Underground Mine Service and Supports Workers

(NOC 8411)

in All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

Underground mine service and support workers do a range of duties related to the operation of orepasses, chutes and conveyor systems, the building and support of underground structures, passages and roadways, and the supply of materials and supplies to support underground mining. They work for coal, metal and non-metallic mineral mines.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

  • Estimate 415 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1430 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$18.00

Median

$30.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$4,009

Minimum

$23,520

Median

$87,170

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Underground mine service and support workers do a range of duties related to the operation of orepasses, chutes and conveyor systems, the building and support of underground structures, passages and roadways, and the supply of materials and supplies to support underground mining. They work for coal, metal and non-metallic mineral mines.

Job duties

Underground production and development miners:

  • Use and maintain ore chutes or conveyor systems to control flow of ore or coal in underground mine.
  • Use construction equipment like bulldozers, graders or backhoes to build and maintain underground passages and haulageways.
  • Build and repair wood or metal supports and structures like bulkheads, platforms, drift doors and chutes using construction and mining tools.
  • Attach and extend air and water pipes and related mine services.
  • Help miners in setting up and operating drills and other mining machinery.
  • Supply and maintain backfill supply of sand, rock or other materials.
  • Use diesel or electric track haulage equipment like ore trains to deliver workers and supplies and to convey ore from orepass to primary crusher or skip.
  • Maintain supply storage areas and maintain equipment and supplies like explosives, drill bits, fire extinguishers, lamps and batteries.
  • Carry Out routine maintenance of machinery.

Sample job titles

  • backfiller - underground mining
  • blaster helper - underground mining
  • cage tender
  • conveyor operator - underground mining
  • crusher operator - underground mining
  • driller helper - underground mining
  • haulageperson - underground mining
  • lamp keeper - underground mining
  • mine construction worker
  • orepress tender - underground mining
  • pipeworker - underground mining
  • raise miner helper
  • skip tender
  • timberperson - underground mining
  • trainperson - underground mining

Skills

  • 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

  • High school is usually required.
  • Formal training of up to six weeks followed by periods of on-the-job training as a helper or in support jobs is usually required.
  • Experience as a mine labourer is usually required.
  • May be certified in the basic common core program in Ontario.
  • Company licensing or certification is often necessary for jobs in this group.

Other considerations

  • Movement to other job groups in underground mining is possible. There is movement between employers within each of the three following sectors: underground coal mining, underground hard rock mining and underground potash, salt or soft rock mining. Movement between these sectors is somewhat limited by differences in production technologies.

By the numbers

Quick look

< 50

employed in 2016

80.0%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

0.0%
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100%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
31.2

median age

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

14,665

employed in 2016

78.0%

employed full-time

20.0%

self employed

15.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
84.9%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.6

median age

Where will I likely work?

100.0%

Halifax

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

60.0%

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

40.0%

Construction

What is the age of Employment?

50.0%

55-64

50.0%

25-34

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

20.7%

45-54

19.8%

15-24

19.2%

55-64

16.2%

35-44

14.8%

25-34

Top levels of education

40.0%

Trade Certification

N/A
40.0%

High school

N/A

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

35.7%

Less than high school

$23,463 median annual income
30.8%

High school

$19,301 median annual income
13.7%

College Diploma

$29,551 median annual income
13.4%

Trade Certification

$31,535 median annual income
4.4%

Bachelor

$17,956 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Mining Technology/Technician

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals engaged in the development and operation of mines and related mineral processing facilities. They include courses in principles of mineral extraction and related geology, mineral field mapping and site analysis, testing and sampling methods, instrument calibration, assay analysis, test equipment operation and maintenance, mine environment and safety monitoring procedures, mine inspection procedures, and report preparation.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, Occupational Health and Safety Division
Halifax, NS
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
Westmount, QC

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.