Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators

What the job involves

• Preparing and positioning plant for operation
• Operating tractor-drawn and self-propelled plant to plough land and sow, fertilise, cultivate and harvest crops, and avoid damaging crops
• Adjusting speed, height and depth of implements
• Operating plant to hold, lift and cut trees
• Operating attachments to lift, swing, release and sort trees and logs, and operating auxiliary plant such as chipping machines and log splitting machines
• Feeding felled trees into processors to strip limbs and cut into logs and loading logs onto stockpiles and into trucks
• Keeping log tallies and writing work reports
• Servicing plant and performing minor repairs

Key values of workers in Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators

• Independence

  Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

• Achievement

  Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

• Relationships

  Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

• Working Conditions

  Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

• Recognition

  Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Top skills required for workers in Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators

• Operations Monitoring

  Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

• Troubleshooting

  Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

• Active Listening

  Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Equipment Maintenance

  Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

• Repairing

  Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.