Refining machine operator

Refining machine operators tend machines to refine crude oils, such as soybean oil, cottonseed oil, and peanut oil. They tend wash tanks to remove by-products and remove impurities with heat.

The duties of a refining machine operator include, but are not limited to:

• Tending machine to refine crude oils such as, groundnut, peanut, soya bean, etc., for preservation or for making hydrogenated oil
• Turning valve to pump oil and caustic solution from storage tanks into machine tanks as specified
• Starting machine to separate caustic from oil by centrifugal force
• Setting thermostat, observes gauges and regulating valves to maintain prescribed temperature in wash and dryer tanks
• Turning valves to pump mixtures to wash and dryer tanks to remove by-products with water and impurities with heat
• Turning valve to pump refined oil to storage tanks or for further processing
• Cleaning vessels, using water and steam

The following job titles also refer to refining machine operator:

refining operator
refining worker
refining machine operative
refining machine worker

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a refining machine 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.

Refining machine operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

centrifuge operator
cocoa mill operator
blender operator
clarifier
oil mill operator

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

green coffee coordinator
water treatment systems operator
animal feed supervisor
food production planner
green coffee buyer

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

• Origin of dietary fats and oils: The distinction between dietary fats that come fromanimals and oils derived from vegetables.
• Mechanical tools: Understand machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Alkali stages of refining processes for edible oils: Stages of the alkali refining process for edible oils which include heating, conditioning, neutralising, re-refining, washing of oils.

These skills are necessary for the role of refining machine operator.

• Operate centrifuges: Adjust working condition as speed and time of centrifuges according to the requirements of the product in process. Operate centrifuges.
• Measure density of liquids: Measuring the density of liquids, including oils, using instruments such as hygrometers, or oscillating tubes.
• Ensure sanitation: Keep workspaces and equipment free from dirt, infection, and disease by removing waste, trash and providing for appropriate cleaning.
• Disassemble equipment: Disassembles equipment using hand tools in order to clean equipments and to perform regular operational maintenance.
• Ensure public safety and security: Implement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.
• Control flow of oils: Adjust controls to regulate flow of oils through lines and tanks.
• Tend centrifuge machines: Operate centrifuge that purifies animal and vegetable oils. Position filter cloth on centrifuge supply tank. Start centrifuge and transfer filtered material from centrifuge into portable tank.
• Clean food and beverage machinery: Clean machinery used for food or beverage production processes. Prepare the appropriate solutions for cleaning. Prepare all parts and assure that they are clean enough to avoid deviation or errors in the production process.
• Apply HACCP: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
• Be at ease in unsafe environments: Be at ease in unsafe environments like being exposed to dust, rotating equipment, hot surfaces, sub-freezing and cold storage areas, noise, wet floors and moving lift equipment.
• Prepare engine room for operation: Prepare and start main engine and auxiliary engines; prepare machinery in engine room prior to departure; know and follow starting procedures according to checklist.
• Wash oils: Wash oils to reduce the soap left over in the oil after the first stage of refining. Heat the oil to the right temperature, then add a certain amount of wash water to be mixed into the oil by the dynamic mixer. Operate the flow meter for hot water and the electro-pneumatic metering valve.
• Follow hygienic procedures during food processing: Ensure a clean working space according to hygienic standards in the food processing industry.
• Adhere to organisational guidelines: Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
• Lift heavy weights: Lift heavy weights and apply ergonomic lifting techniques to avoid damaging the body.
• Pump products: Operate pumping machines according to specific procedures and depending on the kind of product. Ensure correct quantities and adequate feeding for the process.
• Apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages: Apply and follow national, international, and internal requirements quoted in standards, regulations and other specifications related with manufacturing of food and beverages.
• Apply GMP: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Monitor centrifugal separators: Operating and monitoring centrifugal separators.

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

• Health, safety and hygiene legislation: The set of health, safety and hygiene standards and items of legislation applicable in a specific sector.
• Oil seed process: Oil seed process from cleaning the oil bearing seed, decorticating the seed, crushing, conditioning and heating, to filtering and neutralising.
• Chemistry: The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.
• Free fatty acid elimination processes: The processes for the refining of edible oils and fats to eliminate free fatty acids (FFA). This includes the physical refining, a process that builds on the lower boiling point of the free fatty acids compared to the boiling point of the triglyceride oil, and also chemical or alkaline refining, where an alkali is used to neutralise the free fatty acids.

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

• Check sensorial parameters of oils and fats: Check sensorial parameters of olive oils, seed oils and edible fats such as taste, smell and touch.
• Set up equipment for food production: Set up machinery and equipment for food production. Make sure that controls, settings, and input requirements are according to the required standards.
• Act reliably: Proceed in a way that one can be relied on or depended on.
• Perform cleaning duties: Perform cleaning duties such as waste removal, vacuuming, emptying bins, and general cleaning of the working area. Cleaning activities should follow health and safety regulations if required.
• Write routine reports: Compose routine reports; identify appropriate forms or documents to record data from manual inspections and/or electronic systems. Write clear observations as required. A written report is usually a summary of readings from the routine performance of the reticulation system.
• Keep machines oiled for steady functioning: Oil or grease the parts of the machines and equipment that need to be lubricated. Follow safety procedures to do so.
• Liaise with colleagues: Liaise with fellow colleagues to ensure common understanding on work related affairs and agree on the necessary compromises the parties might need to face. Negotiate compromises between parties as to ensure that work in general run efficiently towards the achievement of the objectives.
• Address problems critically: Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.
• Degum liquids: Remove gums from water and oils. Use equipment to separate hydratable gums and other solubles that exude from certain plants.
• Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
• Exert quality control to processing food: Ensure the quality of all factors involved in a food production process.
• Ensure compliance with environmental legislation in food production: Make sure to comply with environmental legislation in food production. Understand the legislation related to environmental matters in food manufacturing and apply it in practice.
• Interpret data in food manufacturing: Interpret data from different sources, like market data, scientific papers, and customers requirements in order to research development and innovation in food sector.
• Label samples: Label raw material/ product samples for laboratory checks, according to implemented quality system.

8160 – Food and related products machine operators

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References

1. Refining machine operator – ESCO
2. Refining Machine Operatt (Oils and Fats) – TUCareers