Boiler Plant Operator

Labor Category: Boiler Plant Operator

Place of Performance/Location: Hot Springs VA Medical Center

500 N Fifth St, Hot Springs, SD 57747

Period of Performance: 1 Year

2/3/2025 – 2/2/2026

Description:

The Hot Springs VA Medical Center has a need for 2 Boiler Plant Operators. This is a contract position. Period of Performance may be extended past 1 year.

Qualifications:

The Operator must have knowledge of steam generation, VA and manufacturer’s

recommended procedures for water tube and fire tube boiler operation and safety

codes. A thorough knowledge of technical manuals on plant operations is essential.

Must be able to use, read and understand the various testing instruments, record data

on plant operations, compute quantities, efficiencies and furnish accurate information for

necessary reports.

The Operator must have knowledge of the three 40, 000 gallon fuel oil tanks totaling

120,000 gallons of fuel oil and leak detection system. Due to the large volume of fuel oil

the Operator must be very familiar with the Spill, Prevention, Control and

Countermeasure Plan. The Operator must have knowledge of #2 fuel oil, above ground

fuel oil storage tanks, fuel oil delivery procedures, heating fuel oil tanks in the winter

months, day tanks, fuel oil pumps, and fuel oil meters. The Operator is responsible for

knowing the requirements and regulation for tank truck loading/unloading and

procedures for spill containment to protect the overland flow towards storm sewers.

The operator must know how to adjust firing controls for the correct air fuel mixture and

to adjust fuel feeds and air drafts to get the best combustion efficiency by using

combustion testing equipment and opacity readings. The operator must be able to

operate such auxiliary equipment such as feed water pumps, domestic water pumps,

water softener, reverse osmoses unit, fuel delivery systems, boiler fuel monitoring

system, fuel oil heating system and computer control system.

The operator must have knowledge in boiler safety inspection directed by VHA boiler

safety manual and testing procedures and lock-out/tag-out procedures and confined

space procedures to help ensure a safe working environment.

The operator collects samples of boiler water and following prescribed methods must be

able to run test to determine boiler water quality. From the test results the operator

must have the ability to determine the correct amount of boiler chemical to add help with

corrosion control and scale formation.

The operator must have knowledge of the entire plant system in order to locate

problems and determine action necessary to maintain adequate steam and domestic

water production. The Operator shall have knowledge of gaseous chlorine systems for

potable water disinfection. This includes knowledge of the parts per million dosing

necessary for production of safe potable water. Operator supports the facility legionella

prevention program by maintaining proper chlorine residuals within the potable water

system. In the event of legionella detection, the operator shall have the knowledge to

safely increase chlorine residuals in support of legionella eradication efforts and not

exceed EPA standards for safe drinking water chlorine residuals.

*The Operator must be able to obtain a South Dakota Rural Water License for Basic

water treatment.

Job Duties:

Operate boiler plant with 4 boilers with capacity of 55,000 pounds of steam per hour. Boilers are fired by # 2 ultra-low sulfur fuel oil to produce saturated or superheated steam required to meet challenging load demands.

The operator maintains efficient combustion levels and ensures compliance with air emission laws and/or regulations.

The operator use electronic, hydraulic, and pneumatic controls, and zone charts in conjunction with meters, gauges, and DDC computer generated data to determine adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements.

The operator adjusts firing controls for the correct air fuel mixture and to adjust fuel feeds and air drafts to get the best combustion efficiency by using combustion testing equipment, opacity readings and adjusts fuel feeds and the volume and velocity of draft and other firebox variables to achieve maximum combustion efficiency with changing load demands or variation in fuel quality.

Check, repair and adjust equipment; including boilers, reverse osmosis water unit, burners, combustion controls, flow meters, fuel handling equipment, steam driven and electric feed water pumps, chemical metering pumps, feed water heater and water softener.

Repair and replaces major steam and water piping assemblies. Operate emergency electrical generator to meet plant electrical requirements when the main electrical source is unable to provide power.

Analyze boiler feed water, boiler water and condensation using standard chemical tests.

The operator determines the treatment and chemicals to be used to control chemical concentrations, remove impurities and entrapped gases or stabilize fluctuation water conditions in the boiler.

Test domestic hard and soft water and insure that there is a proper supply of treated hard and soft water supply to the Medical Center by monitoring the water tank levels to assure proper fire protection.

The operator operates and maintains the Medical Center’s water supply pumps, water softeners, and chlorinator.

Clean tools, machines, and equipment and keeps work area clean and orderly.

Provides safe working environment by adhering to safety control guidelines and reporting unsafe conditions.

Responsibility

Supervisor provides a frame work in order to make independent decisions for the operation and maintenance of the combustion and pollution control adjustments, trouble shooting techniques and equipment maintenance and repair procedures that may be accompanied by diagrams, drawings, operating manuals or special facility procedures. Familiar with the total plant layout including drawings/circuit diagrams, # 2 fuel oil supply system. Make independent decisions and judgments regarding operations. Use a variety of standard mechanical and basic electrical processes. Primary responsibility for checking boilers and auxiliary and pollution control equipment. Initiate immediate action to prevent interruptions to plant operations. Supervisor is available to provide technical assistance on difficult or unusual issues. Work is checked through occasional observation of operational efficiency, production reports and adherence to established operating techniques.

Physical Effort

Frequently work in confined areas in and around boilers. Requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, and crouching. Frequently lift and carry boiler parts and chemical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted. Occasionally, and with assistance, carries items weighing over 40 pounds.

Working Conditions

Mainly works indoors, but occasionally work outside for short periods of time. Subject to high temperatures, constant noise, rotating machinery, soot, dirt, grease, chemicals, oil and fumes. Subject to cuts and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment and burns from acids, caustics, hot water, steam and contact with boilers. Work on catwalks and ladders.

Work Schedule:

The Boiler Plant Operator will work shift work in conjunction with the other Boiler Plant Operators to sustain a 24 hr/ 7 Days a week operation. The operators typically work 8 hours shifts. The shifts are 8:00a to 4:00p, 4:00p to 12:00a, and 12:00a to 8:00a. Typically, the operators are assigned a specific shift to work.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $35.00 - $40.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $35 - $40