Concrete, Clay and Stone Forming Operators

Nature of work

Concrete, clay and stone forming operators cast and finish concrete products, operate machines to shape, mould, press and bake clay products, and operate machines to form, cut and finish stone products. They work for concrete, clay and stone products manufacturing companies.

Job duties

Concrete products forming and finishing workers:

• Build clay models and moulds by hand and with hand tools for use in casting concrete products.
• Build and repair wooden forms used to mould concrete products.
• Position reinforcing rods or wire mesh in moulds and fill moulds with concrete from suspended pouring buckets.
• Start vibrating tables to settle concrete, or tamp concrete using electric vibrator.
• Remove castings from mould with crane or forklift, and finish surfaces of castings using screed or trowel.
• Cut cured concrete pipe sections with saw or chisel, and cement sections together to form odd, shaped fittings.

Concrete products machine operators:

• Set up, adjust, and use machines to mix, drill, grind and cut concrete to specifications in the manufacture of concrete products.
• Check products for quality control, repair flaws, adjust machines, and complete minor maintenance.
• Move products using forklift, crane, or hydraulic hoist.
• Record manufacturing information like quantity, size and type of goods produced.

Clay products forming and finishing machine operators:

• Set up and use automatic machines that mix ingredients, extrude tempered clay mixture and cut extruded clay into sections to make products like bricks, drain tiles and porcelain insulators.
• Use mechanical or hydraulic ram and hot-presses to form pottery and porcelain.
• Prepare and mix slip and fill moulds with slip to form pottery and porcelain ware like jugs, cups, sinks and toilet bowls.
• Operate kiln to bake clay products to specified hardness.

Stone forming and finishing workers:

• Use blade or wire saws to cut blocks of stone to specified dimensions.
• Use machines to grind and polish surfaces of stone blocks, slabs or other stone products to specific shape or design and to produce smooth finish.
• Use sandblasting equipment to cut inscriptions or decorative designs in stone monuments.
• Finish stone products with spray paint and by mounting plaques or installing concrete bases.
• Use stone-dressing lathe to sharpen and dress grindstones that grind logs into pulp.
• Use machine to drill holes in blocks or slabs of stone according to specifications.

Sample job titles

• asbestos shingle presser
• brick presser operator
• clay press operator
• clay products moulder
• concrete block maker
• finisher
• granite cutter
• marble cutter
• press concrete moulder
• precast concrete slab maker
• stone driller
• stone planner
• stonework moulder

Skills

You should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and a mechanical ability are important. You must be accurate and pay attention to detail. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

• High school may be necessary.
• On-the-job training is provided.
• Experience as a helper or labourer in concrete, clay or stone products manufacturing may be required.
• Mould makers in this unit group who build and repair wooden forms may require some carpentry or woodworking experience.

Other considerations

Shiftwork is common in these jobs. Movement is possible between workers within each of the concrete, clay and stone manufacturing sectors, but there is little or no movement between these manufacturing sectors. Movement to supervisor positions is possible with experience.

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