A professional who tends machine that splits wood blocks to size, preparatory to grinding. Responsibilities include:

• Starts machine and conveyor system.
• Depresses pedal to stop and start conveyor to move block in front of wedge-shaped splitting ram.
• Positions one end of block against steel backstop and opposite end in splitting position against ram according to grain, using picaroon. Moves lever to force ram against end of block and split block to size.
• Segregates knots and rotted areas and moves them onto waste conveyor, using picaroon.