Sawmill Operator

Tasks & duties

Sawmill operators may do some or all of the following:

• record timber sizes and grades
• record the amount of timber in the yard
• sort and stack timber
• operate sawmill machinery
• operate log loaders and fork-lifts
• grade timber
• trim timber pieces to a standard length
• clean the work areas and equipment
• package and wrap timber for delivery
• supervise other sawmill operators

Skills & knowledge

Sawmill operators need to have:

• knowledge of the sawmill process
• knowledge of timber characteristics
• knowledge of the sizes and grades of timber required for different products
• good communication skills
• basic maths and computer skills
• mechanical skills for doing basic maintenance on machinery
• knowledge of safety procedures

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements to become a sawmill operator, although a fork-lift licence may be useful.

Secondary education

There are no specific secondary school education requirements, but School Certificate or NCEA Level 1maths and English are seen as an advantage by most employers.

Tertiary Education

A National Certificate in Solid Wood Processing is useful for becoming a sawmill operator.

Training on the job

Sawmill operators are mainly trained on the job and can complete a National Certificate in Solid Wood Processing through FITEC. 

Useful experience

Useful experience for sawmill operators includes:

• work in the timber or forestry industries
• work with heavy machinery 
• engineering experience

For more information, please refer to Career Services.