Greaser

Greasers make sure industrial machines are properly lubricated to maintain operations. They use grease guns to oil machines. Greasers also perform basic maintenance and repair duties.

A greaser typically does the following:

• Lubricates moving parts of heavy equipment throughout the facility.
• Changes oil in machine reservoirs; cleans and replaces oil filters.
• Ensures that automatic lubrication equipment operates correctly, replacing empty drums or malfunctioning lines.
• Fills automatic dispensers, oil cans, and oil cups.
• Identifies machines and equipment requiring repair or maintenance through provided work orders and specifications.
• Identifies when and what type of preventive maintenance is required for heavy equipment; performs the maintenance, reporting any need for additional maintenance or repairs to supervisor.
• Completes logs, reports, or other documentation related to the installation, replacement, modification, or changing of machine parts and attachments.
• Removes superfluous oil and grease from machinery, tools, and floor.
• Complies with applicable national and company laws, regulations, and guidelines regarding health, safety, and environmental protection.

The following job titles also refer to greaser:

lubrication technician
machinery lubrication technician
bearing greaser
machine oiler
oiler
lube technician
grease gun operative
machine greaser
machinery lube technician

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a greaser. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

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.

Greaser is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

pneumatic systems technician
industrial machinery assembler
fluid power technician
nailing machine operator
container equipment assembler

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

pneumatic engineering technician
industrial engineering technician
process engineering technician
production engineering technician
pulp control operator

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

• Industrial tools: The tools and equipment used for industrial purposes, both power and hand tools, and their various uses.

These skills are necessary for the role of greaser.

• Operate grease gun: Use a grease gun loaded with oil to lubricate industrial machinery in order to ensure proper operations.
• 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.
• Maintain machinery: Maintain machinery and equipment in order to ensure that it is clean and in safe, working order. Perform routine maintenance on equipment and adjust or repair when necessary, using hand and power tools. Replace defective parts components or systems.
• Conduct routine machinery checks: Check machinery and equipment to ensure reliable performance during use and operations in worksites.
• Secure working area: Secure the operation site fixing boundaries, restricting access, placing signs and taking other measures in order to guarantee public and staff safety.
• Clean up spilled oil: Safely clean up and dispose of spilled oil.

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

• Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.

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

• Order supplies: Command products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.
• Lubricate engines: Apply motor oil to engines to lubricate internal combustion engines in order to reduce wear, to clean and to cool the engine.
• Maintain industrial equipment: Perform routine maintenance on industrial machinery and equipment to ensure that it is clean and in safe, working order.
• Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
• Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
• Perform maintenance on installed equipment: Perform the maintenance on installed equipment on-site. Follow procedures to avoid uninstalling equipment from machinery or vehicles.
• 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.
• Lubricate rolling stock wheels: Use oil to lubricate the wheels of rolling stock.

7233 – Agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers

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References

1. Greaser – ESCO
2. Oiler and Greaser – SHRM