Plant Operator

Airgas•Rockford, IL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Operator supports the team by safely operating equipment to handle and produce packaged gas cylinders, including high-pressure and liquefied gases. The role involves loading and unloading cylinders and other products onto and off route trucks and trailers, sorting empty cylinders, moving cylinders with carts and forklifts, preparing cylinders and cryogenic vessels for filling, and filling cylinders according to applicable regulations and standards. The operator also performs cylinder inspections and basic maintenance, accurately labels cylinders, completes safety and quality checks, supports inventory, and maintains required documentation. The position requires following government, company, and distributor standards for the safe handling of hazardous materials and cylinder gases. The position is based at the Linden Road filling facility in Rockford, Illinois. Airgas describes a commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace and emphasizes safety, customer success, sustainability, and innovation.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to read and comprehend material safety data sheets.
Customer-service skills and ability to collaborate with people from varied backgrounds and perspectives.
Self-motivated, able to contribute in a fast-paced environment and meet shared deadlines.
High attention to detail and precision.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals, and calculate rates, ratios, and percentages.
Ability to safely operate a forklift; training may be provided.
Physical ability to walk, sit, use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach, stoop, kneel, or crouch as needed.
Vision abilities including close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to focus.
Physical coordination to stand, bend, stoop, reach, and grasp; ability to communicate and hear effectively within the facility.
Sensory awareness to detect environmental cues such as the smell or sound of gas.
Ability to perform fine motor tasks or computer entry and reach with hands and arms as needed.
Ability to regularly lift or move up to 60 pounds and move up to 800 pounds with material-handling equipment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a manufacturing operation; filling or loading experience is a plus.
Familiarity with the gas, welding, and safety supply industry or chemical industry.

Responsibilities

Safely operate equipment used for handling and producing packaged gas cylinders, including high-pressure and liquefied gases.
Load and unload cylinders and other products onto and off route trucks and trailers, using proper carts to move cylinders.
Sort empty cylinders by type and move cylinders on pallets using a forklift.
Read cylinder labels and tank color codes to identify gas hazards, cylinder size, and contents; label cylinders accurately.
Safely care for high-pressure, medical, and liquid cylinders.
Prepare high-pressure cylinders and cryogenic vessels for filling; attach cylinders to a manifold and evacuate them to eliminate contaminants.
Perform basic cylinder maintenance, including painting and labeling cylinders, and clean the work area.
Inspect cylinders before filling according to applicable government, Airgas, and distributor procedures.
Conduct safety checks, including odor tests and checks of cylinder caps and valves.
Fill cylinders by pressure and weight in accordance with regulations and standards.
Check cylinder quantities, styles, and products, and assist with inventory as needed.
Coordinate documentation to DOT, FDA, OSHA, and Airgas standards and complete required quality-control sheets.
Follow all government and company standards for the safe handling of hazardous materials and cylinder gases.