Chemical Operator

HIGH-PURITY SILICON AMERICA CORPORATION•Mobile, AL

About The Position

The Chemical Operator works as a Chlorination, Distillation, WWTP Rotating Operator and reports to the Production Manager - Chlorination, Distillation, WWTP. The role monitors and controls plant operations, performs routine checks and adjustments, identifies maintenance concerns, handles chemical sampling and caustic titrations, and helps maintain a safe work environment. The operator uses process monitoring and control systems, loads raw materials, and communicates operational information to the next shift. The position requires rotating shifts and coverage for weekends, vacations, and holidays as needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to use hand tools to loosen or tighten industrial-scale nuts and bolts to prevent flange leaks.
Ability to use air impact tools and corded or cordless electric tools, including saws and drills.
Ability to open and close manual valves up to 10 inches in port size at various heights, including below waist and above shoulder height.
Ability to learn and perform equipment repairs, including piping and gasket replacements.
Ability to use fall protection devices such as fall-restraint harnesses.
Ability to communicate in loud environments.
Ability to observe and identify abnormal situations by sight, hearing, or smell, and report concerns to supervisors.
Understanding of detailed work instructions and the cause and effect of actions taken under those instructions.
Forklift certification and ability to move pallets and containers up to 4,000 pounds.
Yard Dog/spotter truck certification for moving trailers and ISO containers in the plant.
Manlift certification.
Basic math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and averages, and ability to apply them to estimate tank levels after transfers.
Basic Microsoft Word and Excel skills.
Ability to use a fire extinguisher properly.
Frequent lifting, pushing, and pulling of up to 50 pounds.
Ability to climb ladders and work up to 160 feet in the air while wearing PPE, including climbing as many as 20 ladders to tank tops during a 12-hour shift.
Ability to climb up to four sets of stairs consecutively multiple times during a 12-hour shift, including while carrying up to 40 pounds.
Ability to accurately swing a sledgehammer weighing up to 12 pounds.
Ability to stoop, bend to floor level, and squat to access and operate valves and pumps and perform maintenance.
Ability to work in inclement weather.
Ability to wear PPE when working around liquid chemicals, acid fumes, silicon dust, and hot equipment, including a full-face respirator, dust mask, Tyvex suit, Nomex suit and hood, chemical suit and boots, and hearing protection.

Nice To Haves

Further education or certifications such as Chemical Operator, ISO 9001, and/or ISO 14001.

Responsibilities

Perform plant round checks three times per shift and make adjustments to keep operations within set parameters.
Identify maintenance concerns during rounds, such as flange or clamp leaks and rupture disc tell-tale gauge pressures, and communicate them to CDW or the rotating chief.
Monitor plant operations using Aspen Process Explorer and control operations using the Yokogawa DCS system.
Operate remote-controlled hoist systems to load raw materials into the process each day.
Collect liquid samples of hazardous chemicals while wearing appropriate PPE.
Collect caustic samples and perform titrations of caustic solution.
Maintain a safe work environment through housekeeping, hazard recognition, and hazard communication or mitigation.
Work rotating shifts and provide weekend, vacation, and holiday coverage as needed.
Accurately convey plant operations information to personnel on the next shift.
Perform light maintenance and equipment repair tasks as needed.