Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator or Tender

Other Titles

Compressor Operator, Engine Room Operator, Freezer Operator, Freezer Person, Ice Cream Maker, Machine Operator, Refrigeration Operator, Refrigeration Supervisor, Refrigeration Technician

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. Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders are responsible for overseeing and controlling the operations of industrial cooling and freezing equipment. In doing so, they may deal with freezing tunnels and refrigerators. In this role, they are responsible for making sure that the equipment is maintaining the specified temperature. They are also tasked with monitoring the flowmeters, gauges and other settings to make sure the equipment is functioning normally. A part of their job is to start industrial cooling and freezing equipment, and to stop it at the right time to achieve the right temperature conditions for specific products or areas.

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.

Start agitators to blend contents, or start beater, scraper, and expeller blades to mix contents with air and prevent sticking.

Place or position containers into equipment, and remove containers after completion of cooling or freezing processes.

Scrape, dislodge, or break excess frost, ice, or frozen product from equipment to prevent accumulation, using hands and hand tools.

Activate mechanical rakes to regulate flow of ice from storage bins to vats.

Stir material with spoons or paddles to mix ingredients or allow even cooling and prevent coagulation.

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.

Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Equipment Maintenance→ Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Quality Control Analysis→ Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Repairing→ Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Troubleshooting→ Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

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.

Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Controlling Machines and Processes→ Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles.

Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Performing General Physical Activities→ Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Handling and Moving Objects→ Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment→ Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic principles.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment→ Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment→ Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical principles.

Coaching and Developing Others→ Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Performing Administrative Activities→ Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Record operational or production data.

Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.

Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.

Load materials into production equipment.

Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.

Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.

Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.

Operate pumping systems or equipment.

Clear equipment jams.

Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.

Weigh finished products.

Sterilize food cooking or processing equipment.

Collect samples of materials or products for testing.

Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.

Assemble electromechanical or hydraulic systems.

Install mechanical components in production equipment.

Operate mixing equipment.

Clean production equipment.

Position containers to receive materials or workpieces.

Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.

Mix substances to create chemical solutions.

Adjust position of molds during processing.

Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.

Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Perceptual Speed→ The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Control Precision→ The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Reaction Time→ The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

Static Strength→ The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

Trunk Strength→ The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Multilimb Coordination→ The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Rate Control→ The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.

Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Production and Processing→ Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Mechanical→ Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Food Production→ Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Public Safety and Security→ Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Education and Training→ Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Electronic mail software -- e.g., Microsoft Outlook; Google Gmail

Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Apple iWork Keynote; Corel Presentations; Microsoft PowerPoint

Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; Google Sheets

Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs

Air compressors

Ammeters→ Digital ammeters

Blast freezers→ Batch freezers; Belt freezers; Blast tunnel freezers; Fluidized bed freezers; Immersion freezers

Calipers→ Digital calipers

Centrifuges→ Oil separators

Chemical pumps→ Secondary fluid pumps

Chemical tanks→ Flash intercoolers; High pressure receivers; Intercoolers; Surge drums

Condensing units→ Air-cooled condensers

Cooling exchangers→ Water chilling systems

Decontamination shower→ Decontamination shower stations

Ear plugs→ Protective ear plugs

Engine radiators→ Oil coolers; Thermosiphon oil coolers

Evaporative coolers→ Direct expansion evaporators; Flooded evaporators; Liquid overfeed evaporators

Expansion valves→ Hand expansion valves; Thermostatic expansion valves

Eyewashers or eye wash stations→ Eyewash stations

Fire extinguishers→ Portable fire extinguishers

Flowmeters→ Digital flowmeters

Handheld refractometers or polarimeters→ Handheld refractometers

Heat exchangers→ Falling film heat exchangers; Plate heat exchangers; Scraped surface heat exchangers; Shell and tube heat exchangers

Hydrometers→ Digital hydrometers

Ice cube makers→ Ice cube forming machines

Level sensors or transmitters→ Liquid level indicators

Liquid leak detectors→ Electronic refrigerant leak detectors

Low temperature freezers→ Spiral freezers

Manometers→ Digital manometers

Micrometers→ Digital micrometers

Mixers or agitators→ Freezing agitators

Ohmmeters→ Ohm meters

Oil pumps→ Low pressure accumulators

Personal computers

pH meters→ pH testers

Plate freezers

Positive displacement pumps→ Positive displacement compressors

Pressure indicators→ Ammonia pressure gauges; Magnehelic pressure gauges

Pressure regulator→ Back-pressure regulators

Radiators→ Thermal fluid systems

Reciprocating compressors

Refrigerant compressors→ Hermetic pumps; Refrigerant pumps

Relief valves→ Defrost relief valves; Pressure relief valves

Remote reading thermometers→ Remote thermometers

Respirators→ Air purifying respirators

Rotary compressors→ Rotary vane compressors

Rulers→ Depth gauges

Safety boots→ Impervious boots

Safety glasses→ Protective glasses

Sampling pumps→ Auto-purgers

Scissor lift or lift table→ Scissor lifts

Screw compressors→ Rotary screw compressors

Single gas monitors→ Ammonia detectors

Steam condenser→ Evaporative condensers

Steam generators→ Boiler generators

Telescoping boom lift→ Telescopic booms

Thermoelectric cooler→ Recirculators

Ultraviolet UV lamps

Vacuum gauges→ Compound gauges

Voltage or current meters→ Volt meters

Water cooled condensor→ Water-cooled condensers

Water level regulator→ Oil level regulators

Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.