Plant Operator

Airgas, Inc.; Elkhart (IN); On-site; USD 51,577,344 - 74,500,608; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Life and AD&D Insurance

401(k) with company match

Tuition Assistance

Paid Holidays, Vacation, Sick time

Parental leave

Pre-tax commuter benefits

Airgas Scholarship Program

Job summary

Airgas, Inc. in Elkhart, IN is seeking a Plant Operator to safely handle and produce packaged gas cylinders, including high‑pressure and liquid gases.

The role involves loading/unloading, sorting, and forklift movement, with strict adherence to safety and government standards. Ideal candidates will have a HS Diploma or equivalent and strong safety mindset, with the ability to read labels, follow procedures, and work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• HS Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Strong safety mindset and ability to follow procedures.
• Ability to read cylinder labels and color-coding.
• Capable of working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Loads and unloads gas cylinders and/or other products onto and off of route trucks and trailers moving cylinders with proper carts only.
• Sorts empty cylinders by type to ensure an organized workflow.
• Rolls cylinders and operates a forklift truck for the movement of cylinders on pallets.
• Develops an understanding of hazards of various gases; reads cylinder labels and color-coding; accurately labels cylinders.
• Safely handles high‑pressure, medical and liquid cylinders; prepares cylinders for filling and disconnects to remove contaminants.
• Contributes to basic cylinder maintenance such as painting, labeling, and cleaning the work area.
• Inspects cylinders prior to filling and conducts safety checks per procedures.
• Checks cylinder quantities, styles and product; assists with inventory.
• Coordinates documentation to DOT, FDA, OSHA, and Airgas standards; completes quality control sheets.
• Upholds all government and company standards relating to safe handling of hazardous materials.

Skills

Safety awareness

Attention to detail

Verbal and written communication

Physical stamina

Teamwork

Forklift operation

Education

HS Diploma or equivalent

Job description

R10097131 Plant Operator (Open)

Location:

Elkhart, IN - Retail shop

How will you CONTRIBUTE and GROW?

Job Description Summary

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the unique perspectives of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders, and cultures across the world. We believe that a variety of backgrounds makes our team stronger and more innovative.

Airgas is Hiring for a Plant Operator in Elkhart, IN!

We are looking for you!

• Comprehensive Family Benefits: Airgas offers a full benefits package designed to support your whole life, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, and Disability Insurance.

• Support for Parents: We offer a 14-week paid child birth benefit to support growing families.

• Future Security: 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match, Tuition Assistance, Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick time.

• Early Access: Your benefits start after just 30 days of employment

The Plant Operator supports the team by safely operating equipment for the handling and production of packaged gas cylinders, both for high pressure and liquefied gasses.

• Loads and unloads gas cylinders and/or other products onto and off of route trucks and trailers moving cylinders with proper carts only.

• Sorts empty cylinders by type to ensure an organized workflow.

• Rolls cylinders and operates a forklift truck for the movement of cylinders on pallets.

• Develops an understanding of hazards of various gases; size and contents of cylinders by reading and interpreting cylinder labels and the color‑coding of tanks. Accurately labels cylinders.

• Safely cares for high‑pressure, medical and liquid cylinders. Prepares high pressure cylinders and cryogenic vessels for filling. Attaches to manifold, evacuates cylinders to eliminate all possible contaminants.

• Contributes to basic cylinder maintenance such as painting cylinders, labeling cylinders, and the cleaning of the work area.

• Inspects cylinders prior to filling, following standard procedures as required by government, Airgas, and distributor standards. Conducts a variety of safety checks per procedures, such as odor tests, checking caps and valves. Fills cylinders by pressure and weight, per regulations and standards.

• Checks for cylinder quantities, styles and product, and/or assists the team with inventory.

• Coordinates documentation to DOT, FDA, OSHA, and Airgas standards. Completes quality control sheets as required.

• Upholds all government and company standards relating to the safe handling of hazardous materials/cylinder gases.

Are you a MATCH?

Required Qualifications

• HS Diploma or equivalent preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ideally, you bring experience in a manufacturing operation; filling or loading experience is a plus.

• Familiarity with the gas, welding, and safety supply industry or chemical industry is valued.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to ensure team alignment.

• Ability to read and comprehend material safety data sheets to maintain a secure environment.

• Enjoys collaborating with a wide variety of people with different perspectives and backgrounds.

• Supportive customer service skills.

• Self‑motivated and able to contribute effectively in a fast‑paced environment to meet shared deadlines.

• High level of attention to detail and precision.

• Comfortable with basic calculations (adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing) in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentages.

• Ability to safely operate a forklift (training may be provided).

• Physical dexterity to navigate the plant floor: includes walking, sitting, and using hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reaching, stooping, kneeling, or crouching as needed.

• Specific vision abilities to ensure safety: including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus on objects.

• Regularly utilizes physical coordination to stand, bend, stoop, reach, and grasp; ability to communicate and hear effectively within the facility.

• Sensory awareness to detect environmental cues, such as smelling or hearing gas to ensure site safety.

• Occasionally required to move through the facility, use hands for fine motor tasks or computer entry, and reach with hands and arms.

• Capacity to regularly lift and/or move up to 60 pounds and move up to 800 pounds with the assistance of material handling equipment.

Benefits

We care about and support our Airgas Families. This is evident not only through our competitive compensation but also through a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision plans, short‑term and long‑term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), pre‑tax commuter transportation benefit, parental leave, vacation, sick time, floating holidays, jury duty and funeral/bereavement leave, and paid holidays for all eligible full‑time employees.

Additionally, we offer our eligible employees a 401k plan with company matching funds, tuition reimbursement, discounted college tuition for eligible employees' dependents, and an Airgas Scholarship Program for dependent children.

Associates who are members of collective bargaining units should review their bargaining agreement to determine whether they are eligible for some or all of the benefits described here and to see any special terms or conditions for eligibility.

Your DIFFERENCES enhance our PERFORMANCE

At Airgas, we are committed to building a workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world.

We welcome and consider applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability or any other protected characteristic. We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.

About Airgas

Airgas, an Air Liquide company, is a leading U.S. supplier of industrial, medical and specialty gases, as well as hardgoods and related products; one of the largest U.S. suppliers of safety products; and a leading U.S. supplier of ammonia products and process chemicals. Through the passion and diversity of its 18,000 associates, Airgas fosters a culture of safety, customer success, sustainability and innovation. Airgas associates are empowered to share ideas, take initiative and make decisions.

Airgas is a subsidiary of Air Liquide, a world leader in gases, technologies and services for industry and healthcare. Present in 60 countries with approximately 66,500 employees, Air Liquide serves more than 4 million customers and patients.

Join us for a stimulating experience: At Airgas, you matter and so does the work you do. As a member of our team, you play an important role in the success of your team, making sure our products are created sustainably and delivered safely and efficiently. In turn, you'll find a welcoming workplace where you're valued for who you are and where you can fill your potential while growing a fulfilling career - whatever path you choose.

Equal Employment Opportunity Information

We are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

Airgas, an Air Liquide Company is a Government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Airgas does not discriminate against qualified applicants with disabilities, and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to the known disabilities of such individuals so as to ensure equal access to benefits and privileges of employment. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact us by email at [e-mail].

California Privacy Notice