Job description Harvest Hand near Calgary (AB)

Find out what work is like for a harvest hand in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Harvesting labourers (NOC 85101).

Harvesting labourers

Description

Harvesting labourers and related workers assist other farm workers to plant, harvest, sort and pack crops. They participate in soil preparation, irrigation and crop planting, spraying and thinning. They are employed on fruit, vegetable and specialty crop farms.

Work week duration

Harvesting labourers usually work more than 40 hours per week.
More than 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Harvesting labourers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Prepare and irrigate soil
  • Plant, fertilize, thin and harvest crops
  • Pick row and orchard crops
  • Sort, weigh and pack fruit and vegetables at the farm
  • Load, unload and transfer crates, supplies, farm produce and products for transport
  • Clean up racks, trays, and harvest bins and general clean up of growing, producing and packing areas
  • Assist with general farm maintenance and maintenance of equipment and tools
  • May assist in preparing garden beds for planting
  • May write daily progress reports of inventory harvested.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Handling material manually
  • Standing
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Walking and running

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Harvesting labourers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Fruit farms
  • Livestock farms
  • Crop farms
  • Vegetable farms
  • Specialty farms

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Skin injury
  • In an open vehicle or equipment
  • Extreme temperatures
  • In an enclosed vehicle or equipment
  • Standard safety equipment

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 85101), and a list of similar occupations:

  • apple picker
  • berry picker
  • crop farm labourer - harvesting
  • fruit picker
  • fruit sorter - farm
  • harvest hand
  • vegetable packer - farm

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Harvesting labourers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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