Mine health and safety engineers develop and implement systems and procedures to prevent employee injury and sickness, improve mine working conditions, reduce health and safety risks and prevent damage to equipment and property.
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.
Mine health and safety engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of mine health and safety engineer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of mine health and safety engineer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of mine health and safety engineer.
Mine safety legislation: The laws, regulations and codes of practice relevant to safety in mining operations. Geology: Solid earth, rock types, structures and the processes by which they are altered. Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.
These skills are necessary for the role of mine health and safety engineer.
Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents. Develop health and safety strategies in mining: Develop strategies and procedures to manage health and safety in mining. Make sure procedures conform with national law as a minimum. Ensure compliance with safety legislation: Implement safety programmes to comply with national laws and legislation. Ensure that equipment and processes are compliant with safety regulations. Maintain records of mining operations: Maintain records of mine production and development performance, including performance of machinery. Investigate mine accidents: Conduct investigation of mining accidents; identify unsafe working conditions and develop measures for improvement. Manage emergency procedures: React quickly in case of emergency and set planned emergency procedures in motion. Train employees in mine safety: Organise mine safety training sessions for workers, supervisors and management. Prevent health and safety problems: Identify safety and health issues and come up with solutions to prevent accidents. Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff. Prepare technical reports: Prepare technical reports that describe results and processes of scientific or technical research, or assess its progress. These reports help researchers to keep up to date with recent findings. Address problems critically: Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of mine health and safety engineer. 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. Electrical engineering: Understand electrical engineering, a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. Mining engineering: Fields of engineering relevant to mining operations. Principles, techniques, procedures and equipment used in the extraction of minerals. Health and safety hazards underground: The rules and risks affecting health and safety when working underground.
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of mine health and safety engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly. Inspect mine safety conditions: Inspect mining areas to ensure safe working conditions and equipment. Present reports: Display results, statistics and conclusions to an audience in a transparent and straightforward way.
