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re: Can someone please tell me wtf a plant operator is and what they do?
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:42 pm to LSUTygerFan
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:42 pm to LSUTygerFan
quote:
The average salary for Garbage Man in New York, New York is $53,140
yep, not OT $, but that's closer to base pay, and I'm pretty sure that's for the guys on the back of the truck, they get OT, benefits, etc., drivers are teamsters, I believe, they make considerably more
0
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:43 pm to Croacka
quote:
They are typically working around dangerous chemicals, high heat and high pressure
Aah now we're getting somewhere. Ok that makes sense.
What exactly do they do with these chemicals? My assumptions, again based mainly from here, are the plant workers are just dumbasses that didn't go to college. So if their job is working around dangerous chemicals, doesn't it seem like they would have to be highly trained and semi-intelligent?
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:43 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
head boss of the whole plant
lulz.
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:43 pm to LSUfan4444
quote:
They make alot of money that they blow at the bar and their wives blow on other guys.
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:44 pm to CQQ
quote:
You say you're in Atlanta like plants are only in LA
I've seen plenty of plants in my day, but I have never heard anybody say a single word about any of them, in contrast to this board which talks about LA plants quite often. This leads me to believe they are different, make sense?
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:44 pm to WG_Dawg
They aren't as intelligent as you and make twice as much money. That is what I gather from these discussions at least 
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:44 pm to Croacka
quote:
I'm not an operator so I'm not 100% on it all
1. The companies they work for make a very valuable commodity..so they are compensated well.
2. The job normally requires being removed from civilization for extended periods of time...working on holidays, birthdays, etc.
3. There is a risk factor
4. They work a shite ton of hours.
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:45 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
What exactly do they do with these chemicals?
there are places that turn crude oil into other fuels, or some places that just produce chemicals used in other processes or household items/plastics/fertilizer etc.
usually a process involves taking a few chemicals or elements and creating something else with the use of pressure and heat.....these chemicals are the product that the plant was made to produce, and its sold to other plants/gas stations/factories.....whoever needs that product
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:45 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
So if their job is working around dangerous chemicals, doesn't it seem like they would have to be highly trained and semi-intelligent?
they are given a step-by-step guide which spells out exactly what they are supposed to do.
all they need to do is be able to read.
or at least one person on the crew needs to be able to read.
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:46 pm to WG_Dawg
A plant operator is a person who spends more time in a plant than out of plant, buys too big of a house with a nice pool and a hottub.(so that Jody can frick their wife in style)
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:46 pm to upgrayedd
quote:This is the only correct answer.
From my experiences, it looks like they just sit around, cook, bullshite, complain about their do nothing job and look down on contractors who have the audacity to come in their control room and ask for a simple permit to enter their beloved, autonomous unit.
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:47 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
-If working in a plant sucks so bad, as I am led to believe, how/why do they make so much money?
Fairly good hourly wage. Overtime and holidays. Shift work. Maybe extra pay while on night shift. I am just guessing.
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:47 pm to Displaced
quote:
they are given a step-by-step guide which spells out exactly what they are supposed to do.
all they need to do is be able to read.
or at least one person on the crew needs to be able to read.
sounds an awful a lot like engineering
coming from an engineer
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:47 pm to rondo
The typical operator basically is invisible to his family. its not far from the truth that most of these guys are an ATM for their wife and kids who never see them. they work 12 to 18 hour shifts. on turnarounds they can work 30 days straight…sleep when they aren't at work….any additional spare time they fish or hunt.
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:47 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
What exactly do they do with these chemicals?
WTF. They are used to make shite that you use.
quote:
My assumptions, again based mainly from here, are the plant workers are just dumbasses that didn't go to college
In some cases but they make more money around here than engineers so they can't be that dumb. I have a 4 year degree and work in purchasing for a chemical plant. This plant is union and I can guarantee operators make double my salary, although I've only got a few years in. Hell, janitors here make over $30/hr.
quote:
So if their job is working around dangerous chemicals, doesn't it seem like they would have to be highly trained and semi-intelligent?
You have to have common sense around these environments. There's a reason EH&S departments exist. Common sense and be safe, not that tough.
Also,
quote:
The typical operator basically is invisible to his family. its not far from the truth that most of these guys are an ATM for their wife and kids who never see them. they work 12 to 18 hour shifts. on turnarounds they can work 30 days straight…sleep when they aren't at work….any additional spare time they fish or hunt.
This is pretty accurate. There was a time before I got married & had a baby I wish I would've gotten into production but regular hours/weekends off is invaluable to me.
This post was edited on 7/8/14 at 1:50 pm
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:47 pm to rondo
quote:
The job normally requires being removed from civilization for extended periods of time.
Is like similar to firemen where they will "live" at the plant for a while, then have several days off in a row to be at home?
Also, it sounds (from here) like you just have dumbasses at every level, turning wrenches and checking valves every so often....where are the skilled, trained, intelligent people? I mean SURELY when talking about extremely dangerous chemical refinement, at some level there is some nerd in a lab coat doing something..where are these people?
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:48 pm to 777Tiger
quote:
well so does being a garbageman but they don't make bank.
NYC garbage collectors say hi
Factor in their cost of living in NY then get back to me.
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:49 pm to WG_Dawg
A plant is a place that looks like this:
or
There are many along the gulf coast and Mississippi River south of Baton Rouge.
There are mostly 4 kinds of "plants"
Paper mills
power plants (that produce electricity)
refineries (turn crude oil into gasoline and other fuels)
chemical plants (turn natural gas or oil into various chemicals used to make other products like paint, plastic, fertilizer, foam, cleaning supplies, ect)
The operator is not the head boss. Operators "operate" the plant. They monitor how the plant is running and make adjustments to keep it running. They don't do a whole lot most of the time, but they work a lot of hours (people have to man the plan 24 hours/day) and they are really needed if something goes wrong. The plant manager is the boss.
There are 3 main types of people working at the plant: operators (employed by the plant, make lots of OT), engineers (employed by the plant, make little or no OT and report directly to management), and contractors (construction workers who maintain the plant or build expansions and new units (hired by management but have their own bosses).
They mostly watch tv screens and monitor the plant's activities. They also check to see if equipment needs to be serviced or replaced. During "turnarounds" (when the plant shuts down for maintenance), they make sure that pipes are cleaned out and that machines are shut down and can't be accidentally turned on while the contractors service the plant.
Plant workers generally aren't college educated and make a lot more than most college educated people. This breeds a lot of snobbery on both sides. They generally aren't dumb, but they're not exactly einsteins either. They generally have a high mechanical aptitude and lots of field knowledge but aren't exactly "book" smart.
They pay a lot because the environment is extremely dangerous. If something goes wrong (which does happen), the operators are the first round of defense to stop something catastrophic from happening. It's also work that requires a lot of knowledge to perform well. Also, they work a LOT of OT, often 20 hours or more OT/week.
or
There are many along the gulf coast and Mississippi River south of Baton Rouge.
There are mostly 4 kinds of "plants"
Paper mills
power plants (that produce electricity)
refineries (turn crude oil into gasoline and other fuels)
chemical plants (turn natural gas or oil into various chemicals used to make other products like paint, plastic, fertilizer, foam, cleaning supplies, ect)
The operator is not the head boss. Operators "operate" the plant. They monitor how the plant is running and make adjustments to keep it running. They don't do a whole lot most of the time, but they work a lot of hours (people have to man the plan 24 hours/day) and they are really needed if something goes wrong. The plant manager is the boss.
There are 3 main types of people working at the plant: operators (employed by the plant, make lots of OT), engineers (employed by the plant, make little or no OT and report directly to management), and contractors (construction workers who maintain the plant or build expansions and new units (hired by management but have their own bosses).
They mostly watch tv screens and monitor the plant's activities. They also check to see if equipment needs to be serviced or replaced. During "turnarounds" (when the plant shuts down for maintenance), they make sure that pipes are cleaned out and that machines are shut down and can't be accidentally turned on while the contractors service the plant.
Plant workers generally aren't college educated and make a lot more than most college educated people. This breeds a lot of snobbery on both sides. They generally aren't dumb, but they're not exactly einsteins either. They generally have a high mechanical aptitude and lots of field knowledge but aren't exactly "book" smart.
They pay a lot because the environment is extremely dangerous. If something goes wrong (which does happen), the operators are the first round of defense to stop something catastrophic from happening. It's also work that requires a lot of knowledge to perform well. Also, they work a LOT of OT, often 20 hours or more OT/week.
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:49 pm to CQQ
quote:
WTF. They are used to make shite that you use.
Croaka gave an actual response, thanks.
Posted on 7/8/14 at 1:49 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
Also, it sounds (from here) like you just have dumbasses at every level, turning wrenches and checking valves every so often....where are the skilled, trained, intelligent people? I mean SURELY when talking about extremely dangerous chemical refinement, at some level there is some nerd in a lab coat doing something..where are these people?
every platform I ever went on had at least one "smart" person (field operator) within a 15 minute ride away that could regulate if shite went wrong.
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