About This Career

Sets up, operates, or tends machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

• Sets up, operates, or tends machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
• Examines, measures, and weighs materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.
• Reviews work orders, blueprints, specifications, or job samples to determine components, settings, and adjustments for cutting and slicing machines.
• Presses buttons, pulls levers, or depresses pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines.
• Starts machines to verify setups, and makes any necessary adjustments.
• Feeds stock into cutting machines, onto conveyors, or under cutting blades, by threading, guiding, pushing, or turning handwheels.
• Stacks and sorts cut material for packaging, further processing, or shipping, according to types and sizes of material.
• Monitors operation of cutting or slicing machines to detect malfunctions or to determine whether supplies need replenishment.
• Removes completed materials or products from cutting or slicing machines, and stacks or stores them for additional processing.
• Adjusts machine controls to alter position, alignment, speed, or pressure.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Judging how far away an object is, or which of several objects is closer or farther away
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly up close
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Rotating shift work