Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders

What the job really is

Operate or tend equipment such as cooling and freezing units, refrigerators, batch freezers, and freezing tunnels, to cool or freeze products, food, blood plasma, and chemicals.

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9193
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Record temperatures, amounts of materials processed, or test results on report forms.
• Monitor pressure gauges, ammeters, flowmeters, thermometers, or products, and adjust controls to maintain specified conditions, such as feed rate, product consistency, temperature, air pressure, and machine speed.
• Read dials and gauges on panel control boards to ascertain temperatures, alkalinities, and densities of mixtures, and turn valves to obtain specified mixtures.
• Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes.
• Correct machinery malfunctions by performing actions such as removing jams, and inform supervisors of malfunctions as necessary.
• Assemble equipment, and attach pipes, fittings, or valves, using hand tools.
• Measure or weigh specified amounts of ingredients or materials, and load them into tanks, vats, hoppers, or other equipment.
• Adjust machine or freezer speed and air intake to obtain desired consistency and amount of product.
• Weigh packages and adjust freezer air valves or switches on filler heads to obtain specified amounts of product in each container.
• Inspect and flush lines with solutions or steam, and spray equipment with sterilizing solutions.
• Load and position wrapping paper, sticks, bags, or cartons into dispensing machines.
• Sample and test product characteristics such as specific gravity, acidity, and sugar content, using hydrometers, pH meters, or refractometers.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Air compressors, Air purifying respirators, Air-cooled condensers, Ammonia detectors, Ammonia pressure gauges, Auto-purgers, Back-pressure regulators, Batch freezers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
• Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
• Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
• Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
• Food Batchmakers
• Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

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

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Cooling and Freezing 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.