Profession surface miner

Surface miners perform a wide range of ancillary surface mining operations, often involving a high level of spatial awareness, such as pumping, dust suppression and the transport of materials including sand, stone and clay to the point of production.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Investigative
• Realistic / Conventional
• Realistic / Enterprising

Knowledge

• Excavation techniques

  The methods to remove rock and soil, used in an excavation site and the associated risks.

• Impact of geological factors on mining operations

  Be aware of the impact of geological factors, such as faults and rock movements, on mining operations.

Skills

• Work ergonomically

  Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.

• 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.

• Troubleshoot

  Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

• Operate hydraulic pumps

  Operate hydraulic pumping systems.

• Perform minor repairs to equipment

  Conduct routine maintenance on equipment. Recognise and identify minor defects in equipment and make repairs if appropriate.

• Drive vehicles

  Be able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.

• Operate mining tools

  Operate and maintain a wide range of hand-held and powered mining tools and equipment.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB