Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

• Activate valves to maintain required amounts of water in boilers, to adjust supplies of combustion air, and to control the flow of fuel into burners.
• Monitor and inspect equipment, computer terminals, switches, valves, gauges, alarms, safety devices, and meters to detect leaks or malfunctions and to ensure that equipment is operating efficiently and safely.
• Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.
• Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.
• Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.
• Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.
• Operate or tend stationary engines, boilers, and auxiliary equipment such as pumps, compressors, and air-conditioning equipment, to supply and maintain steam or heat for buildings, marine vessels, or pneumatic tools.
• Adjust controls and/or valves on equipment to provide power, and to regulate and set operations of system or industrial processes.
• Switch from automatic to manual controls and isolate equipment mechanically and electrically to allow for safe inspection and repair work.
• Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.
• Develop operation, safety, and maintenance procedures or assist in their development.
• Investigate and report on accidents.
• Perform or arrange for repairs, such as complete overhauls, replacement of defective valves, gaskets, or bearings, or fabrication of new parts.
• Install burners and auxiliary equipment, using hand tools.
• Weigh, measure, and record fuel used.
• Check the air quality of ventilation systems and make adjustments to ensure compliance with mandated safety codes.
• Clean and lubricate boilers and auxiliary equipment and make minor adjustments as needed, using hand tools.
• Contact equipment manufacturers or appropriate specialists when necessary to resolve equipment problems.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators.

• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators.