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Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Occupation Detailed Description

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

The main tasks and work activities of Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators are to operate energy production equipment, operate pumping systems or equipment, monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning, test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products. In general, for the Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators, operation Monitoring, operation and Control, critical Thinking, monitoring and other 12 skills are required.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators jobs. 63.13% of Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 15.62% of Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
5.74%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
63.13%
Post-Secondary Certificate
15.62%
Some College Courses
15.52%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
-0.01%

Tasks and Work Activities of Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

  • Operate or tend stationary engines, boilers, and auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, compressors, or air-conditioning equipment, to supply and maintain steam or heat for buildings, marine vessels, or pneumatic tools.
  • Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.
  • Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.
  • Activate valves to maintain required amounts of water in boilers, to adjust supplies of combustion air, and to control the flow of fuel into burners.
  • Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.
  • Fire coal furnaces by hand or with stokers and gas- or oil-fed boilers, using automatic gas feeds or oil pumps.
  • Monitor and inspect equipment, computer terminals, switches, valves, gauges, alarms, safety devices, and meters to detect leaks or malfunctions and to ensure that equipment is operating efficiently and safely.
  • Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.
  • Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.
  • Adjust controls and/or valves on equipment to provide power, and to regulate and set operations of system or industrial processes.
  • Switch from automatic to manual controls and isolate equipment mechanically and electrically to allow for safe inspection and repair work.
  • Clean and lubricate boilers and auxiliary equipment and make minor adjustments as needed, using hand tools.
  • Check the air quality of ventilation systems and make adjustments to ensure compliance with mandated safety codes.
  • Perform or arrange for repairs, such as complete overhauls, replacement of defective valves, gaskets, or bearings, or fabrication of new parts.
  • Weigh, measure, and record fuel used.
  • Develop operation, safety, and maintenance procedures or assist in their development.
  • Install burners and auxiliary equipment, using hand tools.
  • Contact equipment manufacturers or appropriate specialists when necessary to resolve equipment problems.
  • Test electrical systems to determine voltages, using voltage meters.
  • Provide assistance to plumbers in repairing or replacing water, sewer, or waste lines, and in daily maintenance activities.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Operate energy production equipment.
  • Operate pumping systems or equipment.
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
  • Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate gas flow.
  • Monitor equipment fluid levels.
  • Ignite fuel to activate heating equipment.
  • Inspect production equipment.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Operate energy distribution equipment.
  • Adjust flow of electricity to tools or production equipment.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Repair production equipment or tools.
  • Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
  • Plan production or operational procedures or sequences.
  • Assemble electromechanical or hydraulic systems.
  • Confer with others to resolve production problems or equipment malfunctions.

Skills and Abilities for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • TroubleshootingDetermining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Equipment MaintenancePerforming routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • RepairingRepairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable wrenches
  • Voltage or current meterse.g. Amp meters
  • Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathee.g. Bench lathes
  • Pressure sensorse.g. Bourdon tubes
  • Claw hammere.g. Claw hammers
  • Colorimeterse.g. Colorimeters
  • Explosimeterse.g. Combustion analyzers
  • Conductivity meterse.g. Conductivity meters
  • Pneumatic sanding machinese.g. Descalers
  • Caliperse.g. Dial calipers
  • Dial indicator or dial gaugee.g. Dial indicators
  • Multimeterse.g. Digital multimeters
  • Drill press or radial drille.g. Drill presses
  • Dropping pipettese.g. Dropping pipettes
  • Drain or pipe cleaning equipmente.g. Electric drain augers
  • Remote reading thermometerse.g. Electronic remote reading thermometers
  • Temperature transmitterse.g. Electronic temperature sensors
  • Cleaning scraperse.g. Equipment cleaning scrapers
  • Masks or accessoriese.g. Filter masks
  • Forkliftse.g. Forklifts
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.