Table saw operator

Table saw operators work with industrial saws that cut with a rotating circular blade. The saw is built into a table. The operator sets the height of the saw to control the depth of the cut. Particular attention is paid to safety, as factors such as natural stresses within the wood may produce unpredictable forces.

The duties of a table saw operator include:

• Reading blueprints or other documents to determine cutting locations and identifying potential hazards during the job
• Determining the appropriate cutting method, including manual sawing with a hand saw or power saws such as a circular saw or chainsaw
• Operating a circular saw to cut materials such as wood or metal studs
• Monitoring and maintaining machines in good working condition to ensure safety
• Exercising caution to avoid accidents while operating power equipment
• Maintaining accurate records of hours worked and materials used for each project
• Following safety procedures to ensure that accidents do not occur
• Installing new equipment or replacing parts in existing equipment
• Operating a forklift to move materials around a work site

Saw operators typically work in wood products manufacturing plants. The work is performed in a production area that is usually noisy and dusty. The saw operator must wear hearing protection and may be required to wear other personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses, gloves, and a dust mask. The work can be physically demanding, and the saw operator must be able to lift and move heavy lumber. The job may require standing for long periods of time and may involve shift work.

The following job titles also refer to table saw operator:

table saw machine operator
cut-off saw operator
mitre saw operator
cut-off saw technician
sawyer
board saw specialist
beam saw technician
table saw operative
timber machine operator
beam saw operator
cut-off saw specialist
table saw specialist
circle saw operator
circle saw technician
mitre saw specialist
panel saw technician
mitre saw technician
circular saw technician
circular saw specialist
table saw tender
table saw worker
table sawyer
table saw machine operative
beam saw specialist
panel saw specialist
table saw setter
sawbench operator
table saw technician
board saw technician
circle saw specialist
panel saw operator
circular saw operator
board saw operator

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a table saw 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.

Table saw operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

band saw operator
wood router operator
nailing machine operator
sawmill operator
planer thicknesser operator

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

pulp control operator
automated assembly line operator
wood production supervisor
wood assembly supervisor
machine operator supervisor

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

• Sawing techniques: Various sawing techniques for using manual as well as electric saws.
• Woodworking processes: Steps in the processing of wood for the manufacturing of wooden articles and types of machines used for these processes such as drying, shaping, assembling and surface finishing.
• Cutting technologies: The variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc.
• 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.
• Wood cuts: Different ways of cutting wood, across the grain or parallel with it, and radial or tangential to the core. The behaviour of cuts of wood under different circumstances and the optimal cut for a given purpose. Influence of special attributes of the wood, like knots or defects.
• Types of wood: Types of wood, such as birch, pine, poplar, mahogany, maple and tulipwood.

These skills are necessary for the role of table saw operator.

• Remove inadequate workpieces: Evaluate which deficient processed workpieces do not meet the set-up standard and should be removed and sort the waste according to regulations.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Remove processed workpiece: Remove individual workpieces after processing, from the manufacturing machine or the machine tool. In case of a conveyor belt this involves quick, continuous movement.
• Manipulate wood: Manipulate the properties, shape and size of wood.
• Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
• Work safely with machines: Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
• Dispose of cutting waste material: Dispose of possibly hazardous waste material created in the cutting process, such as swarf, scrap and slugs, sort according to regulations, and clean up workplace.
• Replace sawing blade on machine: Replace the old blade of a sawing machine with a new one by removing the chip brush, taking away the front blade guide, loosening the blade tension and removing the blade. Assemble and install new blade by replacing the front blade guide, installing the chip brush, replacing the blade cover and adjusting blade tension.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
• Adjust properties of cut: Adjust cut sizes and depths of cutting tools. Adjust heights of worktables and machine-arms.
• Create cutting plan: Draw up plans to show how the material will be cut into functional pieces to minimise loss of material.
• Keep sawing equipment in good condition: Make sure sawing equipment is always in good and safe working condition. Inspect the equipment for defects. Replace defective or worn-out elements in accordance with guidelines. Store elements safely when not in use. Notify the responsible party in case of large or dangerous defects.
• 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.
• Operate table saw: Handle an industrial table saw, which cuts with a rotating circular blade built into a table. Set the height of the saw to control the depth of the cut. Pay particular attention to safety, as factors such as natural stresses within the wood may produce unpredictable forces.
• 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.

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

• Types of table saws: Distinguish different kinds of table saws, such as benchtop table saws, contractor table saws, cabinet table saws, and hybrid table saws.
• 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.
• Woodworking tools: The various tools used to process wood, such as planers, chisels and lathes.
• Mechanical systems: Mechanical systems, including gears, engines, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Their functions and likely defects.
• Manufacturing of furniture: The manufacture of all types of office, shop, kitchen or other furniture such as chairs, tables, sofas, shelves, benches and more, in various types of material such as wood, glass, metal or plastic.
• 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.
• Manufacturing of daily use goods: The manufacturing of items used in the daily life, personal use or daily practice. These products include protective safety equipment, drawing equipment, stamps, umbrellas, cigarette lighters, baskets, candles, and many other miscellaneous articles.
• First aid: The emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.
• Manufacturing of sports equipment: The manufacture of products and equipment used for both outdoor and indoor sports activities, such as balls, rackets, ski’s, surfboards, fishing, hunting, skating or fitness centre equipment.

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

• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
• Operate manual planer: Operate a non-automatic or semi-automatic, manual planer for cutting workpiece surfaces, making them levelled.
• Carry out measurements of parts: Operate measurement instruments to measure parts of manufactured objects. Take into consideration specifications of manufacturers to perform the measuring.
• Monitor stock level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
• 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.
• Pack goods: Pack different kinds of goods such as finished manufactured products or goods in use. Pack goods by hand in boxes, bags and other types of containers.
• Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
• Perform machine maintenance: Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.
• Provide advice to technicians: Offer help and advice to service technicians in case of machine malfunctions and other repair tasks.
• 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.
• Prepare production reports: Prepare a comprehensive and unbiased report on wood technology production and progressive development of wood based materials.
• Consult technical resources: Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.
• Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
• 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.
• Program a CNC controller: Set up the desired product design in the CNC controller of the CNC machine for product manufacturing.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.

8172 – Wood processing plant operators

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References

1. Table saw operator – ESCO
2. Saw Operator Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – ClimbtheLadder
3. Featured image: By Barry Skeates from newbury, UK – Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza 2013Uploaded by clusternote, CC BY 2.0