Leaf tier

Leaf tiers tie tobacco leaves manually into bundles for processing. They select loose leaves by hand and arrange them with butt ends together. They wind tie leaf around butts.

The following job titles also refer to leaf tier:

cigar leaf tier
tobacco processing operative
leaf tier (tobacco)
leaf bundling attendant
tobacco leaf binder
tobacco leaf tier
manual leaf tier
cigar buncher
cigar bunch maker
cigarette leaf tier, hand leaf tier
tobacco leaf bundler

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a leaf tier.

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.

Leaf tier is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to leaf tier.

leaf sorter
cigar inspector
curing room worker
cigar brander
yeast distiller

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

green coffee coordinator
animal feed supervisor
green coffee buyer
malt house supervisor
dairy processing technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of leaf tier.

• Curing methods for tobacco leaves: Processes which aim at eliminating the moisture of tobacco leaves and grant scent in order to prepare them for consumption.
• Manufacturing of smokeless tobacco products: The processes, materials, and techniques to manufacture different types of smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, tobacco gum and snus.
• Manufacturing of smoked tobacco products: The processes, materials, and techniques to manufacture different types of smoked tobacco products such as cigars, fine cut tobacco, pipe tobacco, and cigarettes.
• Variety of tobacco leaves: Types of tobacco cultivars and varieties and their characteristics. Connection of attributes with cigar or cigarettes product requirements.
• Manufacturing of by-products from tobacco: The processes, materials, and techniques to manufacture by products using tobacco leaves as a base such as tobacco paste for the skin and insecticides.

These skills are necessary for the role of leaf tier.

• Cure tobacco leaves: Remove the moisture out of the tobacco leaves directly after harvesting them through various processes such as air curing, flue curing or sun curing.
• Perform different tobacco leaves curing methods: Perform different tobacco leaves curing methods such as air-curing tobacco, fire-cured tobacco, flue-cured tobacco, and sun-cured tobacco.
• Perform sensory evaluation: Evaluate the quality of a given type of food or beverage based on its appearance, smell, taste, aroma, and others. Suggest possible improvements and comparisons with other products.
• Mark differences in colours: Identify differences between colours, such as shades of colour.
• Set up specifications in curing room: Set up curing rooms according to the curing method, air conditions, moisture in the air, and product requirements.
• Dry tobacco leaves: Dry tobacco leaves to a precisely defined level of moisture according to product specifications.
• Perform tobacco leaves conditioning: Process tobacco to ensure that it retains elasticity by passing it through a controlled environment at the right temperature and humidity levels.
• Assess the colour curing of tobacco leaves: Assess colour curing of tobacco leaves to determine the stage of curing and aging of the leaf.
• Apply HACCP: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
• Perform pre-blending of tobacco leaves: Pre-blend tobacco leaves to ensure a balanced mix of different types of tobacco in one hand.
• Grade tobacco leaves: Grade tobacco leaves to reflect their quality and suitability for different tobacco products.
• Tie tobacco leaves in hands: Tie tobacco leaves in a bundle called a hand taking care that each hand contains an equal quantity. Calculate weight of the hand and tie it safely. Prepare hands before curing or inspection processes.
• Operate tobacco drying technology: Operate tobacco drying technology that dries the tobacco at higher temperatures and therefore more quickly than conventional dryers. Shorter drying times reduce tobacco degradation and energy consumption.
• 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.
• Use curing room equipment: Use tools and equipment in curing rooms such as ropes, hangers, brooms, and wrenches. Maintain equipment in place and ready to be used in production.
• Apply GMP: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Adapt efficient food processing practices: Ensure to adapt the most efficient production techniques to accomplish food processing tasks with the least amount of time, effort and costs.

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

• Maintain cutting equipment: Maintenance of the cutting equipment (knives, cutters, and other elements).
• Act reliably: Proceed in a way that one can be relied on or depended on.
• Collect samples for analysis: Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
• 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.
• Check quality of products on the production line: Check products for quality on the production line and remove defective items before and after packaging.
• 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.
• Perform services in a flexible manner: Adapt service approach when circumstances change.
• Work in a food processing team: Collaborate in a team with other food processing professionals in service of the food and beverages industry.
• Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
• Exert quality control to processing food: Ensure the quality of all factors involved in a food production process.
• Follow verbal instructions: Have the ability to follow spoken instructions received from colleagues. Strive to understand and clarify what is being requested.

7516 – Tobacco preparers and tobacco products makers

References

1. Leaf tier – ESCO