Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

What the job really is

Operate or tend machines to wash or clean products, such as barrels or kegs, glass items, tin plate, food, pulp, coal, plastic, or rubber, to remove impurities.

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9192
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 11
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Add specified amounts of chemicals to equipment at required times to maintain solution levels and concentrations.
• Observe machine operations, gauges, or thermometers, and adjust controls to maintain specified conditions.
• Set controls to regulate temperature and length of cycles, and start conveyors, pumps, agitators, and machines.
• Drain, clean, and refill machines or tanks at designated intervals, using cleaning solutions or water.
• Operate or tend machines to wash and remove impurities from items such as barrels or kegs, glass products, tin plate surfaces, dried fruit, pulp, animal stock, coal, manufactured articles, plastic, or rubber.
• Record gauge readings, materials used, processing times, or test results in production logs.
• Examine and inspect machines to detect malfunctions.
• Measure, weigh, or mix cleaning solutions, using measuring tanks, calibrated rods or suction tubes.
• Draw samples for laboratory analysis, or test solutions for conformance to specifications, such as acidity or specific gravity.
• Adjust, clean, and lubricate mechanical parts of machines, using hand tools and grease guns.
• Load machines with objects to be processed and unload them after cleaning, placing them on conveyors or racks.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Adjustable handwrenches, Air purifying respirators, Calibrated measuring rods, Clean in place CIP systems, Cleaning scrapers, Conveyor systems, Electric pallet jacks, Eye protection, Floor scrubbers, Foamers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
• Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
• Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
• Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
• Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
• Chemical Plant and System Operators

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.