Performance criteria

• Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
• Compliance with work instructions
• staying within the limits of the occupation
• Correct identification of companion species to the sugar maple
• Proper application of work techniques
• Proper use of tools (chainsaw, brush cutter, secateurs, etc.)
• Safe driving of an ATV or snowmobile
• Accurate perception of the impact of his or her interventions on the forest ecosystem

Tasks

• Car brush from the trails and around the farm tracks.
• Pick up dead branches.
• Plow the roads.
• Saw up trees that have been cut down or have fallen.
• Unload the logs.
• Split wood with an axe or splitter.
• Cord firewood.

Performance criteria

• Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
• Compliance with work instructions
• staying within the limits of the occupation
• Accurate interpretation of how the sugar bush, collection system and processing procedures interrelate
• Proper application of work techniques
• Appropriate use of tools
• Demonstration of ability to work in a team
• Meticulous work

Tasks

• Receive instructions from the sugar bush operator (location of the head of the collectors, placement of collector tubing, trees being used as supports, width of support pins and collectors, material used, etc.).
• Install the collector tubing support pins and, after having installed bark protection strips around the selected trees, attach the support pins to them and adjust the tension of the pin.
• Install the lateral tubing: attach each lateral tube to the support pin of the collector tubing, unroll the lateral tubing, winding it through the maples to the tree at the end of the line, install the end-of-line device, adjust the tension of the tubing, check the installation, etc.
• Unroll the collector tubing, attach it to the support pin and adjust the tension.
• Connect the lateral tubing to the collector tubing.
• Install the stakes: set up each stake vertically, lift the support pin, put in a nail and check the work.
• Install air tubes, if necessary.
• Help to hold the instruments when the sugar bush operator is levelling the collector tubing.
• Identify problems and notify the sugar bush operator.

Performance criteria

• Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
• Compliance with work instructions
• staying within the limits of the occupation
• Proper application of work techniques
• Proper use of tools and equipment
• Demonstration of ability to work in a team
• Meticulous work

Tasks

• Receive instructions from the sugar bush operator (length and number of spiles per tree, diameter and material of spiles, etc.).
• Cut, at right angles, the tubes that will form the spiles.
• Ensure that hot water is available and soak the ends of the tubes in it to soften them.
• Insert each tube into a tee or spile.
• Add connectors to the lateral tube.
• Insert the spiles into the connectors on the lateral tub
• Check the quality of the work.
• Identify problems and notify the sugar bush operator.

Performance criteria

• Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
• Compliance with work instructions
• staying within the limits of the occupation
• Proper application of work techniques
• Appropriate use of tools
• Demonstration of ability to work in a team
• Meticulous work

Tasks

• Receive instructions from the sugar bush operator (location, height, depth and diameter of tap holes, location of the tap hole in the harvesting area of the trunk, etc.).
• Check that the tap drill is working and, after ensuring that the drill bit is sharp, install the bit in the drill.
• Drill the tap hole at a right angle.
• Check the quality of the tap hole (shape and slope of the tap hole).
• Insert the spile and hammer it in.
• At the end of the harvesting season, take the spile out, being careful not to pull the bark off the maple tree.
• Identify problems and notify the sugar bush operator.

Performance criteria

• Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
• Observance of hygiene and cleanliness rules
• Compliance with work instructions
• staying within the limits of the occupation
• Observance of verification schedule
• Proper application of work techniques
• Proper use of tools and instruments such as a pressure gauge
• Demonstration of ability to work in a team
• Recognition of the fact that the enterprise’s profitability depends on having a system in good working order

Tasks

• Receive instructions from the sugar bush operator.
• Check the vacuum level in each element of the system (extractor pump, lateral tubing, connectors, spiles, etc.), or, again, make a tour to check on the condition of the tubing during the harvesting season.
• Repair leaks.
• Assess the extent of the leak.
• Determine what actions ought to be taken to stop the leak and where, and have them approved by the sugar bush operator.
• Carry out needed corrective actions: pick up branches that have fallen on the tubing, tighten support pins, replace lateral tubes, replace stakes, install mechanical devices to protect against rodents, etc.).

Performance criteria

• Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
• Observance of hygiene and cleanliness rules
• Observance of environmental laws and regulations
• Compliance with work instructions
• staying within the limits of the occupation
• Observance of maintenance schedule
• Proper application of work techniques
• Appropriate use of tools
• Demonstration of ability to work in a team
• Concern for the quality and safety of the maple sap

Tasks

• Receive instructions from the sugar bush operator
• Select already-prepared washing and disinfecting solutions.
• Apply a treatment on a new installation or on one which has undergone a major repair.
• Rinse the collecting tubes regularly during the harvesting season and, when prescribed, wash or disinfect them.
• Wash, disinfect and rinse the entire sap-collection system at the end of the harvesting season, in accordance with the technique chosen by the person in charge (suction, reverse or spooling).
• Wash, disinfect and rinse the vacuum boosters.
• Mark the lateral line tubing when the spooling technique is used.
• Dispose of the wastewater.
• Identify problems and notify the sugar bush operator.

Performance criteria

• Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
• Observance of hygiene and cleanliness rules
• Compliance with work instructions
• Observance of environmental laws and regulations
• staying within the limits of the occupation
• Observance of maintenance schedule
• Proper application of work techniques
• Appropriate use of tools
• Demonstration of ability to work in a team
• Concern for the quality and safety of the maple sap

Tasks

• Receive instructions from the sugar bush operator.
• Select already-prepared washing and disinfecting solutions.
• Wash, disinfect and rinse the extractor pumps during and after the harvesting season.
• Wash, disinfect and rinse the tanks during and after the harvesting season.
• Wash, disinfect and rinse the reverse osmosis units during and after the harvesting season.
• Wash, disinfect and rinse the evaporators (flat pans and flue pans) during and after the harvesting season.
• Wash, disinfect and rinse the other items used to condition and filter the maple syrup.

Performance criteria

• Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
• Observance of hygiene and cleanliness rules
• Compliance with work instructions
• staying within the limits of the occupation
• Proper application of work techniques
• Proper use of handling equipment
• Compliance with the storage or warehousing plan

Tasks

• Receive instructions from the sugar bush operator regarding putting the maple syrup into containers.
• Visually inspect the barrels (no odours, rust, etc.).
• Wash and rinse the reusable barrels.
• Check the temperature of the syrup.
• Fill the barrels steadily and, if possible, completely.
• Hermetically seal the barrels.
• Space the barrels a certain distance from each other and leave them to cool.
• Move the barrels into the stockroom.

Performance criteria

• Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
• Compliance with work instructions
• staying within the limits of the occupation
• Proper application of work techniques
• Proper use of tools and equipment

Tasks

• Maintain the sugarhouse premises: sweep floors, pick up trash, wash tables, etc.
• Maintain the outdoor areas: clear snow from the entrances to the sugarhouse, parking lot, etc.
• Do minor maintenance: change light bulbs, repaint doors, replace tiles, etc.
• Install signs, guideposts, etc.
• Answer customer questions and direct them to the people in charge.