Laboratory Technician

Lab Technician

The INEOS O&P USA business manufactures and markets Ethylene, Propylene, Butadiene, Polypropylene and Polyethylene. Manufacturing sites include Chocolate Bayou Works (Alvin, TX), Battleground Manufacturing Complex (LaPorte, TX), and Carson PP Unit, (Carson, CA), with a division office in League City.

This position is part of the Analytical team at the Battleground Manufacturing Complex. The plant, which is located in La Porte, Texas, manufactures approximately 2 billion pounds of polyethylene and polypropylene annually. These materials are used in many applications such as containers for milk, water, fruit juice, gas tanks, carpet backing, roofing membranes, pipes, or toys.

The Lab Technician is responsible for using Standard Analytical Methods to provide prompt and accurate testing for conformance to quality specifications, for operational process control, to fulfil special customer requirements, or in support of troubleshooting or improvement projects.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Follow all safety/PPE rules and actively promote safety issues such as behavior based safety, safety audits, safety committee meetings, safety improvement reports, job safety analysis, safety inspections, etc.
• Responsible for Safety, Health and Environmental aspects of day to day operations in the lab through adherence to SHE procedures. Directly responsible for understanding, promoting and upholding the INEOS 20 Safety Principles.
• Basic knowledge of testing: complex equipment, basic chemistry or physical properties and specialized procedures. Conduct testing and analysis which sample preparation. Ensure that all analyses are performed in accordance with procedures.
• Prioritize customer requests and testing, perform tests under appropriate conditions, enter results into LIMS system. Report deviation from calibration to scientist or team leader.
• Communicate within the Analytical group/TSD/Manufacturing of test results. Discuss special testing requirements if necessary. Communicate with internal customers concerning priorities and special requests for analysis.
• Analyze monitor samples and keep equipment monitor records in accordance with the monitor policy.
• Proactively and continuously clean the laboratory and equipment to display and maintain the housekeeping standards necessary for a world-class organization.
• Follow the rules of statistical process control (SPC) on laboratory test results to assure the measurement system is in statistical control.
• Actively promote quality goals and demonstrate attention to quality in job performance.
• Check operation of testing equipment, troubleshoot equipment to identify and/or correct source of problem, perform required routine preventative maintenance, and notify the team leader of any abnormalities or maintenance requirements.
• Write Maintenance Work Orders or place orders for approved lab supplies as needed and initiate documentation in accordance with equipment maintenance policy.
• Conduct job tasks in a professional manner utilizing good housekeeping practices and laboratory technique.
• Participate in training across Analytical areas. Support workload in these areas when a need for higher testing turnover is required. Work as part of the laboratory team to accomplish organization goals.
• Follow and support the INEOS Mission, Values, Philosophies and Quality statements.

Skills & Knowledge Required

Education/Experience

• Minimum Associate Degree preferred in Chemistry and/or Chemical Technology or equivalent lab experience.
• 1-3 years lab or operations experience in a chemical plant, refinery, or gas processing plant.
• Position is straight days with possible weekend standby on a rotating basis.
• Computer Skills: E-mail, SAP, Word, Excel and PowerPoint experience preferred.
• Experience using Personal Protective Equipment
• Experience following safety procedures, including OSHA standards preferred
• Experience in following ASTM and ISO methodology according to ISO17025 Standards
• Experience in one or more of the following:
• Physical Properties testing – Tensile/Elongation, Flex Modulus, Impact Testing
• Chromatography (HPLC and/or GC)
• Wet Chemistry Methods such as Extractions and Solubility
• Spectroscopy Methods – Infrared, X-ray, ICP
• Microscopy Techniques

Skills/Competencies

• Performance Bias: A bias for action – does things before being asked or forced by events
• Business Insight: Understands internal/external customer needs and strives to exceed their expectations.
• Partnership & Teamwork: Demonstrates shared commitment to the success of the team and the wider organization.
• Customer focused - works effectively and efficiently
• Understands general laboratory analytical techniques & practices.
• Problem Solving and Judgment
• Performance Delivery. Highly motivated
• Technical and Functional Skills
• Anticipates problems and adjusts accordingly
• Consistently makes timely, effective decisions
• Basic knowledge in chemical reactions and polymer properties

Physical Requirements:

Occasional: Must be able to pick up/collect samples at designated locations on a routine basis. This task involves but is not limited to:

• Walking on sloped, unlevel or graveled terrain
• Carrying less than 10 pounds at a time
• Unloading sample trays to cart and pushing lightweight cart from outside lab to destination inside lab
• Transporting via lightweight cart – 16+ liters of hazardous chemicals in 4 liter glass bottles

Frequent: Must be able to analyze product quality control samples and other samples according to procedure. This task involves but is not limited to:

• lifting lightweight sample trays to 37 inch heights
• lifting a 30 pound water bottle on an occasional basis to a 7 inch height with a 16 inch horizontal reach
• minimal to moderate pushing and pulling to manipulate equipment (up to 25 pound of push pull force)
• standing, bending, kneeling, knee standing and squatting
• reaching at various heights up to 70-74 inches without assistance and working at horizontal reaching heights of 16 to 24 inches at chest levels
• repetitive fine motor dexterity tasks using approximately up 12 pounds of pinch force

• grasping various items using force up to 25 to 30 pounds
• works with highly caustic acids and hazardous chemicals in quantities over 1 liter
• works with instruments with pressurized lines, manipulating dewas @ 230-250 psi
• works with hot surfaces (>212° F) and ovens (60° C)
• The laboratory technician uses a cart to transport items or equipment inside the lab.

Frequent: Must be able to perform preventative maintenance tasks and minor repairs on lab equipment on an as needed basis. These tasks may include but would not be limited to:

• fine motor dexterity to manipulate equipment or tools
• grasping small equipment parts
• reaching at various heights
• lifting items less than 5 pounds
• pushing and pulling approximately 25 pounds to manipulate equipment at lab table height of 37 inches

Occasional: Must be able to perform other tasks in the lab and outside lab to include physical demands not limited to:

• lifting product waste cans to empty (lifting height 50 inches, weight up to 26 pounds)
• lifting of a small dolly in and out of the back of a truck for various tasks
• reaching to various heights to shelving (up to 79 inches without assistance)
• pushing and pulling for manipulation of 6 pack air bottles or i.e. liquid nitrogen dewer or Argon dewer, exerting up to 100 pounds of push and pull force
• manipulation of a full 30 gallon drum using a drum dolly
• gross grasping exerting up to 30 pounds with dominant hand
• fine motor manipulation and dexterity to connect and disconnect equipment- may be repetitive depending upon task
• climbing vertical ladder with 6 steps to roof (rare basis)
• bending, squatting, kneeling or knee standing,

Occasional: Must be able to perform general housekeeping tasks. These tasks include but would not be limited to:

• sweeping or mopping
• lifting lightweight trash bags
• lifting