Laboratory Technician

Job Overview

Job Category

Technicians and Technologists

Sectors

Education

Environment

Office only

About This Career

Laboratory Technicians combine a love of chemistry with the oil and gas industry. They are the ones behind the scenes who test drilling results in the field, examine water quality in SAGD processes, or work with chemicals within refinery processes in oil sands operations. They monitor and analyze chemical reactions and levels to understand, measure and remediate any issues.

The oil and gas industry includes sophisticated chemical processes in many areas, from testing drilling results in the field to testing water quality in SAGD processes to working with chemicals within refinery processes in oil sands operations.

Laboratory Technicians work throughout the industry, setting up and conducting chemical experiments, tests and analyses. They also develop and document new testing procedures as part of continuous improvement.

They often work in teams and are responsible for the quality control of chemical processes.

In this occupation, activities may include

Maintaining, cleaning or sterilizing laboratory instruments or equipment
Setting up and conducting chemical experiments, tests and analyses using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical and chemical separation and microscopy
Conducting or assisting in air and water quality testing and assessments, environmental monitoring and protection activities, and developing and complying with standards
Monitoring product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications
Compiling records and interpreting experimental or analytical results

Education

Laboratory technicians usually require completion of a one- or two-year college program in chemical, biochemical or chemical engineering technology.

Certifications

Standard and emergency first aid
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

Licensing

National certification for chemical technicians is available through the Canadian Society for Chemical Technology.
Certification in chemical engineering technology or in a related field is available through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists and technicians and may be required by employers.
Chemical technologists and technicians are regulated in Quebec and Alberta.