Job description Sawmill Machine Operator in the Lethbridge–Medicine Hat Region

Find out what work is like for a sawmill machine operator in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Sawmill machine operators (NOC 94120).

Sawmill machine operators

Description

Sawmill machine operators operate, monitor and control automated lumbermill equipment to saw timber logs into rough lumber; saw, trim and plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes; and saw or split shingles and shakes. They are employed in sawmills and planing mills.

Work week duration

Sawmill machine operators usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Sawmill machine operators have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Operate front-end loaders and stationary deck cranes to feed logs into the sawmill
  • Examine logs and rough lumber to determine size, condition, quality and other characteristics to decide best lumber cuts to carry out, or use automated equipment to convey logs through laser scanners which determine the most productive and profitable cutting patterns
  • Operate automated lumbermill equipment from control rooms or consoles to saw logs into rough lumber; saw, trim and plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes; and saw or split shingles and shakes
  • Start conveyor system to move logs and lumber to and from saws
  • Set up and adjust saw equipment and replace blades or bands using wrenches, gauges and other hand tools
  • Operate equipment to sort and stack lumber by length and thickness, move stacks to storage areas or drying kilns, and feed lumber through planers
  • Monitor movement of lumber and computer screens to ensure cuts are made according to specifications, and print production reports
  • Clean and lubricate sawmill equipment.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Handling material manually
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Bending or twisting the body

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Sawmill machine operators are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Planing mills
  • Sawmills

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, not environmentally controlled
  • Hazardous equipment, machinery, tools
  • Sound and noise
  • Standard safety equipment
  • Vibration
  • Skin injury
  • Specialized safety equipment
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Hazardous conditions

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 94120), and a list of similar occupations:

  • circular saw operator
  • edgerman/woman
  • head sawyer
  • log cut-off operator
  • planer operator
  • resaw operator
  • shake splitter
  • trimmerman/woman

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Sawmill machine operators in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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