A professional who taps blast furnace to fill ladles with molten metal. Respnsibilities include:

• Drills taphole preparatory to tapping, using power hand drill.
• Positions splasher plate in front of taphole to prevent splashing of metal when furnace is tapped.
• Guides point of oxygen lance into drilled taphole to tap furnace.
• Opens gates and shutters to direct flow of molten iron onto runners and into ladles.
• Plugs taphole after ladles are filled, using mud gun.
• Assists other workers in breaking up and removing slag from runners, relining runners with sand, clay, and refractory mixture, and drying relined runners.
• Repairs or replaces defective tuyeres, blowpipes, and boshplates in furnace, using handtools.