Who is the stoker? Profession Features

Despite the development of technology and the automation of many processes that ensure the functioning of residential and commercial premises, many enterprises still have manual boiler houses. Therefore, the profession of a stoker is still needed, although it is no longer in demand as before. There are people who choose the work of a stoker. What kind of profession is this?

Field of activity

Stoker is the person who is responsible for the heat supply and proper operation of the heating equipment. In another way, he can be called a boiler room operator. It depends on where exactly the person works. Previously, stokers were required on ships and controlled by steam locomotives, but now this profession is practically a thing of the past. However, some enterprises are still heated manually.

What is the fireman responsible for? His responsibilities include:

• continuous supply of solid fuel into the furnace;
• maintaining the cleanliness of the furnace, timely removal of combustion products;
• control of the heating apparatus, selection of the desired mode of operation of the boiler;
• hourly fuel supply of up to one hundred shovels of coal;
• repair of the thermal system in the event of a breakdown;
• maintaining technical documentation;
• adjustment of the working process of equipment.

Even if many consider the work as a fireman not prestigious, it is very important and requires responsibility. In the process, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the heating system, pressure and water supply.

What are stokers?

Regardless of whether the boiler house works on solid fuel or on natural fuel, a fireman is a harmful profession. The employee is exposed to such negative influence every second:

• high temperatures;
• inhalation of toxic gases accumulated in the room;
• lack of oxygen;
• inhalation of particles of ash and soot;
• heavy physical activity.

Given the above factors, the person responsible for the heat supply of the enterprise should be physically strong and resilient, as well as be sure to undergo a medical examination in order to exclude any chronic diseases. The employee should be as attentive and responsible as possible, since the safety of people depends on this.

The future specialist takes training courses, internships and coaching on the implementation of safety regulations.

Work as a fireman

Be that as it may, a fireman is a person without whom not a single enterprise equipped with a boiler heating system works. Boiler house operators often work in teams. To simplify the work, modern hand-held and electronic measuring instruments are used. For employment, you need to get a vocational education after completing a course of study at an educational institution or at an enterprise.