You have passed a series of tests to work as a chemical plant operator. Finally, you can work for a chemical manufacturing company. That is a good achievement in your life.
The first assignment is waiting for you. You need to learn many new things as a chemical plant operator. You have to master the production process, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), workplace conditions, occupational health, and safety.
The chemical manufacturing plant has many kinds of potential hazards. These potential hazards can turn into real hazards and cause injury and fatalities if you do not know how to run the plant safely.
Ideally, your employer will give all information, education, and training you need about safety in the plant. However, sometimes your employers may not treat safety in operation adequately. So, you have to seek such information, education, and training by yourself.
12 Safety Tips for New Chemical Plant Operator
The following are practical tips that will help you learn safety aspects in a chemical manufacturing plant during your first assignment as a plant operator.
You should always think that safety is your first priority before doing any job in the plant. Read carefully the following tips below and make sure you understand them all.
- Understand thoroughly the company policy and regulation about occupational health and safety. You need to get detailed explanations about these documents since they are the main references.
- Master the production process and safety in operation. Master the material flow, operating conditions, process and instrumentation diagram, interlock system, and safety system.
- Learn how to use process equipment safely. Master the manual operation.
- Read all standard operating procedures related to your daily jobs as a plant operator.
- Understand precautions and safety recommendations for all process equipment.
- Make sure that you have understood how to read Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
- Never handle any chemical before reading and understanding the SDS.
- Wear safety tools that you must wear. This is important to protect you from a particular hazard.
- Never do any job that you have not got training about that job. Even though you are instructed to do that job by your superior.
- Recognize the workplace conditions. Find out where hazardous chemicals are stored. Find out where flammable materials are stored.
- Understand hazard symbols used in the workplace. Each hazard symbol has its own meaning and requires different attention.
- Your life will change since you are working on a shift schedule. You will work in three-shift cycles since the plant runs continuously. So, take enough rest to support your health.
