Operator - Oil Cellar

Rolling Oil Operator – Cold Rolling Mill

Role Overview

This position keeps the rolling oil that lubricates and cools the cold rolling mill flowing clean, cool and at the correct pressure throughout every production shift. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with the mill crew, the job holder runs the pumps, tanks, filtration and cooling circuits that safeguard strip surface quality and prevent unplanned mill stoppages. It is a hands-on plant-floor role where catching a small leak, a creeping filter differential pressure or a drifting oil temperature early is what separates a smooth rolling campaign from costly downtime.

Key Responsibilities

• Run and continuously watch over the rolling-oil circuit — pumps, storage tanks, filtration units, cooling systems, valves and associated pipework — so oil supply and return to the mill never falters during production.
• Keep oil level, temperature, pressure, flow rate and circulation performance inside the limits set by the operating standards, adjusting as running conditions change.
• Track filtration performance and filter differential pressure, cleaning or replacing elements before contamination carries through to the strip, and report oil-quality deviations promptly.
• Control and remove contaminants such as metal fines, sludge, water ingress and foreign material, and handle the draining, collection and disposal of sludge and spent oil in line with plant environmental rules.
• Carry out routine inspections across pumps, motors, valves, pipelines, tanks, filters and heat exchangers, recording leaks, vibration, unusual noise, overheating or damaged components and applying approved corrective actions.
• Perform operator-level maintenance such as equipment cleaning, lubrication checks, isolations and preparation, and support the maintenance team during both planned and corrective work; confirm standby equipment is ready for changeover.
• Coordinate with mill operators during startup, shutdown, product changeovers and operational adjustments, and maintain accurate shift logs, inspection records, oil consumption data, checklists and clear handovers of outstanding issues.
• Work to approved SOPs, risk assessments, LOTO, permit-to-work and PPE requirements; prevent and respond to spills and leaks; keep tank and pump areas clean and safely accessible; and take part in toolbox talks, safety inspections, emergency drills and incident reporting.

Requirements & Qualifications

• KCSE certificate.
• Government Trade Test Grade II in General Fitting, or an equivalent recognised technical qualification.
• At least 3 years' experience operating industrial process or production equipment in a manufacturing or heavy industrial environment.
• At least 1 year's experience operating oil circulation, filtration, cooling, lubrication, hydraulic or similar industrial fluid-handling systems.
• Practical ability to operate and monitor pumps, filters, tanks, valves and heat exchangers, and to interpret SOPs, process flow diagrams, gauges and operating parameters.
• Working understanding of how oil temperature, pressure, flow, level, contamination and cleanliness interact, with the judgement to identify and report leaks, vibration, overheating and pressure loss.
• Familiarity with safe-work systems including LOTO, permit-to-work and PPE requirements, together with reliable record-keeping, communication and shift handover skills.
• Added advantage: a certificate in mechanical engineering or a related field; training in chemical handling, spill response, fire safety, emergency response or first aid; knowledge of 6S, TPM and Autonomous Maintenance; awareness of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 management systems; and experience in a cold rolling mill or comparable continuous-process plant.