Sawmill Machine Operator

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Sawmill Machine Operators (9431) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Sawmill Machine Operators (J141) 
• 2011 NOC: Sawmill machine operators (9431) 
• 2016 NOC: Sawmill machine operators (9431) 

Sawing logs into boards and planks of varying widths and thicknesses requires a fairly standard series of operations. However, 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 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
• Perform quality control checks (lumber grading)
• Sort and stack lumber according to quality grades, length, width and thickness
• Move stacks of lumber to storage yards and to and from dry kilns
• Feed rough lumber through planers and shapers to give it smooth (dressed) surfaces
• Wrap or strap lumber into packages with labels for shipment
• Create specialty products such as fence posts, treated posts or remanufactured wood products

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 and stack lumber before putting it into a dry kiln
• Plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes
• Saw or split shingles and shakes
• Monitor logs and lumber 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. Even though technical advancements are improving working conditions, the environment still may be hot or cold, noisy or dusty.

Sawmill machine operators must wear safety equipment such as hard hats, safety boots, safety glasses, gloves, high-visibility vests and ear protection 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 work in sawmills and planing mills. In some sawmills, union membership is a condition of employment.

Machine operators may move into electrician or millwright apprenticeships. For more information, see the Electrician and Industrial Mechanic (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, opportunities to advance are limited.

Post-secondary education is a definite asset for advancement to leadership positions such as planer supervisor or sawmill supervisor.

Sawmill machine operators are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 9431: Sawmill machine operators. In Alberta, 77% of people employed in this classification work in the Manufacturing [pdf] industry.

The employment outlook [pdf] 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 (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation

In Alberta, the 9431: Sawmill machine operators occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.5% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 20 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

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: albertaforestproducts.ca

Work Wild website: www.workwild.ca

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