Laboratory Technician

Summary:

The Laboratory Technician conducts analyses to support the site’s quality requirements. The Technician also supports various health and safety and environmental initiatives. This position works under administrative direction of the plant’s Laboratory Supervisor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Laboratory Technician provides chemical and physical laboratory analyses of solid materials, liquids, and gases of raw materials as well as intermediate products and final products. The Technician provides Operations with data to ensure raw materials and products are within specifications. Typical duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Conducts tasks consistent with written work instructions.

· Adheres to all health & safety and environmental regulations and requirements.

· Ensures a safe work environment by safely storing and labeling chemicals, ensuring equipment is set up in an ergonomic manner, and maintaining housekeeping in the work area.

· Works with Laboratory Supervisor to ensure Axiall Longview Quality Assurance Plan is maintained.

· Performs additional testing as required to meet business needs. · Analyzes final product and generates Certificate of Analysis (COA).

· Documents results of tests and analyses.

· Prepares chemical solutions for use in processing materials, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures.

· Performs routine maintenance on lab equipment to ensure reliability and accuracy of instrumentation.

· Takes inventory and orders laboratory supplies to ensure continued, uninterrupted supplies are maintained.

· Assists in setting up laboratory equipment and instrumentation required for tests, research, or process control.

· Tests and analyzes chemical products and in process samples to determine purity, chemical content, and other characteristics.

· Works with Laboratory Supervisor in development of new test methods. · Participates actively in audits and inspections.

· Participates actively in health and safety programs and initiatives.

· Complete all required safety and job-related training as assigned

· Don and doff all required PPE including full face respirator (requires annual certification)

· Maintain current TWIC Card

· Successfully pass annual physical and respirator fit test/certification

Hourly Pay:

$36.35/hr

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This job is performed mainly outdoors; physical presence is required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; climb, have full use and range of motion of arms, hands and fingers to reach, grasp, hold, push or pull, twist, and work with tools; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to perform tasks that may require bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, lying down or working from elevated platforms. The employee must be able to move safely over uneven terrain or in confined spaces.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.  Lifting may occur from the ground, waist-high, or shoulder-high.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to see details of objects that are more/less than a few feet away; see differences between colors, shades and brightness and determine the distance between objects. This job requires response to audible emergency alarms inside of the plant.  Employee must be able to evacuate when required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee must be able to work in a normal factory environment, including enclosed spaces and exposure to various hazards. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Some of the work will be required in the operating units which requires usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, flame retardant clothing, etc.  Will also result in exposure to outside elements and require usage of stairs.