Plant Operator

Airgas • Ferndale, MI

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Operator will perform any combination of following tasks on site in making or repackaging compressed and liquefied gas. Also, sorts empty cylinders being received by filling plant for refilling and performs necessary pre fill inspection steps to qualify cylinders for refill. Examines returned cylinders for surface defects, such as dents, cracks, and burns, and rolls cylinders to designated work area. 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. Loads cylinders on vehicles, using hand truck, chain hoist or forklift, and records type and quantity of cylinders. Loads and unloads gas cylinders and/or other products onto and off of route trucks and trailers moving cylinders with proper carts only. Sorts empty cylinders by type. Rolls cylinders and operates a forklift truck for the movement of cylinders on pallets. Understands hazards of various gases; size and contents of cylinders by reading and interpreting cylinder labels and the color-coding of tanks. Accurately labels cylinders. 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. Performs basic cylinder maintenance such as painting cylinders, labeling cylinders, and cleaning of work area. Inspects cylinders prior to filling, 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. Fills cylinders by pressure and weight, per regulations and standards. Checks for cylinder quantities, styles and product, and/or assists with inventory Manages paperwork to DOT, FDA, OSHA, and Airgas standards. Completes quality control sheets as required. Complies with all government and company standards relating to the safe handling of hazardous materials/cylinder gases. Maintains a neat, clean and orderly plant appearance. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• HS Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Candidates must have valid employment authorization in the U.S. and must not require visa sponsorship now or in the future. This position is not open for non-immigrant visa sponsorship.
• Minimum of one year of prior experience in a manufacturing operation, filling or loading experience preferred.
• 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 divides 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 to include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to focus objects.
• Regularly required to stand, bend, stoop, crouch, reach, grasp, feel and talk or hear.
• 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.
• 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

• Strong background in gas, welding and safety supply industry or chemical industry preferred.

Responsibilities

• Performs tasks on site in making or repackaging compressed and liquefied gas.
• Sorts empty cylinders being received by filling plant for refilling and performs necessary pre fill inspection steps to qualify cylinders for refill.
• Examines returned cylinders for surface defects, such as dents, cracks, and burns, and rolls cylinders to designated work area.
• Safely handles 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.
• Loads cylinders on vehicles, using hand truck, chain hoist or forklift, and records type and quantity of cylinders.
• Loads and unloads gas cylinders and/or other products onto and off of route trucks and trailers moving cylinders with proper carts only.
• Sorts empty cylinders by type.
• Rolls cylinders and operates a forklift truck for the movement of cylinders on pallets.
• Understands hazards of various gases; size and contents of cylinders by reading and interpreting cylinder labels and the color-coding of tanks.
• Accurately labels cylinders.
• 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.
• Performs basic cylinder maintenance such as painting cylinders, labeling cylinders, and cleaning of work area.
• Inspects cylinders prior to filling, 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.
• Fills cylinders by pressure and weight, per regulations and standards.
• Checks for cylinder quantities, styles and product, and/or assists with inventory
• Manages paperwork to DOT, FDA, OSHA, and Airgas standards.
• Completes quality control sheets as required.
• Complies with all government and company standards relating to the safe handling of hazardous materials/cylinder gases.
• Maintains a neat, clean and orderly plant appearance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 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: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees