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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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94120.00 – 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.

Overview

Example job titles

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

Core competencies

  • Operation and Control to operate front end loaders and stationary deck cranes to feed logs into sawmill as well as machines to saw, trim and plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes
  • Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment to observe gauges and ensure parameters for saw equipment are operating at peak efficiency and safety
  • Control of Settings to operate automated lumbermill equipment to saw logs into rough lumber
  • Stamina to sort and stack lumber by length and thickness
  • Stress Tolerance to effectively operate sawmill machines in a high-risk in and fast-paced environment with production targets to meet
  • Knowledge in Manufacturing, Processing and Production to understand equipment operation and how to maintain quality standards, facilitate effective maintenance, ensure safety compliance and support adaptation to new technologies

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.

Additional information

  • There is some mobility among jobs in this occupational group.
  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

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

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

9 – Occupations in manufacturing and utilities

TEER

4 – Occupations usually require a secondary school diploma; or several weeks of on-the-job training

Major group

94 – Machine operators, assemblers and inspectors in processing, manufacturing and printing

Sub-major group

941 – Processing and manufacturing machine operators and related production workers

Minor group

9412 – Machine operators and related workers in pulp and paper production and wood processing and manufacturing

Unit group

94120 – Sawmill machine operators

Occupational profile

94120.00 – Sawmill machine operators

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.