Title:  Powder Coating Assistant

Summary:

Supports STULZ powder coating operations through part preparation, masking, loading, unloading, inspection support, packaging, and housekeeping. Reports to the Foreman and receives daily task direction from the qualified Powder Coater. Performs only tasks for which training and authorization have been completed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Preparation: Follow work orders and visual instructions; verify part identity, quantity, finish, and routing. Inspect for contamination, moisture, sharp edges, and damage; use only approved preparation materials and methods.
• Masking: Apply and remove specified plugs, caps, and tape. Protect threads, sealing surfaces, and other designated features without obstructing required grounding contacts.
• Loading: Inspect hooks and racks; follow approved capacity, spacing, balance, and grounding requirements. Load from designated safe positions using appropriate lifting assistance. Report damaged or contaminated supports.
• Line support: Coordinate part flow with the Powder Coater; watch for unstable loads, collisions, spills, abnormal motion, and dust escape. Request a stop when work cannot be completed safely.
• Unloading and packaging: Confirm parts are safe to handle, use assigned thermal protection, protect finished surfaces, and maintain counts, labels, and traceability during unloading and transfer.
• Quality: Compare parts with approved visual standards; perform measurements only after training. Segregate questionable parts and obtain authorized disposition before rework or release.
• Housekeeping and limits: Clean assigned accessible areas and handle labeled waste as instructed. Do not independently spray, change recipes or process settings, dose chemicals, reset safety trips, or perform maintenance without separate qualification and authorization.

Qualifications:

Perform essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation; follow written, verbal, and pictorial instructions; recognize hazards; communicate concerns; and maintain accurate records. HR reviews accommodation requests.

Demonstrate safe material handling, masking, hanging, unloading, and basic defect recognition. Know when to stop and obtain assistance rather than adjust equipment.

Safety and Environmental Responsibilities:

• Controls and housekeeping: Keep guards, ventilation, grounding, and interlocks effective. Prevent powder accumulation and dust clouds; use approved cleaning equipment, not an ordinary shop vacuum or uncontrolled sweeping/blowdown. Keep ignition sources out of restricted areas.
• PPE and chemicals: Use assigned eye/face, hand, foot, body, hearing, and respiratory protection. Inspect PPE; follow SDS, labels, hygiene rules, and approved chemical-handling procedures. Do not select respirators or substitute chemicals independently.
• Hazardous energy: Keep clear of conveyor and equipment danger zones. Do not clear jams, remove guards, service filters, or enter equipment without required controls and authorization. Emergency stops do not replace energy isolation.
• Environmental protection: Keep powder, process liquids, filters, and cleanup residues in designated systems or labeled containers. Do not discharge to drains or change waste-handling practices without site authorization.
• Stop-work and emergencies: Stop unsafe work and report dust escape, sparks, gas odor, failed safeguards, unstable loads, spills, injuries, or exposure symptoms. Follow safe shutdown/evacuation instructions. Do not undertake rescue, firefighting, restricted-space entry, or emergency spill response unless separately trained and authorized.

Education/Expericance:

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent education/experience. Manufacturing or finishing experience preferred. Powder coating experience does not replace STULZ equipment-specific qualification.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Initial qualification: Complete orientation, hazard communication, PPE, dust/ignition, guarding, affected-employee lockout/tagout, emergency, and job training before exposure or independent work. Demonstrate safe performance.

• Respiratory protection, when required: Complete medical evaluation before fit testing or required use. Tight-fitting respirators require initial and at least annual fit testing, a seal check each use, and no interfering facial hair. Follow program requirements, including annual retraining and additional evaluation/testing when indicated.

• Separate authorization: Forklifts, powered pallet trucks, hoists/rigging, chemical dosing, lockout/tagout, and maintenance require applicable training, evaluation, and authorization before independent work.

• Refresher training: Complete applicable heat-illness and hearing-conservation training; retrain when required or when changes or performance indicate a need. Report qualification and PPE/equipment problems..

Language Skills & Mathematical Skills:

Understand job instructions, hazards, and emergency directions; communicate effectively. Provide understandable training and appropriate language assistance when needed. Use basic arithmetic, fractions, and decimals; read measurements, compare results with approved limits, and accurately record quantities and process information.

Physical Requirements:

Regular standing/walking; frequent reaching, gripping, and repetitive hand/arm motion; occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, or crouching. Identify warnings, equipment movement, and finish defects, with effective aids or accommodation where appropriate.

Occasionally lift/move up to 30 pounds, subject to task validation. Use mechanical or approved team assistance for heavier, bulky, hot, sharp, or unstable loads. Work in required PPE, with reasonable accommodation where effective.

Work Environment:

Manufacturing areas may include moving machinery, suspended parts, sharp edges, powder, chemicals, hot surfaces, wet floors, noise, and vehicle traffic. Follow safeguards, designated routes, heat precautions, and exposure controls.