Underground miner

Underground miners perform a wide range of ancillary underground mining operations such as inspections, conveyor attendance and the transport of equipment and consumable materials from the surface to the point of extraction underground.

Underground miners typically do the following duties:

• set up and operate drills and drilling machines to produce a designated pattern of blasting holes
• operate diamond drills or other specialized drills such as raise boring machinery to test geological formations or to produce underground passageways
• set up and operate mining machinery to shear coal, rock or ore from the working face
• load explosives, set fuses, and detonate explosives to produce desired blasting patterns and rock fragmentation in underground mines
• operate scooptram, load-haul-dump (LHD) machine or mucking machine to load and haul ore from stopes, drifts and drawpoints to ore passes
• perform duties required to ensure safety and to support the mining advance, such as scaling loose rock from walls and roof, drilling and installing rock bolts, extending and installing air and water pipes
• operating ore loading machinery, inspecting mine shafts, operating hoists that transport people, equipment and materials through mine shafts, and constructing timber supports and cribbing if required
• perform routine maintenance of mining machinery

Miners 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.

Miners 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.

Miners 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 underground miner:

hewer
coal digger
underground mine worker
underground mining operative
coal cutter
coal excavator
underground mineworker
underground mine operative
coal hewer
collier

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as an underground miner. 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.

Underground miner is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

surface miner
underground heavy equipment operator
driller
mining equipment mechanic
mine control room operator

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

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

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of underground miner.

• 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. 

These skills are necessary for the role of underground miner.

• Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Operate mining tools: Operate and maintain a wide range of hand-held and powered mining tools and equipment.
• Operate hydraulic pumps: Operate hydraulic pumping systems.
• 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.
• Perform minor repairs to equipment: Conduct routine maintenance on equipment. Recognise and identify minor defects in equipment and make repairs if appropriate.
• Operate a range of underground mining equipment: Operate underground mining equipment, such as ventilation and transport systems.

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

• 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.
• 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 underground miner. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• React to events in time-critical environments: Monitor the situation around you and anticipate. Be ready to take quick and appropriate action in case of unexpected events.
• 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.

8111 – Miners and quarriers

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References

1. ESCO
2. Underground production and development miners | WorkBC
3. Featured image: By Deo photographer – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0