Sawmill Machine Operator

Sawing logs into boards and planks of varying widths and thicknesses requires a fairly standard series of operations but the processes used vary from one sawmill to another. In some sawmills, the work of sawmill machine operators is labour intensive. In other mills, technological advances have decreased the amount of manual labour required.

Sawmill machine operators may use various types of automated and/or mobile equipment to:

• move logs from storage yards onto transfer decks
• convey logs through laser scanners that determine the most profitable cutting patterns for each log
• send logs through cut off saws that cut logs to optimum lengths
• debark logs
• feed logs through various types of saws, edgers and trimmers to produce rough lumber
• sort and stack lumber according to length, width and thickness
• move stacks of lumber to storage yards and, later, to and from drying kilns
• feed rough lumber through planers to give it a smooth (dressed) surface
• wrap or strap lumber into packages and label packages for shipment
• create specialty products such as fence posts, treated posts or remanufactured wood products
• perform quality control checks (lumber grading).

In general, sawmill machine operators:

• use front end loaders, stationary deck cranes or gantry cranes to feed logs into the sawmill
• operate equipment from consoles or control rooms to scan logs for size and quality; convey logs and lumber to and from saws; saw logs into rough lumber; saw, trim, sort, stack, put in dry kiln and plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes and saw or split shingles and shakes
• monitor logs and lumber movement to ensure cuts satisfy customer requirements
• clean and maintain equipment
• attend regularly scheduled safety meetings.

Sawmill machine operators work shifts that depend on production requirements. The working environment may be hot or cold, noisy or dusty, although technical advancements are improving these conditions.

Safety equipment such as hard hats, safety boots, safety glasses, gloves, high visibility vests and ear protection are required to reduce the risk of injury. Depending on the mill, machine operators may be required to lift items weighing over 20 kilograms.

Sawmill machine operators need the following characteristics:

• the ability to lift heavy items often
• good spatial perception
• manual dexterity
• the ability to remain alert while performing repetitious tasks
• the ability to work as part of a team.

They should enjoy operating and monitoring equipment, having clear parameters and organized methods for their work, and working with others to solve problems.

Sawmill machine operators are employed in sawmills and planing mills. In some sawmills, union membership is a condition of employment.

Machine operators may move into electrician or millwright apprenticeship positions (for more information, see the Electrician and Millwright occupational profiles). Advancement to head sawyer or planer operator positions requires years of experience in various sawmill machine operating positions with the same company. Without further education such as Advanced First Aid, Lumber Grading and power engineering certification (see the Power Engineer profile), advancement opportunities are limited. Post-secondary education is a definite asset for advancement to leadership positions such as planer supervisor or sawmill supervisor.

In Alberta, 77% of people employed as sawmill machine operators work in the Manufacturing (PDF) industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Manufacturing industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

The employment turnover rate in many sawmills is low so jobs may not be available often. However, employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) website: www.albertaforestproducts.ca

Work Wild website: www.workwild.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.