Sawmill Operator

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.

Example Titles

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


Sawmill machine operators perform 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 equipment 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.

Date: 14 January 2008
City/Town: Idaho
Location: Abroad
Wage/Salary: $10.74
Start: April
Duration: 1 year
Type: Temporary
How to apply: email or visit agency
Company: Smart Recruitment Inc
Contact: Steve Randell
Email: info.smartpromo@gmail.com