Chainsaw Operator (Timber Felling)

Timber keeps rural towns working, and an eucalyptus plantation near Kariega is hiring crews. It's a practical job: you'll see what you got done before you go home.

The work is in Kariega, Eastern Cape, so you'll need a reliable way to get there every day. The first two weeks are spent shadowing someone experienced.

• Sharpen and service chainsaws daily
• Stack logs by length for loading onto trucks
• Apply herbicide around young trees as instructed
• Feed logs into sawmill machines and stack planks
• Prune lower branches with pruning saws and ladders
• Wear chainsaw chaps, helmets and ear protection at all times
• Clear and maintain firebreaks during the dry season

• Passes the medical check for fire crews
• Follows safety rules strictly around machines and fires
• Willing to work in remote areas
• Physically strong and fit for steep slopes
• Able to work in a crew and follow the crew leader
• Valid ID

• Crew transport to plantations
• Chainsaw and fire training at no cost
• Fire-season standby allowance

• Say you are fit and do not mind remote sites. Many applicants drop out after the first week, so recruiters test commitment.
• Mention fire fighting experience, even as a volunteer. Fire protection crews look for it before winter.