A professional who operates open-hearth furnaces to produce specified types of steel. Respnsibilities include:

• Examines raw materials for conformance to specifications.
• Signals charging-machine operator to place materials in furnace.
• Turns fuel, air, and steam controls to adjust fuel mixtures and draft.
• Moves levers to circulate gas throughout furnace to distribute heat and prevent burning out of furnace walls.
• Signals overhead crane operator to pour molten metal in furnace.
• Obtains sample of metal, using long-handled spoon, and pours sample into test mold.
• Tests sample for carbon content, using carbon analyzer.
• Moves controls to open furnace doors, and shovels additives, such as fluorspar, lime, and alloys, into furnace to obtain specified type of steel.
• Determines temperature of metal, using thermocouple.
• Observes color of molten metal through cobalt-blue glasses to determine when to tap furnace and notifies melter supervisor.
• Directs crew in tapping furnace and adding specified additives to ladle.
• Records operational data on forms.
• Examines furnace to determine repairs needed, and directs crew in repairing furnace walls and flooring.