94100 Machine operators, mineral and metal processing

What this occupation covers

Machine operators in mineral and metal processing operate machinery to process mineral ore and metal. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries and cement processing plants.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 6 main duties for this code.

• Set up, prepare and adjust mineral ore, metal and cement processing machinery to carry out one step in the overall mineral ore or metal processing operation
• Operate single-function machinery to grind, separate, filter, mix, treat, cast, roll, refine or otherwise process mineral ores
• Observe gauges, meters, computer printouts, video monitors and products to ensure correct operation of machinery and verify processing conditions
• Make adjustments to machinery as required
• Record production information and complete reports
• May assist with machinery maintenance or repair.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 6 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 93100 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
• 94103 Concrete, clay and stone forming operators
• 94101 Foundry workers
• 94102 Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters
• 94104 Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing
• 95100 Labourers in mineral and metal processing
• 92010 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing

Excluded from this code

• Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing (See 93100 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing)
• Concrete, clay and stone forming operators (See 94103 Concrete, clay and stone forming operators)
• Foundry workers (See 94101 Foundry workers)
• Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters (See 94102 Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters)
• Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing (See 94104 Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing)
• Labourers in mineral and metal processing (See 95100 Labourers in mineral and metal processing)
• Supervisors, mineral and metal processing (See 92010 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

alumina clarifier operator · alumina recovery operator · aluminum classifier · aluminum electrolytic tank reconditioner · aluminum electrolytic tank tender · aluminum oxide controller · aluminum pourer - primary metal processing · aluminum powder maker · aluminum slurry pump tender · aluminum stretcher-leveller operator · aluminum-briquetting equipment operator · aluminum-casting machine operator - primary metal processing · amalgamation process tender · annealer - primary metal processing · anode caster · anode caster - primary metal processing · anode operator · anode paste plant operator · anode press operator · arsenic recovery operator · asbestos dryer · asbestos screen tender · auxiliary equipment operator - primary metal processing · baghouse operator

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• On-the-job training is provided.
• Experience as a labourer in mineral and metal processing is usually required for machine operators.