Job description Sawmill Worker in the Halifax Region

Find out what work is like for a sawmill worker in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing (NOC 95103).

Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing

Description

Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing carry out a variety of general labouring and routine wood processing activities and assist pulp mill and papermaking machine operators. They are employed by pulp and paper, and paper converting companies, sawmills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing companies.

Work week duration

Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing 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 Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Feed logs onto conveyor and into hopper of grinding machine and align logs manually, using crowbar, picaroon or other tools and equipment
  • Load wood chips, pulpwood, sulphur and other processing materials onto conveyors or processing tanks, remove recyclable paper and pulp from pulp and papermaking machines and transport recyclable paper and pulp to plant processing machines and equipment using forklift or other powered equipment
  • Sort, pile and transport lumber, veneer sheets, panelboards and similar wood products during various stages of wood processing, manually or with powered equipment
  • Remove scrap lumber and wood chips for reprocessing using forklift or other powered equipment
  • Feed conveyors, saws, drying machines and other equipment to process lumber, shingles, veneer, plywood and similar wood products
  • Clean wood processing machines and equipment and work areas using shovels, hoses and other tools
  • Assist other wood processing workers to operate, maintain and repair various machines and equipment and carry out other wood processing activities.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

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

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 Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Planing mills
  • Waferboard plants
  • Wood treatment plants
  • Paper converting companies
  • Pulp and paper companies
  • Wood processing plants

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Standard safety equipment
  • Indoors, not environmentally controlled
  • Sound and noise
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Skin injury

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 95103), and a list of similar occupations:

  • beater operator helper - pulp and paper
  • chip bin attendant - wood processing
  • conveyor cleaner - pulp and paper
  • green wood chainman/woman - wood processing
  • grinder feeder - pulp and paper
  • labourer - pulp and paper
  • labourer - wood processing
  • lumber straightener - wood processing
  • plywood dryer feeder
  • sheeter helper - pulp and paper
  • utility man/woman - pulp and paper

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing 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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