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.

Job Titles

• Circular saw operator
• Edgerman/woman
• Head sawyer
• Log cut-off operator
• Planer operator
• Resaw operator
• Shake splitter
• Trimmerman/woman

Main Duties

• 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.

Workplaces

• Planing mills
• Sawmills

Skills

• Operation and Control
• Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
• Preventative Maintenance
• Troubleshooting
• Critical Thinking

Abilities

• Stamina
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Auditory Attention
• Body Flexibility
• Control of Settings

Personal Attributes

• Independence
• Stress Tolerance
• Attention to Detail
• Collaboration
• Innovativeness

Similar Occupations

• Supervisors, forest products processing (92014)
• Other wood processing machine operators (94129)
• Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders (94123)
• Woodworking machine operators (94124)
• Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing (95103)

Source: OaSIS