94129 – Other wood processing machine operators

Lead statement

Other wood processing machine operators operate and tend wood processing equipment and machines to remove bark from logs, produce wood chips, preserve and treat wood, and produce waferboards, particleboards, hardboards, insulation boards, plywood, veneers and similar wood products.

Main duties

• Operate and tend various wood processing equipment and machines to remove bark, knots and dirt from logs; reduce logs or sawmill waste into wood chips or flakes; stack and band lumber; screen wood chips; and produce waferboards, particleboards, hardboards and insulation boards
• Operate and tend conveyors, lathes, sanding machines and other equipment to peel and slice veneer from logs and log sections, and to glue, press, trim, sand and splice veneer sheets
• Operate and tend kilns, treating tanks and other equipment to dry lumber and other wood products, and to treat chemically and impregnate wood products with preservatives
• Observe equipment, panel indicators, video monitors, and other instruments to detect malfunctions and ensure that processes are operating according to specifications
• Assemble plywood panels and repair plywood and veneer mechanically or manually
• Start up, shut down, set up, adjust and assist in maintaining processing equipment and machines as required
• Complete and maintain production reports.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Several weeks of on-the-job training are provided.
• For lumber kiln operators, particleboard operators and waferboard operators, some combination of college or company courses and up to one year of on-the-job training may be required.
• Previous experience as a labourer in wood processing may be required.

Example job titles

barker operator · debarker operator - wood processing · chip-mixing machine tender - wood processing · chip screen tender - wood processing · chipper operator · clipper operator - wood processing · core layer operator - wood processing · core-laying machine tender - wood processing · dip tank tender - wood processing · wood particle dryer tender · drop sorter operator - wood processing · drum barker tender - wood processing · drying kiln operator - wood processing · excelsior machine tender · flaker operator - wood processing · hardboard-forming line operator · particleboard-forming machine operator · fuel log maker - wood processing · hardboard-grinding machine operator · hardboard press operator - wood processing · hardboard-oiling machine tender · wood-oiling machine operator - wood processing · hot press operator - wood processing · humidifier tender - wood processing · hydraulic barker operator - wood processing · incising machine tender - wood processing · lathe spotter - wood processing · layup machine operator - wood processing · log cooker - wood processing · lumber kiln operator · lumber sorting machine operator - wood processing · wood flour miller · wood particles mixer-dryer tender · plywood press operator · panel-groover operator - wood processing · panel-sanding machine operator - wood processing · particleboard-sizing saw tender · patcher operator - wood processing · plywood and veneer patcher and repairer · plywood bundler machine operator - wood processing

Wages (per hour)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.