Honey extractor

A honey extractor

Description

Honey extractors operate machines to extract liquid honey from honeycombs. They place decapped honeycombs in honey-extracting machine baskets to empty honeycombs.

Honey extractors typically do the following:

  • Operate extracting machinery to remove wax cappings and extract honey from comb.
  • Fill drums with extracted honey.
  • Weigh and record drums.
  • Rebox and prepare combs for next harvest.
  • Make, repair, paint and clean boxes and equipment as required.
  • Use hammers, hive tools and other hand tools to perform manual tasks.

Working conditions

Honey extractors work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Their work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect their ability to perform the job.

Honey extractors must have no fear of bees and be non-allergic to bee stings, pollen, honey or other products of the hive. They are exposed to outdoor weather conditions early in the morning through the heat of the day.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to honey extractor:

honey extraction operative
extractor
honey production worker
honey process worker

Minimum qualifications

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as honey extractor. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

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.

Honey extractor is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Honey extractor career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to honey extractor.

yeast distiller
bulk filler
fish trimmer
kettle tender
coffee grinder

Long term prospects

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

green coffee coordinator
green coffee buyer
malt house supervisor
animal feed supervisor
food production planner

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of honey extractor.

  • Honey varieties: Varieties of honey based on how they are processed. Some examples: comb honey, strained honey, chunk honey, extracted honey, pressed honey, crystallised or granulated honey, and creamed honey.
  • Honey constituents: Components of honey such as fructose, water, glucose and other type of sugars and their interactions in the production/extraction of honey products.
  • Centrifugal force: Apparent force that draws a rotating body away from the centre of rotation. Application to machines that use centrifugal forces.
  • Honey extractors types: Mechanical devices used in the extraction of honey from honeycombs without destroying the comb. 

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of honey extractor.

  • Tend honey extraction machine: Operate a machine such as radial or tangential extractors that extracts honey from combs.
  • Remove wax from honeycombs: Remove the wax on honeycombs, which covers and fills in cells before centrifugation.
  • Apply HACCP: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
  • Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
  • Differentiate honey depending on the origin: Differentiate types of honey depending on the origin, such as honeydew honey, blossom honey, monofloral honey, and polyfloral honey.
  • Monitor food production documentation: Conducting document control during different stages of production to monitor production steps and quality.
  • Follow hygienic procedures during food processing: Ensure a clean working space according to hygienic standards in the food processing industry.
  • Handle honeycombs: Handle honeycombs carefully. Place combs into machine. Remove them when empty and place them in vacant supers. Care for the integrity of the honeycomb, and extract as much honey as possible.
  • Apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages: Apply and follow national, international, and internal requirements quoted in standards, regulations and other specifications related with manufacturing of food and beverages.
  • Apply GMP: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
  • Clean honey from pollen: Clean honey from pollen if the requirement is having a clear honey liquid. Identify honey impurities, such as wax, body parts of bees, or dust.

Optional skills and competences

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

  • Operate centrifuges: Adjust working condition as speed and time of centrifuges according to the requirements of the product in process. Operate centrifuges.
  • Act reliably: Proceed in a way that one can be relied on or depended on.
  • Perform cleaning duties: Perform cleaning duties such as waste removal, vacuuming, emptying bins, and general cleaning of the working area. Cleaning activities should follow health and safety regulations if required.
  • Liaise with colleagues: Liaise with fellow colleagues to ensure common understanding on work related affairs and agree on the necessary compromises the parties might need to face. Negotiate compromises between parties as to ensure that work in general run efficiently towards the achievement of the objectives.
  • Lift heavy weights: Lift heavy weights and apply ergonomic lifting techniques to avoid damaging the body.
  • Monitor centrifugal separators: Operating and monitoring centrifugal separators.
  • Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.

ISCO group and title

8160 – Food and related products machine operators


References
  1. Honey extractor – ESCO
  2. Featured image: By Dunkle Biene – https://www.flickr.com/photos/mellifera_ch/30427937825, CC BY-SA 2.0
Last updated on August 12, 2022

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