All about the profession pumping machine operator

Various production processes involve the movement of liquid substances sent through pipelines to the tank using pumping units. In order for the pumping equipment to function smoothly, a specially trained worker is required who will monitor this process and, if necessary, be able to prevent an emergency in a timely manner.

Pump operator is a specialist whose profession is associated with the functioning of various systems. In the process of his work, he needs to take into account the data of instrumentation sensors and devices in order to maintain pumping equipment in working condition. Most industrial facilities are equipped with automated pumping units, for their maintenance to the driver knowledge and skills required with such systems. In the event of an emergency, the driver must promptly take measures that include stopping the flow of liquid substances. Or their driving mode is changing.

To perform his duties, the pumping unit operator must understand the design features of pumping units, be able to detect malfunctions and, within the scope of their competence, eliminate them, and if this is not possible, the specialist is obliged to give an emergency message to the higher management about the presence of an emergency. Before starting work, the driver is required to briefing on the rules of work at the pump installation and safety. Each year, briefing is repeated.If during the examination of knowledge the specialist does not meet the established requirements, he will be removed from work. He will be able to work independently only after increasing his level of competence.

In addition to coaching, access to work also implies medical examination - the employee undergoes a medical examination before being hired and then, annually, according to the schedule established by the employer.

On the territory of Russia there is a single directory where tariffs and standards of working professions (ETKS) are indicated, according to which for a pump driver installation specialty their qualifications from 2 to 6 categories are provided. On the basis of the ETKS, which is updated every year, all enterprises and organizations where such employees are on the staff also update job descriptions, bringing them in accordance with applicable law.

The productivity of pumping stations can be different, and the higher it is, the more serious requirements are placed on the qualifications of the specialists serving it. The wage of the employee also depends on the level of discharge. The lowest paid qualification is 2 categories. Such a specialist is allowed to work on the installation, the total supply of which does not exceed 1000 cubic meters. / m3 per hour, but if we are talking about gas or oil products, then the supply level is permissible up to 100 cubic meters. / m3.

Installations of higher productivity from 1000 to 3000 cubic meters. / m3 are served by drivers 3 categories. To work with a feed volume of 3,000 to 10,000 cubic meters. / m3 qualification required 4 categories, and for supply from 10,000 to 15,000 cubic meters. / m3 the driver should have 5th category. Qualification 6 category allows operation in installations with a flow of more than 15,000 cubic meters. / m3 per hour.

In total, the pump installation operator must perform the following duties:

• performance of work on maintenance of pumping equipment at industrial sites, water intakes, construction facilities, as well as in the field, with the elimination of failures and shortcomings;
• monitoring the operation of vacuum pumping units, as well as their maintenance;
• commissioning and shutdown of the system;
• monitoring the maintenance of preset pressure parameters in the pumping system;
• ensuring the operation of the system without interruption over the entire length of the serviced pipeline working section;
• repair and maintenance of electrical installations, monitoring the load of electrical equipment;
• accounting and reporting on the operation of the pumping unit;
• participation in the current and overhaul of the installation.

A pumping equipment maintenance specialist requires not only practical skills, but also theoretical knowledge. Driver must know the physicochemical properties of the productthat is pumped through the system, and also possess knowledge in the field of electrical work. In addition, to maintain the system, you need to understand the used engine oils, know the principle of the pump, engine, and measuring device design.

Since the duties of the driver are equipment repair and commissioningHe must have the skills to work with pumps of various designs, know the schemes of any communications, the ultimate loads that equipment can withstand, and also be able to quickly fix emergency breakdowns of equipment. The work of the driver at the pump station requires observance of safety measures and fire protection. Every employee of the installation should know and be able to take emergency measures in case of dangerous situations.A competent and experienced specialist should also have a certain character set: attention to details, accuracy, a high level of responsibility and discipline.

The pumping unit employee should be guided by a local document called "Job description"in which his responsibilities are clearly formulated. If these duties are not performed or the work is performed inappropriately, as well as for violation of labor discipline, labor protection and fire safety requirements, the employee bears personal responsibility in accordance with the norms of the current labor legislation. When causing material damage or causing damage to the business reputation of the organization in which he carries out his labor activity, a pumping unit operator may be punished under labor, administrative, civil or criminal law.

To work as a pumping machine operator, you must have a secondary technical vocational education. You can get it in 2 ways.

• After the end of 9 or 11 classes enter a college or technical school with a technical bias, where they are trained in the relevant specialty. The term of study will be 2 years after the end of 11 classes and 4 years after the completion of 9 classes of school education.
• Having basic technical secondary vocational education, you can get additional specialization in specialized courses in accredited institutions for training. The average duration of studies at such training centers is 1 year. It is possible that this period will be even shorter - it depends on the volume of the course program and the training hours allocated to it.

Ready-made specialists can also take part in training with the aim of raising the level of qualification and raising the rank. For pumping machine drivers, in the course of their labor activity, they are required to improve their qualifications with a frequency of once every 5 years. The learning process can be full-time, part-time or part-time, when electronic methods of distance educational process are used. After completing the training course, the student is issued a certificate of receipt of the profession of a machinist of pumping systems and installations with the assignment of the corresponding category.

A specialist servicing technological pumps and compressors, as well as pumping stations, may be in demand in the following economic and industrial fields:

• Agriculture;
• gas and oil industry;
• industrial water intake;
• construction sites;
• operation and maintenance of water heating plants, boilers, pipelines, heating systems, steam manifold, deaerator;
• processing and coal mining enterprises;
• production workshop for shipment of liquid finished products.

Specialist salary depends on the scale of production, specialist qualifications and the volume of productivity of the pump unit. Often pumping stations are located in adverse climatic regions, for example, in the Far North. In this case, the employee receives a wage bonus and certain benefits.