National
| Median wages (2008) |
$14.38 hourly, $29,910 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
42,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Decline rapidly (-10% or lower)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
7,000 additional employees |
51-9021.00 - Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
Sample of reported job titles:
Machine Operator, Grinder Operator, Miller, Mill Operator, Batch Mixer, Crusher Operator, Cullet Trucker, Fabricator, Slurry Control Operator Helper, Beveller Operator
Tasks
- Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.
- Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
- Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
- Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
- Examine materials, ingredients, or products visually or with hands, in order to ensure conformance to established standards.
- Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, and/or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
- Clean, adjust and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
- Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
- Set mill gauges to specified fineness of grind.
- Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Dollies |
| Front end loaders |
| Power chippers — Chipping hammers |
| Power grinders |
| Screwdrivers — Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight screwdrivers |
| Wheel loaders — Mini loaders |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software |
| Electronic mail software — Email software |
| Spreadsheet software |
| Word processing software |
| 51-2021.00 |
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers |
| 51-4072.00 |
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4081.00 |
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
|
| 51-4122.00 |
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
|
| 51-9032.00 |
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| 51-9121.00 |
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| 51-9191.00 |
Cementing and Gluing Machine Operators and Tenders |
| 51-9192.00 |
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders |
