Chainsaw Operators
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Job description
These individuals cut down, delimb, and buck trees. They move them to the processing or shipping area. Chainsaw Operators are employed by logging companies or contractors.
Environment
- Climatic conditions
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Vehicle or passenger compartment
- Odours
- Nontoxic dust
- Hazardous workplaces
- Noise
- Falling objects
- Vibration
Main tasks
- Assess the location, terrain and weather conditions.
- Fell, delimb, and buck trees.
- Move felled trees to the intended location for processing and shipping.
- Maintain equipment and perform minor repairs.
Advancement and mobility
- There is some mobility among the positions in this group.
- Experience provides the opportunity to move into supervisory positions or to become an entrepreneur.
Hourly wage
Not available.Job prospects for 2024-2028
Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Very good
All of Québec
Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Non available
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
1,500
All of Québec
na
Gender distribution
All of Québec
Not available.
- 2.6% Female
- 97.4% Male
Not available.
- 2.6% Female
- 97.4% Male
Job types
All of Québec
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
$41,600
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Seasonal worker
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Seasonal worker
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 113, 115362% of jobs
-
NAICS 111, 112, 114, 1151, 115212% of jobs
-
NAICS 32110% of jobs
-
NAICS 55, 564% of jobs
-
NAICS 912% of jobs
-
Others10% of jobs
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 113, 115362% of jobs
-
NAICS 111, 112, 114, 1151, 115212% of jobs
-
NAICS 32110% of jobs
-
NAICS 55, 564% of jobs
-
NAICS 912% of jobs
-
Others10% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
Also required
- Training in safe hand felling.
Sometimes required
- A Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) certificate may be required.
- First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training may be required.
- A Class 5 driver's licence is often required.
- Experience as a labourer in tree felling and logging or as a logging machine operator may be required (varies by type and location of operation).
- Training on the use of chainsaws and their maintenance is usually required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Operations and control
- Result evaluation
- Critical thought
- Monitoring operations
- Judgment and decision-making
Abilities
- Reaction time
- Limb coordination
- Control accuracy
- Manual dexterity
- Static muscle power
- Hand-arm stability
- Limb movement speed
- Auditory attention
- Overall coordination of the body
- Endurance
- Core strength
- Depth perception
- Near vision
- Colour perception and distinction
- Hearing sensitivity
- Physical flexibility in extension
- Processing flexibility
- Distance vision
- Speed control
- Information organization
- Response orientation
- Awareness of issues
- Visualization
- Classification
- Oral comprehension
- Overall balance of the body
- Dynamic strength
- Verbal skills
- Perception speed
Knowledge and attributes
- Leadership
- Autonomy
- Sense of responsibility
- Respect standards and regulations
- Sense of observation
- Knowledge of public safety and security
- Availability
- Tolerance to frequent temperature variations
- Knowledge of plant and animal production
- Knowledge of mechanics
Interests
- Work manually
- Develop and exploit natural resources
- Work in contact with nature and animals
- Exercer une activité sportive ou physique
- Work outdoors
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Official name of the NOC 84110
Chain saw and skidder operators
Job titles
- Manual Loggers
- Chain saw operator - logging
- Bucker
- Faller
- Skidder operator
- Logging tractor operator
- Faller and bucker - logging
- Hardwood faller and bucker
- Horse logger
- Cable skidder operator
- Grapple skidder operator
- Skidder operator - logging
- Cutter - logging
- Cordwood cutter
- Pulpwood cutter
- Log cutter
- Pole cutter
- Post cutter
- Landingman/woman
- Pieceworker - logging
- Chaser - logging
- Forest worker - logging
- Landing bucker - logging
Skill type
Natural resources, agriculture and related production
Last update: January 29, 2026
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