WHAT DOES A GENERAL LABORER DO?
Published: Jun 9, 2025 - The General Laborer ensures proper equipment operation and product consistency by reviewing work instructions and performing accurate measurements using hand gauges and measuring tools. This role involves loading and unloading processes, making manual adjustments to machinery, completing required documentation, and actively participating in training to enhance skill sets. The laborer promotes a culture of safety and professionalism by following plant safety policies, mentoring others on equipment hazards, and supporting company procedures through example.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for General Laborer
1. General Laborer Duties
- Equipment Operation: Operate production line equipment such as conveyor, hoists, lifts and hand-held tools
- Production Efficiency: Work at a rate that meets daily production goals
- Assembly Work: Assemble goods on a production line
- Work Area Maintenance: Carry out cleaning and basic maintenance of work areas and machinery
- Product Assembly: Build up components and sub-assemblies into finished products
- Parts Fitting: Fit parts to machinery and equipment
- Product Finishing: Finish products such as applying labels, frames, bonding, etc.
- Part Shaping: Cut and shape parts and tools
- Machine Operation: Set and operate hand-controlled or computer-controlled machines
- Quality Control: Make quality control checks on products
- Standards Compliance: Ensure products are to the correct tolerances and meet customer and internal standards and specifications
- Production Recording: Record individual production data
- Goods Packing: Pack goods with protective materials, ready for shipment in boxes or other containers
- Container Sealing: Seal containers using appropriate materials such as glue, staples or shrink-wrap
- Product Labeling: Weigh and label packaged goods ready for dispatch
- Process Improvement: Contribute to continuous improvement activities
- Safety Compliance: Work safely at all times, complying with Health, Safety and Environmental standards
2. General Laborer Details
- Supply Stocking: Stock other workers with the supplies, materials, and tools necessary to perform daily tasks
- Machine Operation: Perform routine machine operations such as feeding and unloading various machines
- Grinding Setup: Set up and operate a variety of grinding machines to grind metal work pieces
- Worker Assistance: Assist other workers with their essential duties
- Equipment Inspection: Inspect the crane and forklifts before operation to ensure safety and security
- Jobsite Preparation: Stock, prepare, and clean up at job locations, including setting up ladders, scaffolding, and other temporary structures
- Roof Removal: Remove and dispose of the existing roof and insulation
- Roof Installation: Assist with the installation of a new roofing system, which may be modified bituminous, built-up, single-ply, or green roof systems
- Roof Maintenance: Perform maintenance, repairs, or warranty service on existing roofs
3. General Laborer Responsibilities
- Area Cleaning: Perform clean-up and light maintenance duties, including sweeping and cleaning production areas
- Component Grinding: Clean and grind components to ensure they are free from overlap, overspray, grease, and ready for shipment
- Paint Line Handling: Hang and remove parts from the paint line via crane
- Forklift Operation: Operate and drive forklift, pallet jack, or maintenance cart into the building from station to station and out of the building
- Cart Movement: Move parts carts by hand or with a forklift
- Rustproofing Support: Assist with rustproofing components
- Safety Compliance: Ensure all work is being done up to all safety precautions
- Area Tidiness: Keep the general work area tidy
- Product Shipping: Help form, bundle and ship products daily
4. General Laborer Job Summary
- Instruction Review: Reviews all process sheets and work instructions daily to ensure compliance with proper product and equipment operation
- Work Checking: Performs all work checks as defined for the process and skill level, utilizing various hand gauges and various measuring equipment
- Machine Adjustment: Manually adjusts the machine for process part consistency by the training and skill level of the employee
- Process Loading: Loads and/or unloads processes
- Safety Compliance: Works safely and follows all plant safety policies
- Safety Training: Instills safe practices while training other personnel by stressing the hazards associated with the operation of specific pieces of equipment
- Leadership Support: Leads through example concerning professionalism and leadership in the execution and support of company policies and directives
- Skill Development: Participates in training activities to help expand present skill set to advance into other job assignments
- Paperwork Completion: Completes all necessary paperwork including Lot Tags, Check Sheets, SPC charts, and Production Results
- Safety Priority: Perform all job functions, considering your safety and the safety of fellow employees as the highest priority
5. General Laborer Accountabilities
- Supply Communication: Communicate with the supply person so that there is always an adequate supply of ingredients
- Package Weighing: Consistently hand weighs the specified number of packages per minute
- Area Setup: Set up the area with the necessary equipment promptly and assist with Line setup
- Ingredient Verification: Double-check commodity codes of all ingredients before using to ensure the correct ingredients are being used
- Paperwork Completion: Complete all paperwork legibly and accurately and promptly, including any required HACCP paperwork
- Paperwork Delivery: Ensure that paperwork is delivered to the prescribed location at shifts end
- Scale Checking: Check all scales used to ensure they are weighing properly before batching ingredients