Lime kiln operator

Lime kiln operators control equipment that burns limestone to produce lime or carbon dioxide. They control the flow of the materials, fuel, and air and observe the material flow, air, temperature, fuel charts, and oxygen gauges and make adjustments if necessary. They also keep production records.

A lime kiln operator typically does the following:

• Tends kiln and mixing tanks to recover lime from lime sludge and produce slaked lime from recovered lime: Observes gauges and temperature charts on panel to detect variations in kiln temperature, amount of sludge in kiln, percentage of oxygen in kiln atmosphere, and rate that carbon dioxide is exhausted from kiln.
• Turns rheostats to regulate amount of sludge fed into kiln according to capacity of kiln.
• Adjusts dampers to maintain kiln at specified temperature.
• Turns rheostats to regulate intake fans according to percentage of oxygen in kiln and exhaust fans according to rate that sludge decomposes into quicklime and carbon dioxide.
• Starts conveyors to move quicklime from storage bins to dissolving tanks that automatically mix quicklime with water to form slaked lime.

Kiln operators typically work in factories or other industrial settings. They may work in teams of two or more, or they may work alone. The work can be physically demanding, and operators must be able to lift and move heavy objects. They also need to be able to stand for long periods of time and to work in hot, dusty, and noisy environments.

Kiln operators typically work full time, and they may be required to work overtime, especially during busy periods.

The following job titles also refer to lime kiln operator:

regenerative kiln operator
calcinator operator
lime kiln operative
running kiln operator
vertical kiln operator
draw kiln operator
shaft kiln operator
flare kiln operator
lime kiln worker
rotary kiln operator

There are no formal education requirements for lime kiln operators because most are trained on the job. However, employers typically prefer those with some technical schooling and a background in industrial manufacturing. Universities offer short-term courses in kiln operation, particularly kiln drying techniques used in the lumber industry.

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.

Lime kiln operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

kiln firer
clay kiln burner
clay products dry kiln operator
drawing kiln operator
slate mixer

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

air separation plant operator
chemical processing plant controller
gas station operator
gas processing plant supervisor
plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor

These skills are necessary for the role of lime kiln operator.

• Optimise production processes parameters: Optimise and maintain the parameters of the production process such as flow, temperature or pressure.
• Transfer quicklime: Transfer the quicklime through the conveyors.
• Handle hot limestone: Handle hot limestone by scooping it using a shovel in order to prepare the samples to be analysed.
• Control limestone flow: Control the flow of limestone by adjusting the scale of flow into the kiln using rheostats.
• Tend lime-kiln: Tend the lime-kiln and related equipment to burn limestone in order to produce carbon dioxide or lime.
• Write batch record documentation: Write reports on the manufactured batches history taking into account the raw data, tests performed and compliance to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) of each batch of product.
• Manage kiln ventilation: Managing a product specific and energy efficient kiln ventilation.
• Prepare chemical samples: Prepare the specific samples such as gas, liquid or solid samples in order for them to be ready for analysis, labeling and storing samples according to specifications.
• Produce slaked lime: Produce slaked lime by transferring the quicklime from the storage tank to the dissolution tanks where quicklime is mixed with water.

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

• Personal protective equipment: Types of protective materials and equipment foreseen for various types of tasks such as general or specialised cleaning activities.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

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

• Tend drawing kiln: Tend the drawing kiln in order to draw glass sheets of flat glass according to specified thickness.
• Ensure operability of protective equipment: Monitor and maintain the equipment used during remediation activities such as disinfection, decontamination, radiation removal or pollution control, in order to ensure that the equipment is functional and able to control the hazard and protect the remediation workers.
• Operate forklift: Operate a forklift, a vehicle with a pronged device in front for lifting and carrying heavy loads.
• Perform kiln maintenance: Perform small maintenance tasks on drawing kiln such as replacing the cooling pads of the jacket and plugging in the kiln with mortar.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• Manage waste: Manage or dispose of significant amounts of waste materials or hazardous materials. Ensure required licenses and permits are in place and reasonable management practices, industry standards, or commonly accepted farming practices followed.
• Maneuver stone blocks: Place blocks of stone in the correct position of the machine bed using electric hoist, wooden blocks and wedges.

8131 – Chemical products plant and machine operators

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References

1. Lime kiln operator – ESCO
2. Lime kiln operator – Job Description – CareerPlanner.com
3. Kiln Operator: Job Description & Career Requirements – Best Accredited Colleges
4. Kiln Operator: Job Description, Salary, Duties, & More – ClimbtheLadder