Mine rescue officer

Mine rescue officers coordinate mine rescue operations and need to be trained to work underground. They are the first line of response in emergency situations.

The duties of a mine rescue officer include, but are not limited to:

• Providing professional emergency preparedness and response to all emergency incidents through effective and efficient firefighting and technical rescue services
• Ensuring compliance to local legislation and best international standards in terms of technical ability and training
• Ensuring efficient operation of the team during the execution of their duties, always placing safety first
• Assisting with the development and implementation of a formal technical training program
• Assisting with the training of dispatch personnel with regards to company needs
• Possessing a thorough knowledge of how to operate fire and rescue equipment in accordance with training policies

Mine rescue officers work both indoors and outdoors. Individuals who work at surface mines are more likely to be exposed to outside weather. Indoor locations may not be temperature-controlled.

They usually work full time, and travel to work sites. Many mining sites are in remote areas. They may be away from home for extended periods of time.

Mine rescue officers are sometimes exposed to hazardous equipment. There is some likelihood of being injured from this exposure. Injuries are likely to be moderate.

They are sometimes exposed to pollutants, such as mine dust or harmful gases. They are also exposed to very hot or very cold temperature on a weekly basis. Sometimes, they may be exposed to sounds and noise levels that are uncomfortable or distracting.

The following job titles also refer to mine rescue officer:

mining rescue officer
mine emergency officer
mine response and rescue officer
mining safety officer
mine emergency response co-ordinator
mines rescue officer
auxiliary mine rescue worker

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as mine rescue officer. But a certificate in emergency management, disaster management, fire risk management, health and safety or environment is preferable. A basic or advanced first aid certificate is an asset, as well as a previous experience in underground mining, or even in police, emergency response, or military.

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 rescue officer is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to mine rescue officer.

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

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

mine safety officer
mine shift manager
refinery shift manager
gas processing plant control room operator
oil refinery control room operator

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of mine rescue officer.

• 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 rescue officer.

• 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.
• Create incident reports: Fill in an incident report after an accident has happened at the company or facility, such as an unusual event which caused an occupational injury to a worker.
• Process incident reports for prevention: Verify incident information, complete reporting requirements and report to management and relevant site personnel, in order to enable follow-up and future prevention.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• React to mining emergencies: Quickly respond to emergency calls. Provide appropriate assistance and direct first response team to incident scene.
• 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.
• Deal with pressure from unexpected circumstances: Strive to achieve objectives despite the pressures arising from unexpected factors outside of your control.
• Provide emergency training: Provide training and development in first aid, fire rescue and emergency situations for employees on the site.
• Maintain ambulance room stock: Check and maintain stocks of ambulance room supplies to ensure the effective provision of emergency services.
• Provide emergency advice: Provide advice in first aid, fire rescue and emergency situations for employees on the site.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of mine rescue officer. 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. 
• Chemistry: The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.

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

• Train employees in mine safety: Organise mine safety training sessions for workers, supervisors and management.
• Inspect mine safety conditions: Inspect mining areas to ensure safe working conditions and equipment.

5411 – Fire-fighters

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References

1. ESCO
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Featured image: Photo by Pedro Henrique Santos on Unsplash