company training.
• Experience as a petroleum or chemical process operator in all the operating units controlled by the central control room is required for chief operators.
• Company certification as a petroleum process operator or technician may be required.
• A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
• Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), first aid, firefighting, or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be required.

• 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.
• Personal protective equipment may be required for occupations in this unit group that may involve exposure to hazards of toxic, flammable or explosive chemicals.
• Progression to supervisory or managerial positions is possible with experience.
• There is considerable mobility among jobs within a company, often as part of a formal development or training program.

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