Bleacher operator

Bleacher operators tend a machine that bleaches wood pulp to serve in the production of white paper. Different bleaching techniques are used to complement the various pulping methods, and to obtain different grades of whiteness.

The following job titles also refer to bleacher operator:

paper bleacher specialist
bleach stock preparation specialist
bleacher specialist
pulp bleacher specialist
bleach stock preparation technician
pulp bleacher technician
bleach stock preparation operator
paper bleacher technician
bleacher technician
paper bleacher
pulp bleacher operator
paper bleacher operator

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a bleacher operator.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Bleacher operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to bleacher operator.

paper machine operator
digester operator
froth flotation deinking operator
wash deinking operator
laminating machine operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of bleacher operator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of bleacher operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

pulp control operator
automated assembly line operator
plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
paper mill supervisor
machine operator supervisor

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of bleacher operator.

• Types of bleach: The range of bleach and others chemicals used to remove the colour from materials in a steam cooking process, adjusting the brightness and colour of the materials.
• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Types of pulp: Kinds of pulp are distinguished based on their fibre type and the specific chemical processes through which they were created.

These skills are necessary for the role of bleacher operator.

• Tend bleacher: Add the required amount of bleaching substances and additives and operate the bleaching part of the paper machine, which bleaches the pulp with liquid and solid chemicals, removing any remaining lignin and other impurities.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Work safely with machines: Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Monitor automated machines: Continuously check up on the automated machine’s set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.
• Supply machine: Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.
• Fill the mixing tank: Fill the mixing tank with the chemical ingredients, allowing also the water through the valves at the indicated mark on the tank wall.
• Set up the controller of a machine: Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
• Adjust solutions’ consistency: Adjust the consistency of a chemical solution by cooking it or by injecting steam in order to dissolve it.
• Measure materials: Measure the raw materials prior to their loading in the mixer or in machines, ensuring they conform with the specifications.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of bleacher operator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Types of paper: The different criteria used to determine differences in paper types such as coarseness and thickness, and the different fabrication methods and wood types from which the types of paper stem.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of bleacher operator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Pump products for storage: Storage tanks for processing bleached paper pulp or other equipment for further steps in the papermaking procedure.
• Dump batches: Dump the batches into conveyors making sure the specifications such as the mixing time are followed.
• Monitor gauge: Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.
• Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
• Dispose of hazardous waste: Dispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.
• Weigh materials: Weigh materials and products, record weight and other relevant data on tags or labels.
• Dispose of non-hazardous waste: Dispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures.
• Carry out waste water treatment: Perform waste water treatment according to regulations checking for biological waste and chemical waste.
• Monitor pulp quality: Avoid lesser quality and lower grades of recycled paper and pulp by keeping an eye open for stickies, plastics, colour, unbleached fibres, brightness, and dirt.
• Perform machine maintenance: Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.
• Operate digester machine: Add cooking chemicals and steam to dissolve lignin and separate the plant fibres, breaking down wood chips to recover pulp after a bleaching and drying process.
• Clean equipment: Perform cleaning routines after equipment use.
• Prepare production reports: Prepare a comprehensive and unbiased report on wood technology production and progressive development of wood based materials.
• Consult technical resources: Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.
• Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Tend agitation machine: Tend agitation machine ensuring that there is a uniform agitation of the batch.
• Monitor chemical process condition: Monitor the conformity of the chemical process, checking all indicators or warning signals provided by the instruments such as recording instruments, flowmeters and panel lights.

8171 – Pulp and papermaking plant operators

---

References

1. Bleacher operator – ESCO