Overview
All Engineering Production Workers
-
$1,265 Weekly Pay
-
Decline Future Growth
-
19,700 workers Employment Size
-
Lower skill Skill level rating
-
92% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
44 hours Average full-time
-
44 years Average age
-
4% female Gender Share
Engineering Production Workers perform a range of production process tasks to refine and treat metals and mineral ore, fire ceramics, and operate plant to produce and finish metal products such as rods, tubing and structural shapes, and moulds for casting.
Specialisations: Alumina Refinery Operator, Arc Welder, Brake Press Operator, Computer Numeric Control Machine Operator, Foundry Operator, Furnace Operator (Metals), Kiln Operator (Metals), Metal Rolling Mill Operator, Sheetmetal Worker (Second Class), Tool Setter, Turret Punch Operator.
You can work as an Engineering Production Worker without formal qualifications, however, a certificate II or III in engineering studies, competitive systems and practices, manufacturing technology or resource processing may be useful.
Tasks
- interpreting engineering production drawings
- setting up, operating and adjusting production plant to shape metal stock and castings and cut sheet metal
- operating welding and electroplating plant
- operating furnaces and quenching plant to smelt and change the structure of metals
- using kilns and ovens to fire ceramics
- processing mineral ore and operating metal rolling plant
- casting molten metal and operating plant to draw metal wire through dies
- operating computer-controlled production plant
Prospects
There were 19,700 Engineering Production Workers in 2020. The number of workers:
- grew moderately over the past 5 years
- is expected to fall over the next five years
- is likely to reach 18,200 by 2025.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025. The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment Snapshot
- Size: This is a medium sized occupation.
- Location: Engineering Production Workers work in many parts of Australia. Western Australia has a large share of workers.
- Industries: Most work in Manufacturing; Construction; and Mining.
- Earnings: Full-time workers on an adult wage earn around $1,265 per week (below the average of $1,460). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (92%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 44 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 44 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
- Gender: 4% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Employment Outlook
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025.
Weekly Earnings
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), May 2018, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Pathways
You can work as an Engineering Production Worker without formal qualifications, however, a certificate II or III in engineering studies, competitive systems and practices, manufacturing technology or resource processing may be useful.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
Skills & Knowledge
Employers look for Engineering Production Systems Workers have good interpersonal skills, can communicate well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Economics and accounting
Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Foreign language
Foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Equipment maintenance
Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Management of personnel resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Equipment selection
Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Extent flexibility
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Reaction time
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Flexibility of closure
See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Depth perception
Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Colour discrimination
Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Glare sensitivity
See things in glare or bright lighting.
-
Static strength
Lift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Rate control
Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Hearing sensitivity
Tell the difference between sounds.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Working with mechanical equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
Assessing and evaluating things
Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Working with electronic equipment
Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing electronic devices and equipment.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Scheduling work and activities
Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-4051.00 - Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders.
Work Environment
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Very hot or cold temperatures
Work in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
Bright or inadequate lighting
Work in extremely bright or dark lighting conditions.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings
Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
-
Dangerous conditions
Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Bending or twisting your body
Spend time bending or twisting your body.
-
Dangerous equipment
Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Indoors, not heat controlled
Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Walking and running
Spend time walking and running.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-4051.00 - Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders.
All Engineering Production Workers
-
$1,265 Weekly Pay
-
Decline Future Growth
-
19,700 workers Employment Size
-
Lower skill Skill level rating
-
92% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
44 hours Average full-time
-
44 years Average age
-
4% female Gender Share
Engineering Production Workers perform a range of production process tasks to refine and treat metals and mineral ore, fire ceramics, and operate plant to produce and finish metal products such as rods, tubing and structural shapes, and moulds for casting.
Specialisations: Alumina Refinery Operator, Arc Welder, Brake Press Operator, Computer Numeric Control Machine Operator, Foundry Operator, Furnace Operator (Metals), Kiln Operator (Metals), Metal Rolling Mill Operator, Sheetmetal Worker (Second Class), Tool Setter, Turret Punch Operator.
You can work as an Engineering Production Worker without formal qualifications, however, a certificate II or III in engineering studies, competitive systems and practices, manufacturing technology or resource processing may be useful.
Tasks
- interpreting engineering production drawings
- setting up, operating and adjusting production plant to shape metal stock and castings and cut sheet metal
- operating welding and electroplating plant
- operating furnaces and quenching plant to smelt and change the structure of metals
- using kilns and ovens to fire ceramics
- processing mineral ore and operating metal rolling plant
- casting molten metal and operating plant to draw metal wire through dies
- operating computer-controlled production plant
There were 19,700 Engineering Production Workers in 2020. The number of workers:
- grew moderately over the past 5 years
- is expected to fall over the next five years
- is likely to reach 18,200 by 2025.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025. The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment Snapshot
- Size: This is a medium sized occupation.
- Location: Engineering Production Workers work in many parts of Australia. Western Australia has a large share of workers.
- Industries: Most work in Manufacturing; Construction; and Mining.
- Earnings: Full-time workers on an adult wage earn around $1,265 per week (below the average of $1,460). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (92%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 44 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 44 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
- Gender: 4% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Employment Outlook
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025.
Weekly Earnings
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), May 2018, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
You can work as an Engineering Production Worker without formal qualifications, however, a certificate II or III in engineering studies, competitive systems and practices, manufacturing technology or resource processing may be useful.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
Employers look for Engineering Production Systems Workers have good interpersonal skills, can communicate well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Economics and accounting
Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Foreign language
Foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Equipment maintenance
Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Management of personnel resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Equipment selection
Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Extent flexibility
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Reaction time
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Flexibility of closure
See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Depth perception
Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Colour discrimination
Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Glare sensitivity
See things in glare or bright lighting.
-
Static strength
Lift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Rate control
Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Hearing sensitivity
Tell the difference between sounds.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Working with mechanical equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
Assessing and evaluating things
Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Working with electronic equipment
Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing electronic devices and equipment.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Scheduling work and activities
Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-4051.00 - Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders.
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Very hot or cold temperatures
Work in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
Bright or inadequate lighting
Work in extremely bright or dark lighting conditions.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings
Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
-
Dangerous conditions
Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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Bending or twisting your body
Spend time bending or twisting your body.
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Dangerous equipment
Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
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Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
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Indoors, not heat controlled
Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
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Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
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Walking and running
Spend time walking and running.
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Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
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Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
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Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
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Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
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Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-4051.00 - Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders.