Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Operators
On the Job
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Operators set up, operate, or tend machines that crush, grind, or polish materials. The materials may include coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Operate grinding equipment.
- Operate pumping systems or equipment.
- Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids.
- Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
- Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
- Clean production equipment.
- Clean work areas.
- Load materials into production equipment.
- Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
Typical Working Conditions
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Exposure to hazardous equipment.
- Working with a group or team.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- Serious consequences if mistakes are made.
- A work pace that is determined by the speed of equipment.
- Standing.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.