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Separating and Still Machine Operator

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AVG. SALARY

$34,820

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EDUCATION

High school preferred +

What They Do

Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Career Video

About This Career

Sets up, operates, or tends continuous flow or vat-type equipment; filter presses; shaker screens; centrifuges; condenser tubes; precipitating, fermenting, or evaporating tanks; scrubbing towers; or batch stills. These machines extract, sort, or separate liquids, gases, or solids from other materials to recover a refined product. Includes dairy processing equipment operators.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Dumps, pours, or loads specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
  • Operates machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
  • Monitors material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions.
  • Turns valves or moves controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials.
  • Sets up or adjusts machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
  • Examines samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.
  • Starts agitators, shakers, conveyors, pumps, or centrifuge machines.
  • Inspects machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.
  • Collects samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
  • Communicates processing instructions to other workers.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Maintaining a body position that prevents falling when in an unstable position
  • Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
  • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Detecting sounds and hearing the differences between sounds of different pitch and loudness
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
  • Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

  • Rotating shift work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Blender
  • Brewer
  • Cellar Worker
  • Digester Cook
  • Machine Tender
  • Paper Machine Tender
  • Plant Operator
  • Pulper Operator
  • Winemaker