National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0

8 - Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations

This broad category comprises middle management occupations in natural resources, agriculture and related production, as well as occupations concerned with supervision and equipment operation in the natural resource-based sectors of mining, oil and gas production, forestry and logging, agriculture, horticulture and fishing. Harvesting, landscaping and natural resources labourers are also included. Most occupations in this category are industry specific and do not occur outside of the primary resources industries.

83 - Occupations in natural resources and related production

This major group comprises occupations in natural resources and related production. These occupations come with Training, Education, Experience and Responsibility (TEER) identified as TEER 3. Occupations classified in TEER 3, as those included in this group with a 3 as the second digit of their code, typically require completion of a post-secondary education program of less than two years at community college, institute of technology or CÉGEP; or completion of an apprenticeship training program of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training, training courses or specific work experience with some secondary school education; or the accumulation of several years of experience in a related occupation found in TEER 4, when applicable (TEER 4 includes occupations with a 4 as a second digit in their code).

831 - Occupations in natural resources and fisheries

This sub-major group comprises occupations in natural resources and fisheries, including underground miners, oil and gas drillers and related occupations; logging machinery operators; and fishing vessel masters and fishermen/women.

8311 - Logging machinery operators

This minor group comprises logging machinery operators. They are employed by logging companies and contractors.

83110 - Logging machinery operators

Logging machinery operators operate cable yarding systems, mechanical harvesters and forwarders and mechanical tree processors and loaders to fell, yard and process trees at logging sites. They are employed by logging companies and contractors.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • chipping machine operator
  • delimber operator
  • feller buncher operator
  • feller forwarder operator
  • grapple operator - logging
  • linehorse operator
  • loader operator - logging
  • log processor operator
  • rigging slinger - logging
  • shortwood harvester operator
  • slasher operator - logging
  • steel spar operator - logging
  • treelength forwarder operator
  • yarder operator - logging

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Chain saw and skidder operators (See 84110 Chain saw and skidder operators)
  • Heavy equipment operators (See 73400 Heavy equipment operators)
  • Silviculture and forestry workers (See 84111 Silviculture and forestry workers)
  • Supervisors, logging and forestry (See 82010 Supervisors, logging and forestry)
  • Transport truck drivers (See 73300 Transport truck drivers)

• Main duties

  This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  Cable yarding system operators

  • Operate machines to transport trees from logging areas to landing or log loading sites in mountainous terrain in western Canada.

  Mechanical harvester and forwarder operators

  • Assess site and terrain and drive heavy equipment to perform a combination of felling, slashing, bucking, bunching and forwarding operations at logging areas.

  Mechanical tree processor and loader operators

  • Operate a variety of machines which perform a combination of slashing, bucking, chipping, sorting and loading logs or trees at landing sites.

• Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school may be required.
  • On-the-job training from three to 16 months is provided, depending on the complexity of machinery operated and the type of woodlands operation.
  • Experience requirements vary depending on the complexity of machinery operated.
  • Mechanical harvester and forwarder operators may require logging experience as a chain saw and skidder operator.
  • Feller buncher operators and cable yarder operators usually require three to five years of logging experience.
  • Mechanical tree processor and loader operators usually require one to three years of logging experience.
  • Certification as a heavy equipment operator may be required.
  • Company certification for mobile logging machinery operation may be required.
  • Provincial air brake certification may be required in British Columbia, depending on the type of equipment operated.
  • Workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) and first aid certificates may be required.
  • Knowledge of tree harvesting regulations is required.

• Additional information

  • There is some mobility among jobs in this group from the less complex to more complex machinery operation.
  • There is some mobility between employers, particularly in similar types of woodland operations.
  • Self-employment as a logging contractor is possible with investment in equipment.
  • Logging machinery operators may perform minor repairs and maintenance on their equipment.
  • Progression to logging and forestry supervisory positions is possible with experience.