Chemical Technicians Job Description

The Chemical Technician conducts chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for purposes, such as research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.

Duties:

The Chemical Technician monitors products quality to ensure compliance to standards and specifications. The Chemical Technician compiles and interprets results of tests and analyses. The Chemical Technician sets up and conducts chemical experiments, tests, and analyses using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical and chemical separation techniques, and microscopy. The Chemical Technician conducts chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials.

The Chemical Technician provides and maintains a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams, and by conducting laboratory and plant safety audits. The Chemical Technician prepares chemical solutions for products and processes following standardize formulas, or create experimental formulas. The Chemical Technician maintains, cleans, and sterilizes laboratory instruments and equipment. The Chemical Technician writes technical reports or prepares graphs and charts to document experimental results. The Chemical Technician provides technical support and assistance to chemists and engineers. The Chemical Technician orders and inventories materials to maintain supplies as part of their job function.

Activities:

The Chemical Technician observes, receives, and otherwise obtains information from all relevant sources. The Chemical Technician is responsible for the entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic form. The Chemical Technician is responsible for analyzing data or information. This includes identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts or information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. The Chemical Technician evaluates information to determine the right compliances with the given standards. They are able to do this by using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. The Chemical Technician must be able to identify objects, actions, and events pertaining to their job function. They are able to identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

The Chemical Technician must have the ability to monitor processes, materials, or surroundings when they are starting a new job function. This includes monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. The Chemical Technician must have the ability to compile, code, categorize, calculate, tabulate, audits, or verifies information or data from the compounds that he has just recently tested. Then the Chemical Technician must provide his findings to the supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. Short messages are often relayed in this manner but a full report must be made and submitted to all the appropriate parties with test results and findings. The Chemical Technician often has to make conclusions from those tests to be enclosed with the reports. This includes developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish everything needed for the job objective. The Chemical Technician must inspect equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of any errors or other problems or defects associated with the tests that were run. The findings then must be also included in his report or a secondary report might be made to accompany the original report of findings.

Skills:

The Chemical Technician must use scientific rules and methods to solve problems and come to conclusions from the tests that he has made. Often the Chemical Technician must use mathematics to solve problems that arise. He must have the ability to watch gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. This is vital so that the test results will come out pure without defect because of machine errors. The Chemical Technician must give 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. The Chemical Technical must have the ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. The Chemical Technician must understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem solving and decision making.