Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders - 51-4051.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting or to produce specified types of steel.

DOT Titles Included in this O*NET-SOC Code

  • Cadmium Burner
  • Charger Operator
  • Cupola Tender
  • First Helper
  • Furnace Charger
  • Furnace Operator
  • Furnace Operator
  • Furnace Tender
  • Oxygen-Furnace Operator
  • Reclamation Kettle Tender, Metal
  • Stove Tender
  • Tin Recovery Worker

Sample of Occupations in this SOC Family

51-4011.00 Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic
51-4012.00 Numerical Tool and Process Control Programmers
51-4021.00 Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4022.00 Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4023.00 Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4031.00 Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4032.00 Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4033.00 Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4034.00 Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4035.00 Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4041.00 Machinists
51-4051.00 Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
51-4052.00 Pourers and Casters, Metal
51-4061.00 Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
51-4062.00 Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
51-4071.00 Foundry Mold and Coremakers
51-4072.00 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4081.00 Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Direct work crews in the cleaning and repair of furnace walls and flooring.
  • Drain, transfer, or remove molten metal from furnaces, and place it into molds, using hoists, pumps, or ladles.
  • Draw smelted metal samples from furnaces or kettles for analysis, and calculate types and amounts of materials needed to ensure that materials meet specifications.
  • Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.
  • Kindle fires, and shovel fuel and other materials into furnaces or onto conveyors by hand, with hoists, or by directing crane operators.
  • Observe air and temperature gauges or metal color and fluidity, and turn fuel valves or adjust controls to maintain required temperatures.
  • Observe operations inside furnaces, using television screens, to ensure that problems do not occur.
  • Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.
  • Prepare material to load into furnaces, including cleaning, crushing, or applying chemicals, by using crushing-machines, shovels, rakes, or sprayers.
  • Record production data, and maintain production logs.
  • Regulate supplies of fuel and air, or control flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces and adjust temperatures.
  • Remove impurities from the surface of molten metal, using strainers.
  • Scrape accumulations of metal oxides from floors, molds, and crucibles, and sift and store them for reclamation.
  • Sprinkle chemicals over molten metal to bring impurities to the surface.
  • Weigh materials to be charged into furnaces, using scales.

Detailed Work Activities

  • adjust production equipment/machinery setup
  • collect samples for testing
  • compute production, construction, or installation specifications
  • conduct analyses to determine physical properties of materials
  • direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
  • examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
  • inspect machinery or equipment to determine adjustments or repairs needed
  • load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
  • load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
  • maintain production or work records
  • measure, weigh, or count products or materials
  • monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
  • move or fit heavy objects
  • operate hoist, winch, or hydraulic boom
  • operate ore refining/foundry equipment/machinery
  • operate power driven pumps
  • perform safety inspections in manufacturing or industrial setting
  • signal directions or warnings to coworkers
  • use power or hand tools in metals processing
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment