Profession debarker operator

Debarker operators operate debarking machines to strip harvested trees of their bark. The tree is fed into the machine, after which the bark is stripped using abrasion or cutting.

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

Knowledge

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Skills

  • 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.

  • Manage logs transfer

    Select logs from storage and coordinate their transportation. Keep up with schedules and production requirements.

  • 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.

  • Adjust properties of cut

    Adjust cut sizes and depths of cutting tools. Adjust heights of worktables and machine-arms.

  • Work safely with machines

    Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.

  • Monitor gauge

    Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.

  • 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.

  • Troubleshoot

    Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

  • Observe logs

    Inspect and observe logs passing on conveyor to detect completeness of the debarking process.

  • Wear appropriate protective gear

    Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.

  • Move logs

    Move debarked logs from the conveyor belt to pushcarts into further inspection areas.

Optional knowledge and skills

operate wood sawing equipment sawing techniques handle timber-based products record production data for quality control check quality of raw materials sharpen edged tools types of wood inspect trees assess felled timber quality process timber using hand-fed machinery keep records of work progress clean equipment cutting technologies types of sawing blades identify hazards in the workplace meet contract specifications conduct routine machinery checks de-limb trees manage timber stocks assess felled timber volume monitor heavy machinery prepare production reports dispose of cutting waste material inspect timber handle timber timber products perform machine maintenance inspect machinery

Source: Sisyphus ODB