Unit Group

9453 Hide and Pelt Processing Workers

Example Titles

• beating machine tender
• leather buffer
• leather stretcher
• pelt dresser
• shaving machine tender
• tanner

Main duties

• Cut particles of flesh and fat from hides or pelts prior to processing using hand and powered cutting knives and remove loose hair from hides and pelts
• Operate machines to remove flesh or hair from hides, skins or pelts and shave hides to uniform thickness
• Shear fur or wool hides to produce pelts with hair of specified or uniform length
• Prepare solutions according to pre-established formulas in vats or revolving drums and immerse hides and skins to clean, dehair, pickle, dye, oil or tan
• Adjust rotation and mixing action of vats according to state of pelts
• Immerse pelts to clean, soften and preserve
• Operate machines to polish or roughen hides or skins to specified finish
• Tint or dye furs to enhance natural shades of fur
• May maintain and repair vats and other machinery.

Employment requirements

• On-the-job training is usually provided.

Additional information

• There is some mobility among jobs in this unit group.
• Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Classified elsewhere

• Supervisors of hide and pelt processing workers (in 9225 Supervisors, Fabric, Fur and Leather Products Manufacturing )