Production Technician

** Ptech degree or Industrial experience a plus

Basic Function:

The Production Technician is supervised by the Production Shift Foreman on the shift to which he is assigned. The Production Technician, however, receives direction from both the Production Shift Foreman and the Production Senior Technician on his shift. The primary function of the Production Technician is to monitor the equipment and processes in the field and to help maintain the unit at the directed conditions. He/she is responsible for starting up and shutting down equipment as directed, as well as getting equipment ready for maintenance. The Production Technician is also responsible for off-loading raw materials and for loading finished products.

Know How:                                       

• Working knowledge of basic process equipment and instrumentation.
• Basic understanding of process chemistry and physics.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks without difficulty.
• Good troubleshooting skills which allow the individual to reason through complex problems.
• Knowledge of maintenance permitting and work procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of plant policies and procedures.
• Training in industrial fire fighting.
• Ability to perform in high stress situations.

Accountability:

 Itemized accountabilities are:

•  Monitors conditions in the plant which are not indicated in the control room.
• Fills in assigned reading sheets as required by unit policy.
• Communicates operational problems to his Production Shift Foreman and Production Senior Technician.
• Investigates equipment or process problems to determine the cause and to correct the problem.
• Investigates process problems determined by the Production Senior Technician or Production Shift Foreman.
• Loads and unloads trucks and railcars as directed or as scheduled.
• Maintains working area in a safe and clean condition.
• Catches laboratory samples as scheduled or as directed.
• Participates in unit safety meetings.
• Prepares equipment for maintenance as directed by the Production Shift Foreman.
• Participates as a member of the Emergency Brigade as required.
• Take emergency action as necessary to maintain the plant in a safe condition.
• Complete training and testing as required with his unit.
• Provide a timely relief when coming on duty.
• Provide a complete and thorough turnover to the relieving technician.
• Performs preventive maintenance on routine equipment.
• Handles all waste generated from unit.
• Inspects and maintains safety equipment within unit.

Physical Requirements:

The Production Technician job routinely involves moderately strenuous activity such as bending, stooping, squatting, climbing, and lifting. Routine activities would involve climbing many flights of stairs every hour. Routine operation of large valves is also a requirement. Many of these valves will require reaching above shoulder level. Production technicians assigned to the Effluent Unit have an area of responsibility that covers almost half of the Rubicon plant site. As a result, a great deal of walking and movement in and out of vehicles is required. The production areas at Rubicon routinely require the ability to walk on uneven surfaces without injury. Detection of problems within the operating areas also requires normal hearing and visual abilities. The technician also must not have any sensitivities to any of the chemicals within the operating area.

Other routine activities such as changing filters and lifting trailer/railcar dome lids can be occasionally strenuous requiring the ability to lift up to 50 pounds. These activities must be performed outside with whatever ambient conditions exist within the area.

 The Production Technician must also possess the physical ability to respond to site emergency situations. The following conditions outline these requirements:

• Must be deemed physically fit for duty by the company physician.
• Must pass a pulmonary function test.
• Must be able to wear approximately 40 pounds of gear (bunker gear and SCBA) and function in the role of emergency responder / fire brigade member while performing the following activities:
• crawl on hands and knees
• stoop / squat
• climb stairs / ladders
• run
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds of free weight (fire hoses and the like) in addition to wearing 40 pounds of gear.
• Must be able to wear respiratory protection, which requires passing a respirator fit test .
• Must be able to wear a Level "A" fully encapsulated suit with a self contained breathing apparatus while performing emergency response activities (turning valves, leak repair, and the like) which may last as long as 30 minutes without rest.