Lead Plant Operator

Airgas • Ankeny, IA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Airgas is Hiring for a Lead Plant Operator in Ankeny, IA! At Airgas, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world. We are looking for you! The Lead Plant Operator will be responsible for safely handling and filling gas products into liquid, medical and high pressure gas cylinders in compliance with federal, state, local regulations, and meeting the standard operating procedures of Airgas. Acts as a liaison between site leadership, plant personnel and other internal departments. Actively participates in the Airgas safety program with regards to SMS, adds input to production needs and is proactive in communicating any additional production requirements based on the demands of the business. Inspects cylinders prior to filling, to ensure high quality filling is being performed by operators through following standard procedures as required by government, Airgas, and distributor standards. Conducts a variety of Safety checks per procedures, such as odor tests, checking caps and valves. Analyzes products for purity and correct mixtures. Contributes to the investigation process by communicating any accident, injury and/ or incident to site leadership. Handles high-pressure, medical and liquid cylinders. Prepares high pressure cylinders and cryogenic vessels for filling. Attaches to manifold, evacuates cylinders to eliminate all possible contaminants. Fills cylinder by pressure and weight, per regulations and standards. Assists with the loading & unloading of cylinders on & off pallets and tractor trailers. Operates a forklift, pallet jack and other warehouse equipment. Manages paperwork to DOT, FDA, OSHA, and Airgas standards. Completes quality control sheets as required to remain compliant. Understands hazards of various gasses; size and contents of cylinders by reading and interpreting cylinder labels and the color-coding of tanks. Accurately labels cylinders. Complies with all government and company standards relating to the safe handling of hazardous materials/cylinder gases. If needed, must be available for weekend rotation coverage, possible holiday coverage and the availability to cover in the absence of co-workers. Maintains a neat, clean and orderly plant appearance and informs management of any needed supplies in a timely fashion. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• HS Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of three years of prior experience in a manufacturing operation
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to read and comprehend material safety data sheets.
• Must be able to work with a wide variety of people with different personalities and backgrounds.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to work independently and under some pressure to meet deadlines.
• Strong level of attention to detail.
• Ability to add, subtracts, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentages.
• Ability to safely operate a forklift.
• Able to talk, walk, sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crawl or crouch.
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to focus objects.
• Able to smell and hear leaking gas from cylinders.
• Occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel or use a calculator or computer; and reach with hands and arms
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 60 pounds and move up to 800 pounds with the aid of material handling equipment.
• Minimal travel required.
• Work space is one that contains moving mechanical parts and risk of electric shock.
• Requires both indoor & outdoor environments in various seasonal weather conditions.
• Must be able to work in temperatures ranging from -10 to over 100 degrees.
• Work environment may contain loud noises and odors that may last for long periods of time or on a continual basis.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in filling or loading
• Strong background in gas, welding and safety supply industry or chemical industry

Responsibilities

• Safely handling and filling gas products into liquid, medical and high pressure gas cylinders in compliance with federal, state, local regulations, and meeting the standard operating procedures of Airgas.
• Acts as a liaison between site leadership, plant personnel and other internal departments.
• Actively participates in the Airgas safety program with regards to SMS, adds input to production needs and is proactive in communicating any additional production requirements based on the demands of the business.
• Inspects cylinders prior to filling, to ensure high quality filling is being performed by operators through following standard procedures as required by government, Airgas, and distributor standards.
• Conducts a variety of Safety checks per procedures, such as odor tests, checking caps and valves.
• Analyzes products for purity and correct mixtures.
• Contributes to the investigation process by communicating any accident, injury and/ or incident to site leadership.
• Handles high-pressure, medical and liquid cylinders.
• Prepares high pressure cylinders and cryogenic vessels for filling.
• Attaches to manifold, evacuates cylinders to eliminate all possible contaminants.
• Fills cylinder by pressure and weight, per regulations and standards.
• Assists with the loading & unloading of cylinders on & off pallets and tractor trailers.
• Operates a forklift, pallet jack and other warehouse equipment.
• Manages paperwork to DOT, FDA, OSHA, and Airgas standards.
• Completes quality control sheets as required to remain compliant.
• Understands hazards of various gasses; size and contents of cylinders by reading and interpreting cylinder labels and the color-coding of tanks.
• Accurately labels cylinders.
• Complies with all government and company standards relating to the safe handling of hazardous materials/cylinder gases.
• If needed, must be available for weekend rotation coverage, possible holiday coverage and the availability to cover in the absence of co-workers.
• Maintains a neat, clean and orderly plant appearance and informs management of any needed supplies in a timely fashion.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision plans, vacation, sick time, floating holidays, and paid holidays for full-time employees
• progressive parental leave package for our eligible Airgas parents, offering generous paid time off for the birth or placement of children
• 401k plan with company matching funds
• tuition reimbursement
• discounted college tuition for employees’ dependents
• Airgas Scholarship Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees