Boiler Operator Job Description
Boiler operators play an essential role in the upkeep and maintenance of commercial buildings and factories. They are in charge of maintaining and operating heat, power, air conditioning, and ventilation. Boiler operators are not only responsible for stationary equipment inside buildings; in effect, they play a huge role in maintaining the safety of the people within it.
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Definition
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, boiler operators maintain and control systems, such as "boilers, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment, diesel engines, turbines, generators, pumps, condensers and compressors." The equipment that boiler operators control is similar to what marine or locomotive engineers encounter, except boiler operators work with machinery that does not move, also known as stationary equipment. Boiler operators start, regulate, monitor, repair and shut down machinery in accordance with building and health guidelines and regulations. They work with gauges, meters, and computerized controls. The average workweek is 40 hours, with holiday and weekend work often required.
Environment
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Boiler operators work within large office buildings, warehouses, malls, factories and other commercial facilities with extensive air-conditioning, heating and ventilation. They typically work within clean and well-lighted power plants, boiler rooms, engine rooms, mechanical rooms and electrical rooms. However, some boiler operators are exposed to unfavorable conditions, such as dust, dirt, high temperatures and high noise levels. They will be in contact with grease, oil or smoke. They may need to adapt to certain spaces and crawl or crouch to handle certain equipment. Because they work in hazardous environments, they are trained to avoid electric shock, burns, moving equipment and toxic chemicals.
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Education and Training
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Many boiler operators begin work as an assistant. They acquire on-the-job training under the supervision of an experienced boiler operator. Others enter formal training programs or apprenticeships. After they complete training, they will become licensed to work with stationary equipment without supervision. Most employers prefer a high school diploma or its equivalent. The International Union of Operating Engineers supports apprenticeship paired with formal study. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an apprenticeship lasts four years with 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 600 hours of classroom instruction.
Licensing
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Most states require a license. An applicant must be at least 18 years old, reside for a specific amount of time within the state, meet the experience requirements and pass a written exam. If a boiler operator moves from one state to another, he may have to take another exam due to regional specifications. First-class and lower-class licenses may exist, depending on the state. A first-class license will allow a boiler operator to deal with more equipment than a lower-class license; however, a lower-class license may first be required before becoming eligible to take the first-class license examination.
Other Qualifications
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Boiler operators require high manual dexterity, mechanical aptitude and physical ability. According to the Occupational Information Network, boiler operators are realistic, investigative and conventional. Realistic means they "prefer practical, hands-on problems and solutions." They are investigative because they work with "ideas and an extensive amount of thinking." Boiler operators are conventional because they follow "procedures and routines."
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