Job Description:

• 1) Controls one or more cylinder retorts to impregnate wood products, such as railroad ties, piling, telephone poles, and fenceposts, with preserving or fireproofing chemicals: Turns valves to admit treating solution into retort and steam into heating coils.

• 2) Presses buttons to activate vacuum- and hydraulic-pressure pumps that remove air and steam from retort and force treating solution into pores of wood to accelerate treatment process.

• 3) Observes gauges and turns valves to maintain specified heat, vacuum and hydraulic pressure, and level of solution in retort during each phase of treatment cycle, according to treating schedule.

• 4) Pumps treating solution back into storage tank at end of treating cycle.

• 5) Opens, or signals TREATING-ENGINEER HELPER to open, retort doors.

• 6) Heats unseasoned wood in retort to remove moisture preparatory to treating process.

• 7) May operate locomotive or winch to move tram loads of wood products in and out of retort.

• 8) May take and test sample borings, using laboratory equipment, to determine if treatment meets customers' specifications or standard chemical-analysis requirements.

• 9) May be required to hold license.