Worker Characteristics Ability to operate woodworking machines with precision Ability to look at a drawing and mentally imagine how to cut the wood to that shape Ability to see details in objects, such as a ding in a piece of wood Ability to coordinate movement of eyes and hands when operating machines Ability to move hands easily and skillfully when loading wood into the machines Willingness to perform the same tasks over and over Physical Demands Frequently need to see nearby objects clearly, such as when examining pieces of wood Frequently use arms and hands to reach for and handle objects, such as blocks of wood Occasionally judge the distance between objects Occasionally use fingers to examine the size, shape, or texture of wood Occasionally lift and move objects that weigh up to 50 pounds Occasionally need to hear clearly to see if a machine is working properly Occasionally stoop and crouch while working Occasionally use fingers to pick up small items Work Setting Woodworking machine operators generally work indoors but may occasionally work outdoors. Working conditions vary by industry. Workers are occasionally exposed to dust, fumes, and poor ventilation. Thus, most woodworking machine operators wear respirators. Occasionally workers are exposed to bodily injury from moving mechanical parts of tools and power equipment.
Woodworkers follow strict safety precautions to reduce the risk of injury.
Work sites usually are noisy so workers wear earplugs. Although they stand most of the day, woodworkers who work in manufacturing plants have less physically demanding jobs. Workers are occasionally exposed to chemicals from finishes. Those who do finishing work wear dust or vapor masks and protective safety suits. Some finishers work in special rooms where all vapors and particles are removed from the air.