Chainsaw Operator (Timber Felling) – Experienced

You'll plant, prune and fell trees for a sawmill in the hills near Secunda. If you learn fast and don't mind being shown things twice, you'll settle in within a few weeks.

You'll be based at a sawmill in Secunda. Living nearby, or on a taxi route to it, really helps.

• Prune lower branches with pruning saws and ladders
• Feed logs into sawmill machines and stack planks
• Sharpen and service chainsaws daily
• Fight veld fires with beaters and water packs under a crew leader
• Fell, debranch and cross-cut trees with a chainsaw
• Wear chainsaw chaps, helmets and ear protection at all times

• Willing to work in remote areas
• Available for early starts and fire-season standby
• Follows safety rules strictly around machines and fires
• Valid ID
• Passes the medical check for fire crews

• First-aid training
• Previous plantation or sawmill experience
• Fire fighting training

• Full safety gear provided
• Fire-season standby allowance
• Crew transport to plantations

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