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Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Occupation Detailed Description

Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

The main tasks and work activities of Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand are to smooth metal surfaces or edges, polish materials, workpieces, or finished products, clean workpieces or finished products, mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information. In general, for the Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand, quality Control Analysis, operation Monitoring, equipment Maintenance, operation and Control and other 3 skills are required.
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Job Description
EducationSome of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Related ExperienceLittle or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
ExampleThese occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, sewing machine operators, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand jobs. 39.03% of Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 11.41% of Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
34.11%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
39.03%
Post-Secondary Certificate
11.41%
Some College Courses
3.61%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
10.57%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
1.27%

Tasks and Work Activities of Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

  • Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair.
  • Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes.
  • Select files or other abrasives, according to materials, sizes and shapes of workpieces, amount of stock to be removed, finishes specified, and steps in finishing processes.
  • Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met.
  • Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery.
  • Record product and processing data on specified forms.
  • Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment.
  • Remove completed workpieces from equipment or work tables, using hand tools, and place workpieces in containers.
  • Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools.
  • Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices.
  • Study blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates.
  • Apply solutions and chemicals to equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.
  • Spread emery powder or other polishing compounds on stone, or wet stone surfaces with hoses, and guide buffing wheels over stone to polish surfaces.
  • Wash grit from stone, using hoses.
  • Repair and maintain equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.
  • Sharpen abrasive grinding tools, using machines and hand tools.
  • File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of metal objects, such as metalworking dies and machine parts, to conform to templates, other parts, layouts, or blueprint specifications.
  • Fill cracks or imperfections in marble with wax that matches the stone color.
  • Clean brass particles from files by drawing file cards through file grooves.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
  • Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
  • Clean workpieces or finished products.
  • Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
  • Operate grinding equipment.
  • Select production equipment according to product specifications.
  • Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Compare physical characteristics of materials or products to specifications or standards.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Apply solutions to production equipment.
  • Clean materials to prepare them for production.
  • Repair production equipment or tools.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.

Skills and Abilities for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Equipment MaintenancePerforming routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • RepairingRepairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • TroubleshootingDetermining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Pneumatic grinderse.g. Air grinders
  • Angle grindere.g. Angle grinders
  • Belt sandere.g. Belt sanders
  • Power bufferse.g. Buffing wheels
  • Cleaning scraperse.g. Cleaning scrapers
  • Hole gaugee.g. Dial bore gauges
  • Dial indicator or dial gaugee.g. Dial indicators
  • Height gaugese.g. Digital height gauges
  • Micrometerse.g. Digital micrometers
  • Power sanderse.g. Electric sander-polishers
  • Wire brushese.g. File cards
  • Power grinderse.g. Finishers
  • Cold chiselse.g. Flat cold chisels
  • Tape measurese.g. Measuring tapes
  • Abrasive polisherse.g. Orbit polishers
  • Power bufferse.g. Orbital buffers
  • Orbital sandere.g. Orbital sanders
  • Power sanderse.g. Pad sanders
  • Power chipperse.g. Power chippers
  • Precision filee.g. Precision file sets
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.