Chipper operator

Chipper operators tend machines that chip wood into small pieces for use in particle board, for further processing into pulp, or for use in its own right. Wood is fed into the chipper and shredded or crushed using a variety of mechanisms.

A chipper operator typically does the following:

• Tends machine that reduces log slabs, stump wood, trimmings, and other scrap wood to chips of uniform size for making paper pulp and charcoal, and for use in wood distilling: Starts conveyor system that feeds wood into hopper of chipping machine.
• Positions pieces of wood on conveyor, using picaroon to prevent congestion and to regulate flow.
• May replace worn and bent knives, and adjust knives to vary size of chips, using handtools.
• May examine wood on feed conveyor for conformity to specified standards and remove nonconforming wood.
• May stop machine when jams or malfunctions occur, and clears machine or conveyor of wood pieces.

The following job titles also refer to chipper operator:

chipper machine operator
chipper machine technician
wood chipper technician
wood chipper specialist
chipper specialist
chipper
chipper technician
wood chipper operator
wood chipper
chipper machine specialist

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a chipper operator.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Chipper operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to chipper operator.

debarker operator
veneer slicer operator
nailing machine operator
digester operator
engineered wood board machine operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of chipper operator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of chipper operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

pulp control operator
timber trader
incinerator operator
wood production supervisor
machine operator supervisor

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of chipper operator.

• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.

These skills are necessary for the role of chipper operator.

• Monitor gauge: Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.
• Monitor chipper machine: Monitor in-feed and clear the chipper equipment of debris to avoid blockages and jams in order to secure a free flow of materials.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Work safely with machines: Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Manage logs transfer: Select logs from storage and coordinate their transportation. Keep up with schedules and production requirements.
• Adjust properties of cut: Adjust cut sizes and depths of cutting tools. Adjust heights of worktables and machine-arms.
• Sharpen edged tools: Identify dull edges to sharp tools, or any defect in the edge. Use appropriate equipment to safely and effectively sharpen the tool. Maintain and protect sharpened tools. Report irreparable faults to the appropriate person.
• Supply machine: Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.
• Drive chipper truck: Drive chipper trucks or vans, from which the machine is often controlled and operated. Use the vehicle for pickups of processed wood materials in forest job sites.
• Operate wood chipper: Operate wood chipper machine by inserting long logs, poles, and pieces of timber, producing wood chips.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of chipper operator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Timber products: Key features, advantages and limitations of the different timbers and timber based products sold at a company and where to access this information.
• Types of sawing blades: Types of cutting blades used in the sawing process, such as band saw blades, crosscut blades, plytooth blades and others, made from tool steel, carbide, diamond or other materials.
• Types of wood: Types of wood, such as birch, pine, poplar, mahogany, maple and tulipwood.
• Types of wood chippers: Types of machines used for reducing wood (generally tree limbs or trunks) into smaller woodchips and properties of each.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of chipper operator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Replace knives: Replace worn and bent knives and adjust cutting knives, making use of various hand tools.
• Process timber using hand-fed machinery: Use hand-fed machinery for timber processing. Saw with a mobile saw bench, mechanically process firewood, split stakes, and use pointing machines, peelers and wood chippers.
• Operate heavy construction machinery without supervision: Work with heavy construction machinery independently without the intervention of a supervisor. Take responsibility for your decisions and actions.
• Operate grappler: Operate a hydraulic grappler, an attachment to heavy machinery used to grab and manipulate cylindrical objects such as trees or pipes. Lift up the object, safely manoeuvre it, and set it down in the desired position.
• Monitor heavy machinery: Monitor the performance of heavy-duty equipment. Record troubleshooting, ensure that all operations comply with safety and health requirements.
• Dispose of non-hazardous waste: Dispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures.
• Inspect wood materials: Carry out a thorough inspection of wood material using appropriate methods, instruments, tools, and other apparatus.
• De-limb trees: De-limb trees ensuring that the quality is within specified limits.
• Meet contract specifications: Meet contract specifications, schedules and manufacturers’ information. Check that the work can be carried out in the estimated and allocated time.
• Assess felled timber volume: Measure the amount of timber felled using appropriate equipment. Take care of the equipment. Record the measured data.
• Identify hazards in the workplace: Perform safety audits and inspections on workplaces and workplace equipment. Ensure that they meet safety regulations and identify hazards and risks.
• Use wrenches: Use spanners to adjust machinery and equipment.
• Operate debarking machine: Set up and monitor the machine that strips remaining bark from timber or logs before they can be further processed, for example chipped for pulp production.
• Conduct routine machinery checks: Check machinery and equipment to ensure reliable performance during use and operations in worksites.
• Inspect trees: Carry out tree inspections and surveys.
• Handle timber-based products: Identify the main types of timber based products to be received at your company. Stack and store timber based products safely and in compliance with company procedures.
• Prepare production reports: Prepare a comprehensive and unbiased report on wood technology production and progressive development of wood based materials.
• Check quality of raw materials: Check the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.
• Manage timber stocks: Inspect the stock to find out how much is left. Identify any damaged, faulty, or out of date items and move them to the appropriate location. Follow stock rotation methods to ensure stock is used effectively. Handle goods using safe and approved handling methods.
• Handle timber: Identify the main types of timber to be received at your company. Stack and store timber safely and in compliance with company procedures.
• Inspect machinery: Check machine equipment for proper performance and detect faults and malfunctions. Diagnose malfunctions using testing equipment to determine the required repair.
• Set up the controller of a machine: Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
• Assess felled timber quality: Evaluate the quality of the felled timber.

8172 – Wood processing plant operators

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References

1. Chipper operator – ESCO