# Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

> Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Operate equipment such as steam engines, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers.

- Code: 51-8021.00 (O*NET-SOC; SOC 2018 51-8021)
- Family: [Production](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations#family-51), one of its 114 occupations
- Tasks: 25 tasks (20 core and 5 supplemental)
- Page: https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/51-8021.00
- JSON: https://foundation.org.ai/data/tasks/51-8021.00.json

## What the work is made of

1. Operate or tend stationary engines, boilers, and auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, compressors, or air-conditioning equipment, to supply and maintain steam or heat for buildings, marine vessels, or pneumatic tools.  
   Core task · Task 10468 · Rated by 66 people who do the job, August 2023
2. Activate valves to maintain required amounts of water in boilers, to adjust supplies of combustion air, and to control the flow of fuel into burners.  
   Core task · Task 10471 · Rated by 64 people who do the job, August 2023
3. Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.  
   Core task · Task 10472 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
4. Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.  
   Core task · Task 10475 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
5. Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.  
   Core task · Task 10469 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
6. Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.  
   Core task · Task 10476 · Rated by 66 people who do the job, August 2023
7. Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.  
   Core task · Task 10470 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, August 2023
8. Monitor and inspect equipment, computer terminals, switches, valves, gauges, alarms, safety devices, and meters to detect leaks or malfunctions and to ensure that equipment is operating efficiently and safely.  
   Core task · Task 10474 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
9. Switch from automatic to manual controls and isolate equipment mechanically and electrically to allow for safe inspection and repair work.  
   Core task · Task 10478 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
10. Perform or arrange for repairs, such as complete overhauls, replacement of defective valves, gaskets, or bearings, or fabrication of new parts.  
   Core task · Task 10481 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
11. Adjust controls and/or valves on equipment to provide power, and to regulate and set operations of system or industrial processes.  
   Core task · Task 10477 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
12. Clean and lubricate boilers and auxiliary equipment and make minor adjustments as needed, using hand tools.  
   Core task · Task 10479 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
13. Develop operation, safety, and maintenance procedures or assist in their development.  
   Core task · Task 10483 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
14. Test electrical systems to determine voltages, using voltage meters.  
   Core task · Task 10486 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
15. Contact equipment manufacturers or appropriate specialists when necessary to resolve equipment problems.  
   Core task · Task 10485 · Rated by 64 people who do the job, August 2023
16. Weigh, measure, and record fuel used.  
   Core task · Task 10482 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
17. Receive instructions from steam engineers regarding steam plant and air compressor operations.  
   Core task · Task 10489 · Rated by 66 people who do the job, August 2023
18. Install burners and auxiliary equipment, using hand tools.  
   Core task · Task 10484 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
19. Check the air quality of ventilation systems and make adjustments to ensure compliance with mandated safety codes.  
   Core task · Task 10480 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
20. Provide assistance to plumbers in repairing or replacing water, sewer, or waste lines, and in daily maintenance activities.  
   Core task · Task 10487 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
21. Fire coal furnaces by hand or with stokers and gas- or oil-fed boilers, using automatic gas feeds or oil pumps.  
   Supplemental task · Task 10473 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
22. Supervise the work of assistant stationary engineers, turbine operators, boiler tenders, or air conditioning and refrigeration operators and mechanics.  
   Supplemental task · Task 10488 · Rated by 64 people who do the job, August 2023
23. Investigate and report on accidents.  
   Supplemental task · Task 10491 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
24. Operate mechanical hoppers and provide assistance in their adjustment and repair.  
   Supplemental task · Task 10492 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
25. Ignite fuel in burners, using torches or flames.  
   Supplemental task · Task 10490 · Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023

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## Where this comes from

Quoted from O*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0: free to copy and reuse, with credit. Nothing on this page is written by the Org.AI Foundation.
