Driller

Drillers set up and operate drilling rigs and related equipment designed to drill holes for mineral exploration, in shotfiring operations, and for construction purposes.

Drillers may work indoors or outdoors, often in enclosed environments. If they work outdoors, they are more likely to be exposed to outside weather. If they work indoors, they work in an enclosed environment. Indoor locations may not be temperature-controlled, so they may be exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures.

Drillers wear safety attire, such as hard hats and work boots on a daily basis. They are sometimes exposed to pollutants, such as mine dust, or harmful gases, high levels of sound and noise, and hazardous equipment. There is some likelihood of being injured from this exposure. Injuries are likely to be moderate.

Drillers usually work full time. They may be away from home for extended periods of time. This occupation also involves a lot of climbing, stooping, crouching, bending, and heavy lifting.

The following job titles also refer to driller:

earth driller
drillers assistant
assistant driller

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a driller. On-the job training is usually provided by the employers.

In some cases, a valid driver’s license may be required.

In all cases, candidates must be physically fit, as the job is very demanding.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Driller is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to driller.

underground miner
shotfirer
surface miner
mining equipment mechanic
mine control room operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of driller. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of driller with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

mine safety officer
desalination technician
mine surveying technician
geotechnician
mine shift manager

These skills are necessary for the role of driller.

• Maintain drilling equipment: Maintenance and repair of a variety of drilling equipment.
• Inspect drilling equipment: Ensure that all drilling equipment works correctly and safely; inspect machines before as well as during drilling operations.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Check borehole depth: Check the depth of boreholes; make sure that they are clean.
• Position drills: Place drills in correct position; set depths and angles.
• Coordinate drilling: Start, oversee and stop drilling sessions; coordinate personnel on drilling site.
• Transport drilling rigs: Move and relocate drilling rigs from one site to another with a specialised transportation truck.
• Set up drilling rigs: Build up the drilling rig and prepare it for use after selecting an appropriate drilling location. Dismantle the drilling rig after the operations have finished.
• Record drilling: Record and analyse drilling performance details; take drill core samples.
• Operate drilling equipment: Operate a range of drilling equipment, pneumatic as well as electrical and mechanical. Tend drilling equipment, monitor and operate it, according to regulations. Safely and efficiently drill holes using the correct equipment, settings, and drill bits.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of driller. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Impact of geological factors on mining operations: Be aware of the impact of geological factors, such as faults and rock movements, on mining operations.
• Health and safety hazards underground: The rules and risks affecting health and safety when working underground. 
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of driller. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
• Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
• Follow health and safety procedures in construction: Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
• Operate core drilling equipment: Operate an exploration drilling machine, which may be mobile or stationary, to drill and extract cores. React quickly to auditory and other changes to determine the course of action.
• Operate drilling jumbo: Operate a large, mobile mining machine equipped with pneumatic or hydraulic hammers to bore horizontal holes in hard rock to enable blasting. Drilling jumbos are used for mining development.

8111 – Miners and quarriers

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References

1. ESCO
2. Featured image: By James St. John – https://www.flickr.com/photos/47445767@N05/50945036606/, CC BY 2.0