Wood treaters apply treatments to wood to make it resistant to environmental factors like mould, cold, moisture, or staining. Treatments may also contribute to the colour of the wood. Wood treaters may use chemicals, heat, gasses, uv light, or a combination of these to treat wood.

Tasks

Tasks include -
(a) Operating and tending kilns, treating tanks and other equipment to dry lumber, prepare and season wood and other wood products, and to impregnate wood products with preservatives;
(b) Monitoring equipment operation, gauges, and panel lights in order to detect deviations from standards and to ensure that processes are operating according to specifications;
(c) Operating valves to admit treating solution into treatment vessels, maintain specified heat, vacuum and hydraulic pressure and level of solution during each phase of treatment cycle;
(d) Activating vacuum and hydraulic pressure pumps that remove air and steam from retort and force treating solution into pores of wood to accelerate treatment process;
(e) Assisting in maintaining processing equipment and machines as required;
(f) Cleaning, lubricating and adjusting equipment;
(g) Transporting materials and products to and from work areas, manually or using carts, handtrucks, or hoists;
(h) Completing and maintaining production reports.