Underground Miners, Mine Service and Support Workers

Nature of work

Underground production and development miners drill, blast, operate mining machinery, and perform related duties to extract coal and ore in underground mines and to construct tunnels, passageways and shafts to facilitate mining operations. They are employed by coal, metal and non-metallic mineral underground mines and by specialized contractors in mine construction, shaft sinking and tunneling.

Underground mine service and support workers perform a range of duties related to the operation of ore passes, chutes and conveyor systems, the construction and support of underground structures, passages and roadways, and the supply of materials and supplies to support underground mining. They are employed by coal, metal and non-metallic mineral mines.

Job duties

Underground production and development miners perform some or all of 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 scoop tram, 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.

Underground mine service and support workers perform some or all of the following duties:

• Operate and maintain ore chutes or conveyor systems to control flow of ore or coal in underground mine.
• Operate construction equipment such as bulldozer, grader or backhoe to build and maintain underground passages and haulageways.
• Construct and repair wood or metal supports and structures such as bulkheads, platforms, drift doors and chutes using construction and mining tools.
• Attach and extend ventilation and water pipes and related mine services.
• Assist miners in setting up and operating various drills and other mining machinery.
• Supply and maintain backfill distribution of sand, rock or other materials.
• Operate diesel or electric track haulage equipment such as ore trains to distribute personnel and supplies and to convey ore from ore pass to primary crusher or skip.
• Maintain supply storage areas and maintain equipment and supplies such as explosives, drill bits, fire extinguishers, lamps and batteries.
• Perform routine maintenance of machinery.

Sample job titles

• blaster - underground mining
• crusher operator - underground mining
• driller - underground mining
• loading machine operator - underground mining
• mine attendant
• mine construction worker
• miner
• skip loader - underground mining

Skills

To work in these jobs, you should have good health, physical stamina, and strength. Agility, coordination, and a mechanical aptitude would also be helpful. You must be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by supervisors.

Job requirements

• Completion of high school is usually required.
• Formal training followed by extended periods of specialized training as a helper or in support positions is usually provided.
• Company licensing or certification is often required for jobs in this grouping.
• Provincial blasting licence may be required.
• Certificate in first aid may be required.

Other considerations

Previous experience as a mine labourer or in other mine positions is usually required. Progression to mining supervisor is possible with experience. Mobility is possible to other occupations in underground mining such as underground service and support jobs. There is mobility between employers within each of the three following sectors: underground coal mining, underground hard rock mining and underground potash, salt or soft rock mining. Mobility between these sectors is somewhat limited by differences in production technologies.

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