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Unit Group (L4) • 8131

8131 — Chemical Products Plant And Machine Operators

8 PLANT AND MACHINE OPERATORS AND ASSEMBLERS› 81 Stationary Plant And Machine Operators› 813 Chemical And Photographic Products Plant And Machine Operators› 8131 Chemical Products Plant And Machine Operators

Explore overview, tasks, skills, education, work context, earnings, and pathways for this Unit Group.

L4 CODE: 8131
Job summary
  • Chemical Products Plant And Machine Operators (KeSCO 8131) supports outcomes in the Manufacturing & Process Operations sector by applying job-specific knowledge
  • standards
  • and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer
  • work setting
  • and seniority level
  • but the occupation generally requires reliability
  • competence
  • and continuous learning.
Minimum entry requirement summary
Technical Certificate or Experience in machine operation
Future outlook
  • Future trends such as digital transformation
  • automation
  • climate resilience
  • and changing consumer needs are shaping most occupations. Workers who continuously upskill (digital literacy
  • quality standards
  • safety
  • customer service
  • and modern tools) are more resilient and competitive.
Sectors and industries
Manufacturing & Process OperationsManufacturingUtilitiesTransport/LogisticsIndustrial OperationsProcess Plants
Employment prospects (narrative)
  • Prospects depend on national and county demand
  • sector investment
  • policy priorities
  • and supply of trained workers. Job seekers improve prospects by gaining practical experience
  • building a portfolio or track record
  • earning relevant certifications
  • and being flexible on location and sub-sector.
Key tasks (structured)
  • Plan and prioritise daily work activities to meet targets and deadlines
  • Follow workplace procedures, standards, and relevant regulations
  • Carry out core job duties accurately and safely
  • Use job tools/equipment/software correctly and maintain them appropriately
  • Communicate progress, issues, and requirements with supervisors and colleagues
  • Serve clients/customers professionally and resolve routine queries
  • Document work completed, maintain records, and submit routine reports
  • Identify errors, risks, or service gaps and propose improvements
  • Work as part of a team and coordinate tasks across units
  • Maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct where required
  • Comply with occupational safety and health (OSH) guidelines
  • Participate in training, mentoring, or continuous improvement activities
Core skills
  • Communication (verbal and written)
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking
  • Time management and prioritisation
  • Attention to detail and accuracy
  • Customer service orientation
  • Integrity and ethical conduct
  • Adaptability and continuous learning
  • Decision-making and judgement
  • Documentation and record-keeping
  • Digital literacy (basic)
  • Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Technical / occupational skills
  • Use of hand and power tools safely
  • Installation, maintenance, and repair procedures
  • Reading drawings/specifications and measurements
  • Troubleshooting and fault diagnosis
  • Quality control and workmanship standards
  • Equipment handling and preventive maintenance
  • Workplace safety and PPE usage
  • Basic electrical/mechanical principles (as relevant)
  • Material handling and storage
  • Site readiness and task planning
  • Compliance with standards and inspections
Transferable / soft skills
  • Leadership and supervision (as one progresses)
  • Negotiation and stakeholder management
  • Conflict resolution
  • Presentation and public speaking
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Planning and organisation
  • Resilience and stress management
  • Service mindset and empathy
  • Networking and relationship building
  • Analytical thinking
  • Professionalism and work discipline
Skills & competencies (general description)
  • Prospects depend on national and county demand
  • sector investment
  • policy priorities
  • and supply of trained workers. Job seekers improve prospects by gaining practical experience
  • building a portfolio or track record
  • earning relevant certifications
  • and being flexible on location and sub-sector.
Certifications, licenses & registration
  • Trade test / competency certification (where applicable)
  • Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) certification (strongly recommended)
  • Equipment-specific operator certification (where applicable)
  • First Aid certification (recommended in many workplaces)
Education & training pathways (narrative)
  • TVET certificate/artisan programme aligned to the occupation
  • Diploma programme for more advanced technical roles
  • Attachment/industrial training/apprenticeship
  • Competency assessment/trade test (where applicable)
  • Experience-based progression into senior technician/foreman/supervisor roles
Education pathways (structured)
  • TVET certificate/artisan programme aligned to the occupation
  • Diploma programme for more advanced technical roles
  • Attachment/industrial training/apprenticeship
  • Competency assessment/trade test (where applicable)
  • Experience-based progression into senior technician/foreman/supervisor roles
Minimum entry requirements
  • Minimum education: Technical Certificate or Experience in machine operation
  • Basic literacy and numeracy (reading, writing, and basic calculations)
  • Good conduct, reliability, and professional behaviour
  • Ability to follow instructions, procedures, and workplace rules
  • Basic digital literacy where the role uses computers/phones
  • Physical/medical fitness where the role is physically demanding or safety-sensitive
  • Regulatory registration/licensing where required (profession-dependent)
  • Background checks/clearance for sensitive roles where applicable
Relevant courses to consider
  • Diploma/Certificate in Electrical/Electronics Engineering
  • Diploma/Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
  • Civil/Construction Technology
  • Welding and Fabrication
  • Plumbing and Pipefitting
  • Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
  • Automotive Mechanics
  • Plant/Machine Operation
  • Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
  • CAD/Draughting basics
Institutions where to learn
  • Universities (accredited public and private universities offering relevant programmes)
  • National Polytechnics and TVET institutions (diploma, certificate, artisan programmes)
  • Technical Training Institutes and Vocational Centres
  • Professional Colleges and Accredited Training Academies
  • Sector Training Authorities and Recognised Centres of Excellence
  • Employer-based Academies and Apprenticeship Programmes
  • Online Learning Platforms (supplementary; verify recognition for regulated fields)
  • Industry Associations and Professional Bodies (short courses/CPD)
Work environment & conditions (narrative)
  • Workplace policies
  • Team collaboration
  • Quality standards
  • Factory/plant
  • Process operations
  • Machine monitoring
  • Safety compliance
Typical employers / places of work
  • Public sector institutions
  • private companies
  • NGOs and community-based organisations depending on the sector.
Work setting
Not specified.
Work schedule
Full-time commonShift-based possibleWeekends/holidays possible
Employment type
Formal employment possible
Salary ranges
Entry
KES 20,000 – 60,000
Mid
KES 60,000 – 100,000
Senior
KES 100,000+
Earnings, wages & prospects (narrative)
  • Entry-level typical range (illustrative): KES 20,000 – 60,000
  • Mid-level typical range (illustrative): KES 60,000 – 100,000
  • Senior/experienced typical range (illustrative): KES 100,000+
  • Earnings vary by employer (public/private), location, allowances, commissions, overtime, risk factors, and scarcity of skills
How to become one
  • Train in machine or plant operations
  • obtain required driving or operation licences where applicable and follow strict safety procedures.
Career progression
  • Trainee/Junior → Skilled worker → Senior skilled worker
  • Senior skilled worker → Foreman/Supervisor → Contractor/Business owner (common in trades)
Related & alternative occupations
  • Other occupations within the same KeSCO major group
  • Support roles in the same sector/industry
  • Supervisory roles related to this occupation’s work area
  • Specialist variants of the same occupation (where they exist)
Occupation titles
8131-11 — Operator, autoclave: chemical and related processes
8131-12 — Operator, bleacher: chemicals
8131-13 — Operator, boiler: chemical and related processes
8131-14 — Operator, burner: chemical and related processes
8131-15 — Operator, calciner: chemical and related processes
8131-16 — Operator, centrifugal separator: chemical and related processes
8131-17 — Operator, chemical processing plant: electric cells
8131-18 — Operator, chemical processing plant: radioactive materials
8131-21 — Operator, compounder: petroleum and natural gas refining
8131-22 — Operator, converter: chemical processes (except petroleum and natural gas)
8131-23 — Operator, cooking equipment: chemical and related processes
8131-24 — Operator, dehydrator: oilfield
8131-25 — Operator, distiller: chemical processes (except petroleum and natural gas)
8131-26 — Operator, distiller: petroleum and natural gas refining
8131-27 — Operator, distiller: turpentine
8131-28 — Operator, distilling equipment: perfume
8131-31 — Operator, drier: chemical and related processes
8131-32 — Operator, evaporator: chemical processes (except petroleum and natural gas)
8131-33 — Operator, expeller: chemical and related materials
8131-34 — Operator, extractor: chemical and related materials
8131-35 — Operator, extractor: wood distillation
8131-37 — Operator, filter-press: chemical and related materials
8131-36 — Operator, filter: rotary drum
8131-38 — Operator, furnace: chemical and related processes
8131-41 — Operator, granulation equipment: pharmaceutical and toiletry products
8131-42 — Operator, kettle: chemical and related processes
8131-43 — Operator, kiln: cement production
8131-44 — Operator, kiln: charcoal production
8131-45 — Operator, kiln: chemical and related processes
8131-46 — Operator, kiln: coke (retort kiln)
8131-47 — Operator, liquefaction plant: gases
8131-48 — Operator, machine: ammunition products
8131-51 — Operator, machine: blending (chemical and related processes)
8131-52 — Operator, machine: candle production
8131-53 — Operator, machine: charcoal production
8131-54 — Operator, machine: chlorine gas production
8131-55 — Operator, machine: coal gas production
8131-56 — Operator, machine: compounding (chemical and related processes)
8131-57 — Operator, machine: crushing (chemical and related processes)
8131-58 — Operator, machine: detergent production
8131-61 — Operator, machine: explosive production
8131-62 — Operator, machine: fertilizer production
8131-63 — Operator, machine: fireworks production
8131-64 — Operator, machine: grinding (chemical and related processes)
8131-65 — Operator, machine: halogen gas production
8131-66 — Operator, machine: hydrogen gas production
8131-67 — Operator, machine: linoleum production
8131-68 — Operator, machine: match production
8131-71 — Operator, machine: milling (chemical and related processes)
8131-72 — Operator, machine: mixing (chemical and related processes)
8131-73 — Operator, machine: pharmaceutical products
8131-74 — Operator, machine: pulverising (chemical and related processes)
8131-75 — Operator, machine: synthetic-fibre production
8131-76 — Operator, machine: toiletry products
8131-77 — Operator, machine: washing (chemical and related materials)
8131-78 — Technician, hot cell