A professional who assists refinery operator in distillation and processing of crude and refined oil. Respnsibilities include:

• Patrols area and inspects equipment, such as furnaces, distilling units, lines, and pumps, to detect malfunctions and leakage.
• Reads flowmeters and temperature and pressure gauges, and records data.
• Adjusts control instruments and dampers on oil burners to maintain specified firing conditions.
• Reports operating condition of units to refinery operator.
• Turns valves and switches as directed to regulate temperature, pressure, and flow rate of product; to direct flow of product to other units; to maintain specified levels of oil in tanks and towers; and to start, stop, and regulate equipment, such as pumps, compressors, and blowers.
• Draws samples of product from tanks and towers for laboratory testing.
• Gauges product in tanks and operates pumps and agitators to mix product or load it into storage tanks.
• Lubricates, cleans, and repairs equipment.
• May change recording charts and ink pens.
• May be designated according to type of processing unit or department as Absorption-Plant-Operator Helper; Purification-Operator Helper; Refinery Operator Helper, Cracking Unit; Refinery Operator Helper, Crude Unit.
• Performs other duties as described under helper master title.