81 Stationary Plant and Machine Operators

Mining and mineral processing plant operators monitor and operate plant and machinery and operate hand tools to extract rocks and minerals from the earth, process minerals and stone, drill wells and bores, and manufacture and finish cement and stone products. Tasks performed usually include: setting up, operating and monitoring a variety of mining and mineral processing plant and machinery such as drilling rigs and auxiliary machines and equipment, continuous mining machinery, and cutting, crushing, grinding, pumping and mixing plant and machinery; operating washing, separating, extracting and combining equipment to remove waste and recover minerals; operating plant and machinery to make cement, concrete, artificial stone, and precast concrete and stone products; monitoring the performance of a variety of plant and machinery, detecting malfunctions and taking corrective action; performing plant and machinery maintenance, repairs and cleaning; and maintaining production records. Occupations in this minor group are classified into the following unit groups: 8111 Miners and Quarriers 8112 Mineral and Stone Processing Plant Operators 8113 Well Drillers and Borers and Related Workers 8114 Cement, Stone and Other Mineral Products Machine Operators Note Mining supervisors are classified in Unit Group 3121: Mining Supervisors.

Metal processing and finishing plant operators monitor and operate single-function process control machinery and equipment to control the conversion, processing and finishing of mineral ores and metals. Tasks performed usually include: setting up, preparing and adjusting metal and ore processing and finishing machinery; coordinating and monitoring the operation of a particular aspect of metal processing production and finishing; verifying equipment for malfunctions, monitoring gauges, carrying out routine operating tests and arranging for maintenance; checking, testing and analysing sample products; recording data and writing production logs. Occupations in this minor group are classified into the following unit groups: 8121 Metal Processing Plant Operators 8122 Metal Finishing, Plating and Coating Machine Operators.

Chemical and photographic products plant and machine operators monitor and operate machines which process a variety of chemicals and other ingredients to produce pharmaceuticals, toiletries, explosives, photographic or other chemical products. Tasks performed usually include: operating and monitoring machines and equipment which blend, mix, package and otherwise process chemicals and chemical products to give them the desired properties for further industrial production, or to make finished products. Supervision of other workers may be included. Occupations in this minor group are classified into the following unit groups: 8131 Chemical Products Plant and Machine Operators 8132 Photographic Products Machine Operators.

Rubber, plastic and paper products machine operators monitor and operate machines which knead and blend rubber and rubber compounds and produce various components and products from natural and synthetic rubber and plastics, or produce different paper products from paper, paperboard, cardboard and similar materials. Tasks performed usually include: operating and monitoring machines which knead and blend rubber and rubber compounds and produce various components and products from natural and synthetic rubber and plastics; operating and monitoring machines which produce various paper products; examining outputs for defects and conformity to specifications and adjusting machine settings accordingly. Occupations in this minor group are classified into the following unit groups: 8141 Rubber Products Machine Operators 8142 Plastic Products Machine Operators 8143 Paper Products Machine Operators.

Textile, fur and leather products machine operators monitor and operate various types of machines which prepare, process and treat fibres, yarn, thread, leather or fur; produce, modify and repair footwear and garments; and manufacture or dry clean textiles, fur or light leather articles. Tasks performed usually include: operating and monitoring weaving and knitting machines which process yarn or thread into woven, non-woven and knitted products; operating and monitoring machines which prepare fibres, and spin, double, twist and wind yarn and thread from natural textile fibres; operating and monitoring sewing machines to make, repair, darn and renovate textile, fur, synthetic or leather garments or embroider ornamental designs on garments or other materials; operating and monitoring machines which bleach, shrink, dye and otherwise treat fibres, yarn and cloth, or which dry clean garments, fur, rugs and carpets; operating and monitoring various machines which prepare leather or treat fur- or wool-bearing pelts; operating and monitoring machines which produce, modify and repair standard, custom or orthopaedic footwear and leather articles such as luggage, briefcases and handbags. Occupations in this minor group are classified into the following unit groups: 8151 Fibre Preparing, Spinning and Winding Machine Operators 8152 Weaving and Knitting Machine Operators 8153 Sewing Machine Operators 8154 Bleaching, Dyeing and Fabric Cleaning Machine Operators 8155 Fur and Leather Preparing Machine Operators 8156 Shoemaking and Related Machine Operators 8157 Laundry Machine Operators 8159 Textile, Fur and Leather Products Machine Operators Not Elsewhere Classified.

Food and related products machine operators set, operate and attend machinery used to slaughter animals and trim meat from carcasses, and to bake, freeze, heat, crush, mix, blend and otherwise process foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco leaves. Task performed usually include: operating and monitoring machinery used to restrain, stun and slaughter animals, and to trim carcasses into standard meat and fish cuts; setting, operating and attending machinery and ovens to mix, bake and otherwise prepare bread and flour confectionery products; operating machinery to crush, mix, malt, cook and ferment grains and fruits to produce beer, wines, malt liquors, vinegar, yeast and related products; attending equipment to make jam, toffee, cheese, processed cheese, margarine, syrup, ice, pasta, icecream, sausages, chocolate, maize starch, edible fats and dextrin; operating equipment to cool, heat, dry, roast, blanch, pasteurize, smoke, sterilize, freeze, evaporate and concentrate foodstuffs and liquids used in food processing; mixing, pulping, grinding, blending and separating foodstuffs and liquids with churning, pressing, sieving, grinding and filtering equipment; processing tobacco leaves by machine to make cigarettes, cigars, pipe and other tobacco products. Occupations in this minor group are classified into the following unit group: 8160 Food and Related Products Machine Operators.

Wood processing and papermaking plant operators monitor, operate and control machinery to saw wood, cut veneer, make plywood, produce pulp and paper and to otherwise prepare wood, pulp and paper for further use. Tasks performed usually include: examining logs and rough lumber to determine size, condition, quality and other characteristics to decide best lumber cuts to carry out, or operating automated equipment to convey logs through laser scanners which determine the most productive and profitable cutting patterns; sorting, stacking and placing logs and wood billets onto conveyors and lathes from trucks for processing into chips, veneers and pulp; operating and monitoring screening equipment, bleaching equipment, digesters, mixing tanks, washers and other pulp processing machinery and equipment to carry out one or more cellulose processing steps; operating and monitoring papermaking and finishing process machinery and equipment to dry, calender, laminate, coat, slit, trim, wind or carry out other papermaking and finishing process steps; observing equipment and machinery panel indicators, gauges, level indicators and other equipment instruments to detect machinery and equipment malfunctions and ensure process steps are carried out according to specifications; operating and monitoring plywood core-laying machines and hot-plate plywood presses and machines which cut veneer; transporting processed wood products to work areas. Occupations in this minor group are classified into the following unit groups: 8171 Pulp and Papermaking Plant Operators 8172 Wood Processing Plant Operators.

This unit group includes stationary plant and machine operators not classified elsewhere in Sub-major Group 81: Stationary Plant and Machine Operators. The group includes, for instance, operators of machines which make silicon chips and splice cables and ropes. Tasks performed usually include: monitoring kilns, furnaces and other machinery and equipment used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, porcelain, tiles or bricks; operating machines to anneal, harden or decorate glass and ceramics; maintaining and operating stationary steam engines, boilers, turbines and auxiliary equipment; operating and monitoring machines which weigh, pack and label products, or fill containers with products. Occupations in this minor group are classified into the following unit groups: 8181 Glass and Ceramics Plant Operators 8182 Steam Engine and Boiler Operators 8183 Packing, Bottling and Labelling Machine Operators 8189 Stationary Plant and Machine Operators Not Elsewhere Classified.