9431 – Sawmill machine operators

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.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Automatic edger operator – sawmill

Block splitter – sawmill

Board sawyer – sawmill

Bolt sawyer – sawmill

Bolterman/woman – sawmill

Canter operator – sawmill

Chip reclaim operator – sawmill

Chip-N-Saw operator – sawmill

Circular saw operator

Circular saw operator – sawmill

Cut-off saw operator – sawmill

Drag saw operator – sawmill

Edger – sawmill

Edgerman/woman

Edgerman/woman – sawmill

Gang sawyer – sawmill

Head sawyer

Head sawyer – sawmill

Headrig operator – sawmill

Head-saw operator – sawmill

High-speed stud operator – sawmill

Jumbo operator – sawmill

Log cut-off operator

Log cut-off operator – sawmill

Log cut-off sawyer – sawmill

Log gang saw operator – sawmill

Log gang sawyer – sawmill

Log haul cut-off saw operator – sawmill

Log hoist operator – sawmill

Lumber sizer operator – sawmill

Machine splitter – sawmill

Planer – sawmill

Planer mill machine operator

Planer operator

Planer operator – sawmill

Planerman/woman – sawmill

Resaw operator

Resaw operator – sawmill

Resawyer – sawmill

Ripsaw operator – sawmill

Saw operator – sawmill

Sawdust reclaim operator – sawmill

Sawing machine operator – sawmill

Sawmill machine operator

Sawyer – sawmill

Scrag-saw operator – sawmill

Shake maker

Shake sawyer

Shake sawyer – sawmill

Shake splitter

Shingle cutter

Shingle cutter – sawmill

Shingle maker

Shingle sawyer

Slab saw operator

Slasher operator – sawmill

Slasher saw operator – sawmill

Slasher trim operator – sawmill

Splitter – sawmill

Splitter operator – sawmill

Stave bolt saw operator

Stave bolt sawyer – sawmill

Tilt-hoist operator – sawmill

Timber cut-off sawyer – sawmill

Transfer operator – sawmill

Trim saw operator – sawmill

Trim sawyer – sawmill

Trimmer operator – sawmill

Trimmer tender – sawmill

Trimmerman/woman

Trimmerman/woman – sawmill

Trimming machine operator – sawmill

Trimming machine tender – sawmill

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following 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.

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.

College courses in wood processing technology may be required.

Several weeks of on-the-job training are usually provided.

Head sawyers and planer operators usually require several years of experience in other sawmill machine operating positions in the same company.

A certificate in industrial first aid may be required.

Additional information

There is some mobility among jobs in this occupational group.

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Exclusions

Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing (9614)

Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders (9436)

Other wood processing machine operators (9434)

Supervisors, forest products processing (9215)

Woodworking machine operators (9437)